As Singaporeans become more conscious about adopting instead of buying pets, people here have been actively listing animals online for adoption and cutting pet shops, farms and mills out of the equation.

The good news is that adopters have stepped forward to help provide forever homes.

The bad news? This system has its cons, and is certainly far from perfect as it is not regulated at all.

Some breeds of cats, such as pure breeds and long-haired cats, in particular, can fetch a premium at pet shops and are highly sought after.

This has resulted in an open market for animal trading and where at least one person here is being publicly accused of adopting such cats for free and then putting them online for re-adoption -- at a fee -- tantamount to a sale.

Listed adopted kitten for sale

According to a Facebook post on Nov. 3, one woman adopted a pair of ragamuffins -- a mother cat and its five-month-old kitten -- for free, only to put the kitten up for sale by listing it in a Facebook group.

This was the post by the cats' original owner who listed the mother and kitten pair for adoption:

After both cats were handed over to the adopter, the kitten was later found to be put up for "adoption" for a fee by the adopter:

Same kitten

The person who wrote the Facebook post calling out the adopter was aware that her friend had put the two cats up for adoption for free, and then subsequently, recognised the same kitten from photos upon seeing it in a Facebook group where cats are listed for adoption.

Posing as a prospective buyer, that was when it was learnt a S$550 fee was payable, which was negotiable to S$500.

By asking for money in exchange for the kitten, this act is tantamount to selling a pet illegally without a permit.

Messages blocked

And with proof that it was the same woman who had adopted the two cats, attempts were made to ask for the felines back from her.

But after she was confronted via messages, the adopter blocked subsequent attempts to reach her and even changed her name on Facebook.

As a last resort, the person who wrote the Facebook post contacted the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

"We got no choice but to report to AVA," the post wrote.

This was also after the adopter was found to have a history of listing cats on Facebook for adoption, with the likelihood she was asking for payment for these cats that might have also been adopted.

In one of the messages exchanged with the woman adopter, she had even asked for an extra S$200 as payment for vaccination and transport fees.

Offence

Previously, a 26-year-old woman was fined S$6,500 for breeding and selling cats from a flat in Buangkok without relevant licences.

The offence of selling cats without a pet shop licence earned the woman a S$2,500 fine.

AVA said it received feedback in June 2017 about the alleged sale of cats at a flat in Buangkok Crescent.

The woman operated by posting photographs of kittens for sale on her Facebook page and managed to sell two cats.

AVA said then that a pet shop licence is required to display any animal, including cats, for sale.

Anyone found guilty of operating an unlicensed pet shop is liable to a maximum fine of S$5,000.

Public whistle-blowing

The authority also urged the public to promptly report cases of illegal pet shops or pet breeding to AVA via its 24-hour hotline, 1800-476-1600 or the AVA website.

"Providing photographic and/or video-graphic evidence will help us in our investigations. All information shared with AVA will be held in strict confidence," AVA said.

The public can also provide AVA with feedback on illegal pet sales here.

Content that keeps Mothership.sg going

??
Don't miss out on this.

?
Few things we wish you knew

???
Earn some karma points here. Say real one.

? vs ?
You're on the MRT. Do you read or surf?
Why not both??

?
Damn cheap movie tickets here.