(Singapore) Pet Shop Grading Scheme

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Singapore News

 

AVA introduces Pet Shop Grading Scheme to up standards

of pet shops

By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30

September 2006 2319 hrs

 

SINGAPORE : Pet shops in Singapore will soon be

graded.

 

The scheme is similar to how the National Environment

Agency (NEA) grades hawker centres.

 

This is part of Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's

(AVA) plans to improve the standards of pet shops in

Singapore.

 

Shops that sell cats and dogs are the first to be

affected by the Pet Shop Grading Scheme.

 

They account for about 160 pet shops out of the 460 in

Singapore.

 

The scheme, which is to be rolled out later this year,

is part of the government's overall plan to enhance

the professionalism of the industry.

 

This was announced at the AVA's Responsible Pet

Ownership Roadshow on Saturday.

 

" We have always been looking at ways to lift the

standard. We do have some spate of events recently

about pet abuse, so I think it is good that the

community is becoming more aware and the response has

been encouraging, " says Grace Fu, Minister of State

for National Development.

 

" It's good to know that Singaporeans do care about

pets' welfare and I think we should all work towards

increasing animal welfare standards in Singapore, " she

adds.

 

AVA hopes the move will motivate pet shop owners to

maintain a high level of animal care.

 

Says Dr Leow Su Hwa, head of Animal Welfare Education

at AVA: " It's going to be based on three factors.

First, we will see how the pet shop maintains and

keeps these animals, whether they're looked after

properly. Second, we want to see how they maintain the

premises, that is, if it's clean and the cages are of

the right sizes so that there are sufficient space for

the animals.

 

" Third, we want to see how they do their client

education. So it's not just a question of selling the

pet but they should give relevant and proper

information about how to take care of the pets. "

 

Many pet shop owners welcome the move but some have

raised concerns that the grading may affect their

business.

 

" If a customer comes into my shop and see a Grade C or

D, they will walk out of my shop before they even ask

any questions. My shop is an eight-year-old store. If

I need to get a Grade A, I have to improve on the

hygiene and the smell, but it will cost us a bomb to

renovate the whole store, " says George Tan, who runs

Joy Doggy.

 

Animal welfare societies say it's a step in the right

direction but pet lovers have mixed reactions.

 

" (Grade) A is the best of course. It's more trustful,

and if I have any queries, I believe they'll know the

answers, " says one member of the public.

 

" The grading doesn't make a difference because I would

have done my homework prior to coming to the pet shop,

and also through friends' recommendations. So when I

come to the look at the dogs, I would get a sense of

how the shop owner is treating the dogs, and the

environment that they're being put in, " says a pet

lover.

 

AVA says its animal welfare inspectors will conduct

routine checks on pet shops at least once a year.

 

Those that have a poor grade and do not show any signs

of improvement may be suspended from business or have

their licences withdrawn. - CNA /ls