The Electric New Paper :
On abandoned pets
Want to own a pet? Take a class first
By Charlene Chua
29 September 2010
MY ENTIRE day was ruined after reading the report, 'Dying dog...dumped out of car' (The New Paper, Sept 15).
There seems to be an increase in the number of dog abuse and abandonment cases, and the perpetrators have not been found.
Two reasons could account for this.
Firstly, I think the root cause of the problem is that it is too easy to own pets. Many people may buy a pet on impulse. Petshop owners usually paint a rosy picture and suppress the negative aspects of pet ownership in order to close the sale.
Once the novelty wears off and the pet owners can't cope with their new 'toy', they will find ways to get rid of them. The losers are always the adorable pets.
Secondly, licensing should not only cover the pet but the owner as well. Just as you need a certificate of entitlement to own a car, a person must have a licence to own a pet.
To qualify for a pet owner's licence, the would-be owner must attend a short course on pet ownership and pass a prescribed test by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
The curriculum should include the basics of pet care including pet nutrition, essential vaccinations and toilet training the animal. The course should also cover the necessary expenses such as for food, grooming and veterinary visits.
Potential pet owners can then have a better idea of what's involved in owning a pet and make an informed decision on whether to get one.
FROM READER LOH MUN HOE
