NParks received 61 reports of alleged cases of pets falling from height as of Aug 31 this year. Of these reports, no offence was found under the rules for around half of the cases.
These involved: community animals that have no owners for the rules to apply to; cats or dogs whose death or injury was likely not caused by falling from height; and cats or dogs with insufficient information to establish their ownership.
Another 11 cases, including one reported in a flat in Bedok last December, are still under investigation, Ms Kwok added.
High-rise syndrome in cats is when the felines fall from a height. They may suffer serious injuries such as broken bones and internal injuries.
As community cats live in the open and move about freely, they may face challenges such as living conditions that are not optimal.
“Compared to pet cats, they are also at greater risk of injuries or death from conflict with other animals, traffic accidents, falls from height or diseases,” Ms Kwok noted.
Dogs are also at risk of falling from height if they are kept in premises that are not properly secured.
Ms Kwok cited an example of a recent case where a husky was confined to a service balcony on the 35th floor of a Housing and Development Board unit (HDB) in Toa Payoh.
NParks seized the dog and took it under its care, after concerns over the unsafe housing conditions and the dog’s welfare.
The husky has since been put up for fostering, said Ms Kwok, adding that investigations are ongoing.
