Compulsory microchipping, stiffer fines for unleashed, unlicensed dogs next month
Lin Yanqin
yanqin@mediacorp.com.sg Keep that dog licensed, leashed and muzzled, or be prepared for penalties with ten-fold more bite. From Sept 1, dog owners may be fined up to $5,000, instead of the current maximum of $500, if they do not license their dogs, put a leash on them or — if its a so-called "dangerous breed" such as pit bull, mastiff, Doberman, German shepherd or Rottweiler — muzzle them in public spaces. Repeat offenders of the muzzle rule could be fined up to $10,000. The new regulations are being introduced by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to manage the canine population and encourage responsible pet ownership. While rules such as compulsory microchipping may cheer animal activists, the enhanced penalties and licensing fees have stirred some disgruntlement. "It's prejudiced against certain breeds and not fair to responsible dog owners who train their dogs well to be obedient, and allow them to socialise," said Mr Rajvinder Singh, a financial planner who has kept Dobermans for 20 years. Dogs not required to be muzzled by law, he pointed out, are just as likely to bite. "Some smaller dogs, like schnauzers, are aggressive and may bite people if their owners don't control them," he said. "They should just punish irresponsible dog owners." The steep fine will keep Mr Ronald Rajan, who has a German shepherd, from flouting the muzzle rule. But he sees no need for it. "Has there been any serious attacks here lately?" While the AVA has not noticed an increase in attacks from such dogs, a spokesperson said: "The maximum fine is to deter owners of such dogs from acting irresponsibly." All dogs that are licensed from Sept 1 will also have to be implanted with microchips, making it easier to track down their owners if they are lost or abandoned. This is a move that animal activists have called for to discourage pet dumping. But Action for Singapore Dogs president Ricky Yeo stresses that enforcement is necessary. "I would say only one-third of the dogs in Singapore are licensed. Even though the rule is that dogs have to be licensed at the point of sale, pet-shop owners don't usually follow that. Conscientious owners do so on their own," Mr Yeo said. A group licence fee will be introduced for those who keep dogs on registered farms for breeding, boarding and training, and the amount will vary between $650 and $3,500, depending on the number of pets. Owners who board more than three dogs also have to pay a licence fee of $175 per dog for the fourth and subsequent dogs. But what of volunteer-run animal rescue groups that either have their own kennels or board them at commercial farms? Mr Yeo hopes such fees will be waived as "we are doing a public service". In response to queries, the AVA said such groups can write in to appeal for a waiver.