STI News: AVA consults animal groups on stray cat problem

[Guest guest]

This message was forwarded to you from Straits Times Interactive

(http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg) by yitzeling

 

AVA consults animal groups on stray cat problem

 

 

 

THE Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) is working on a

long-term solution to the problem of stray cats in consultation with animal

welfare groups here.

 

Minister of State (National Development) Vivian Balakrishnan said that by the

end of the week, an update of tests to see if the cats can pick up or transmit

Sars should be available.

 

'I hope to wrap up this process of consultation within a week or so, and I hope

we will have a viable, long-term, sustainable solution to this,' he told

reporters yesterday at the Dolphin Lagoon in Sentosa, where a baby pink dolphin,

born in captivity, was introduced.

 

But this would not involve 'exporting' the strays, he said, referring to an

earlier report where a group, Animal Lovers League, said it might transport

stray cats to an animal shelter in Johor. The Veterinary Services Department

there then said Malaysia does not allow the import of stray cats.

 

Said Dr Balakrishnan: 'You can't export strays across the borders. We wouldn't

allow it, and the Malaysians wouldn't allow it. This is a problem which we will

solve. We will solve it internally, with our own resources, and with the help of

the animal welfare groups in Singapore.'

IP Address:203.106.150.181