OTHER LICENSE CONDITIONS STATED IN THE FRAMEWORK
For pet owners to be licensed under the proposed framework, they must ensure their cats are “kept under control” in public and take steps to protect their cats from indoor and outdoor dangers, for example by installing window grilles, fences or others. barriers to prevent cats from wandering or falling from heights, specifies the AVS in a press release.
All new cat or dog license applicants must also complete a free one-time online pet ownership course before they can obtain a license.
The online course will cover basic animal care and responsible pet ownership skills and would be available in all four vernacular languages.
To stem unintentional cat breeding, Mr Tan urged owners to sterilize their cats, as sterilization brings health and behavioral benefits, as sterilized cats are also less likely to wander and meow.
Therefore, for sterilized cats that are licensed during the two-year transition period, the AVS will offer to issue free licenses for life, while fees may apply for new cat licenses issued after the transition period. for unsterilized cats.
“While we also plan to license unsterilized cats free of charge during the transition period, this license will need to be renewed regularly after the transition period and for a higher fee,” he said.
In addition to pet cats, the proposed framework will involve expanding the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage program for free-roaming dogs to include community cats.
The program would build on an existing program to subsidize sterilization and microchipping of community cats since 2011. Plans are also underway to enhance financial support to include trapping and boarding community cats.
“This will allow us to better manage our community cat population in a holistic and humane and scientific manner, as we have done with our free-roaming dogs,” Mr Tan said.
From Saturday to February 1 next year, members of the public can learn more about the proposed framework and share their feedback via an online survey at go.gov.sg/cat-framework.
This article was originally published in TODAY.