Saving 80 dogs
A GROUP of animal lovers has spent a five-figure sum to buy some
80 dogs from a Pasir Ris breeder who they allege was neglecting the
animals.
On April 10, the breeder had placed a classified advertisement
in The Straits Times looking for buyers for his farm and equipment
for $20,000. The group heard that the breeder could not manage his
farm, and was concerned about the dogs.
But the rescue last week has raised concerns among other animal
welfare groups that breeders are preying on public sympathy to dump
their 'old stock'.
In the private rescue effort, civil servant Derrick Tan, 29, and
about seven friends bought the animals from the Pasir Ris farm for
an undisclosed five-digit sum. They are now trying to get medical
treatment for the purebreds, which include miniature schnauzers and
golden retrievers, before finding them homes.
But even before the friends took over, the Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority (AVA) had visited the farm.
On April 9, when AVA officers inspected the kennels, the breeder
told them three dogs had been sick and died some weeks back. The
officers advised him to get a health-care and disease prevention
licence, and to call a vet for the sick dogs.
-- ST
meow ~
