8 tenants at Sungei Tengah animal facility did not meet minimum requirements of tender exercise, leases not renewed

Eight current tenants at The Animal Lodge — a facility for animal shelters, pet breeders and pet boarders — will not have their leases renewed when they end, as they did not meet the minimum requirements of the latest tender exercise.

The exercise, completed recently by the National Parks Board (NParks), was conducted for the 35 existing commercial tenants at the facility, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said on Sep. 1.

The leases of these tenants, which comprise pet breeders, boarders, and a pet crematorium, will expire on Dec. 5, 2026.

Of those unsuccessful in meeting the tender requirements, seven are dog breeders, and one is a pet boarding operator. AVS did not name these tenants.

The 27 tenants that successfully met the tender requirements will continue to operate at The Animal Lodge at 59 Sungei Tengah Rd, with tenancies that can be renewed for up to three terms till Dec. 5, 2035.

The exercise also comes after AVS decided not to renew the tenancy of Singapore's largest no-kill shelter Animal Lovers League (ALL) at its space at The Animal Lodge following reports of neglect and mismanagement.

Why this exercise?

AVS decided to conduct a targeted tender rather than an open one, to allow existing tenants to bid for their current units before considering new entrants.

They took this approach to minimise disruption and displacement of these animals, so that their health and welfare can be protected with the continuity of services.

The outcomes of the tender are final with no room for appeal, AVS said.

How were they assessed?

Since November 2025, AVS regularly engaged tenants on the tender exercise to guide them on licensing requirements, tender specifications, evaluation criteria, and best practices.

Then, tenants were required to submit proposals for the exercise to demonstrate how they would enhance the living environments, health, and welfare practices for their animals beyond baseline regulatory requirements.

These proposals were assessed holistically against both price and quality criteria.

The quality criteria cover three main areas: animal health and welfare standards, husbandry practices (to maintain the housing and design of their space), and the business' regulatory track record.

According to AVS, all of the tenants met the baseline requirements, but only those who went "above and beyond" these requirements succeeded in getting their lease renewed.

For instance, organising a health check-up for the animals once a year would just meet the baseline requirement, while doing two or more annually would be surpassing it.

Other examples of proposed plans that exceeded requirements are renovations to improve the animals' living environment, and anti-slip coating to make it more comfortable for animals to move around.

Two successful tenants, cat breeder ChubbyBuddy and dog breeder Wellfond Pets, told reporters that they included plans for renovations and frequent health check-ups in their proposals.

"All proposals were evaluated against the same criteria to ensure a fair and consistent assessment," AVS said.

Supporting the transition

For the eight unsuccessful tenderers, AVS will work with them to facilitate a smooth transition to relocate and/or rehome the animals properly under their care.

The agency will also monitor those who were successful throughout their tenancy, to ensure that what they proposed on paper will translate to actions.

"This holds tenants accountable for maintaining the standards they committed to," AVS stated in a press release.

Tenants who fail to meet the standards may face consequences, such as the possibility of non-renewal at the next tenancy review.

Following the completion of the exercise, AVS will also review the future use of The Animal Lodge, taking into account industry needs and operational considerations.

Subsequently, AVS may make units available through future tender exercises, including opportunities for new businesses to participate.