NEWS

Stricter Licensing Rules For Breeders And Boarders

SINGAPORE: From April 2022 onwards, pet-boarders and breeders will face stricter rules to raise standards in the industry and improve animal health and welfare standards.

Changes to licensing conditions were announced on 8 Oct, in a move by the National Parks Board’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) to boost animal welfare. These include:

For Pet Breeders

• Breeders must maintain a documentary record of dogs under their care. There should be daily health checks on pets and their litters, and the animals should have opportunities for social interaction, exercise and enrichment.• In-breeding and the breeding of dogs with harmful, heritable conditions is not allowed.• Breeding dogs can only have one litter per year. They must be retired when they turn six and must be sterilised within six months of retirement.• Breeders should also have a post-retirement programme for the dogs, either on the farm or by rehoming them.• Breeders must also maintain a record of dogs that have died on the premises, including their age, date• Pet buyers will be allowed to view the parents of the puppies that they want to buy via a written request to the breeding facility.