961 animal cruelty & welfare cases in S'pore in 2024, highest in 12 years: SPCA report

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has released its 2024 report, compiling statistics and cases involving animal cruelty and welfare issues over the year.

Significantly, the organisation found that the number of confirmed cases of cruelty and welfare has once again increased — from 915 cases in 2023, to 961 in 2024.

It appears that the numbers reflect a worrying trend — this is unfortunately the highest number of cases reported in the past 12 years.

Across the 961 cases, there were 2,190 animal victims involved, majority of which were cats.

Cruelty to animals

Cruelty to animals, as defined by the SPCA, includes abandonment, physical abuse, death, inhumane trapping, hit and runs, and exposure to aversive training methods.

In 2024, there were 283 cases of animal cruelty and 453 animal victims.

Again, cats made up the majority of victims.

Some cases that garnered widespread attention include that of Field Field, the orange community cat that was allegedly thrown off the 38th floor of a Whampoa Housing Development Board (HDB) block.

Another notable case involved Boyboy the poodle, that was beaten to death by a domestic worker.

Another case highlighted by SPCA in the report is that of a macaque that found itself in a homeowner's bathroom in July 2024.

The homeowner proceeded to take matters into his own hands by trapping it in a cat cage, spray painting it with white paint and then releasing it.

The homeowner shared that the paint was apparently meant to deter the monkey from returning.

"In this case, the homeowner was fortunate that the monkey did not retaliate despite being grossly mistreated," SPCA wrote.

Youth inflicting cruelty on animals

Worryingly, SPCA recorded 15 cases of cruelty involving youths, an uptick from the six cases in 2023.

One primary school girl was filmed lifting a rabbit by its ears, while another boy had put his two hamsters in the freezer because one of the rodents bit him. Both hamsters died.

SPCA noted that parents and other adults "play a crucial role in fostering children’s respect for animals".

Animal abandonment

Abandoning an animal is one form of animal cruelty, and there were 120 such cases, out of the total 283 cruelty cases.

Cats made up more than half of the victims.

SPCA posited that this phenomenon may be due to the lack of consequences for those who abandon their pets.

The agency issued a reminder that those who choose to take on a pet should remember that it is a lifetime commitment.

Poor animal welfare

The remaining 678 cases involved poor welfare and neglect.

Such cases include dissatisfactory living conditions, high rise syndrome (pets falling from height due to failure to secure the home), pets left unattended, pets allowed to roam freely outdoors, neglected medical conditions, illegal sales of pets, and animal hoarding.

Once again, cats were the most common victims.

The rising trend is seen here as well — there were 531 welfare cases in 2023 and 314 in 2022.

Falling from height and hoarding

Last year, SPCA recorded 134 cases of high rise syndrome.

This is considered a form of neglect, as owners fail to keep their pets safely indoors by installing grilles or mesh over gates or windows.

In many of these cases, SPCA stated that the owners never came forward to claim their pets.

Although there were only 23 recorded cases of hoarding, it involved a total of 355 animals.

Only two cases involved small animals, with the rest overwhelmingly involving the hoarding of cats.

Offences by pet-related businesses

Aside from cases involving pet owners, SPCA also investigated 56 cases of errant practices by pet businesses.

These included backyard breeders, groomers, pet shops, trainers, daycare/boarding facilities, and pet cafes.

Such offences are "all the more inexcusable when committed by the very people who are entrusted with animal care, especially when they tout themselves as professionals and make a profit in today’s booming pet industry", said the SPCA.

A new Dog Training Standards Workgroup co-led by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) under the National Parks Board (NParks), and SPCA, was created in August 2024 to raise the standards of the dog training industry in Singapore.

The workgroup, which comprises 17 members from a diverse range of backgrounds, include dog trainers, veterinarians, animal welfare groups and representatives from working dog units.

However, SPCA also urged pet owners to review their options for service providers carefully and make an informed decision.

Calling for stronger laws

In light of these numbers, SPCA is lobbying for the government to strengthen its animal protection laws and enforcement by imposing stricter penalties.

Not only will this act as a deterrent against would-be offenders, it also ensures greater accountability on those who make a profit by offering pet-related products and services.

SPCA noted that as a non-governmental charity, it is "constrained by the lack of legal authority".

As such, SPCA cannot arrest individuals, take away an abused pet from its owner without the owner's explicit consent, or even collect evidence such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, unless it is publicly accessible or voluntarily provided.

It wrote:

"Stronger laws and enforcement are not just about punishment; they are about creating a system where society’s most vulnerable are protected before they ever end up in harm’s way."

Previously in September 2024, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee shared that the government is reviewing the Animals and Birds Act to enhance legislative powers to safeguard animal health and welfare.

"Under this review, we are studying the penalties for animal cruelty and failure to fulfil duty of care and will share more details when ready," he said in Parliament.

SPCA highlighted that for the review "to be truly effective", a "consultative approach" involving rescuers, shelters, and welfare groups is key.

What can you do?

What can members of the public do if they encounter a case of animal cruelty or welfare?

If you witness deliberate cruelty resulting in injury or death, or abandonment of an animal, you can call the SPCA’s 24/7 hotline (6287 5355 ext. 9), AVS (1800 476 1600), and the police (999) for emergency assistance.

For non-emergencies, you can submit a cruelty complaint form to SPCA at http://spca.org.sg/report or drop an email to [email protected]

It is best if the report is accompanied by an address or location, as well as clear photos and videos with timestamps, as these serve as critical evidence.

If there is a suspected case of neglect, members of the public should avoid direct confrontation but instead collect as much evidence as possible and convey these to SPCA.

You can read the SPCA's Animal Cruelty and Welfare Report here.

Top photo from Loh, Derrick Tan / FB and SPCA