{"id":13112,"date":"2025-11-20T14:34:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=13112"},"modified":"2025-11-20T14:34:38","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T06:34:38","slug":"avs-reviewing-its-protocols-following-criticism-of-dog-handling-in-trapping-exercise-in-seletar-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=13112","title":{"rendered":"AVS reviewing its protocols following criticism of dog handling in trapping exercise in Seletar West"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE – The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said it is reviewing its protocols following the recent uproar over the trapping of stray dogs at a Seletar West farm.<\/p>\n

Videos of the exercise, which was carried out by AVS\u2019 animal management contractor under the supervision of AVS staff, were posted on Instagram on Nov 14. <\/p>\n

The content of the videos sparked concern<\/p>\n

<\/a> from members of the public and animal welfare groups, who questioned AVS\u2019 dog handling standards and dog management practices, and called for more humane standards to be adopted.<\/p>\n

In response to queries by The Straits Times, Dr Anna Wong, AVS\u2019 group director of community animal management, said the organisation has been working with animal welfare groups to gather feedback on their concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been engaging animal welfare group partners… and will continue working closely with them to refine the Trap-Neuter-Rehome\/ Release-Manage (TNRM)\u00a0programme,\u201d she said on Nov 20. \u201cThis includes reviewing our joint protocols and improving our communication and coordination.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her reply, Dr Wong also reiterated that \u201cthe\u00a0safety and well-being of both animals and the community remain our priority\u201d.<\/p>\n

The operation to remove the free-roaming dogs at Seletar West Farmway 8 followed four unprovoked dog bite and chasing incidents in the area from May to November, including two within six days in November.<\/p>\n

These incidents resulted in injuries to members of the public. The injuries ranged from scratches to puncture wounds requiring medical attention. Dr Wong noted that \u201cfor urgent public safety situations, AVS will have to act swiftly and decisively while ensuring that operations are carried out safely and effectively\u201d.<\/p>\n

She also said that \u201cdue to the earlier bite incidents and high risk to public safety, the contractor used appropriate restraining equipment to secure the dogs during the operations\u201d.<\/p>\n

The trapping exercise had led to <\/p>\n

criticism from some quarters<\/p>\n

<\/a>, with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) noting in a Nov 18 Facebook post that: \u201cWhile we understand the need to act on a reported biting incident, the level of force used, choking, dragging and misuse of the catchpole\u00a0fall\u00a0far below humane standards and\u00a0contradict\u00a0NParks\u2019 own advocacy for positive training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Singapore\u2019s largest animal advocacy group also raised doubts about whether the correct dogs had been targeted, noting that \u201cno clear identification was ever provided\u201d, but Dr Wong said that AVS had caught the correct dogs. <\/p>\n

\u201cAVS worked with the victims to confirm that the dogs were involved in the incidents,\u201d she said in her Nov 20 reply. \u201cTwo victims confirmed that one of these dogs had bitten them in separate incidents, while the two remaining dogs had chased one of the victims.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that the three dogs from the farm are currently in AVS\u2019 care, and are observed to be bright, alert and eating well.<\/p>\n

She said dogs who have completed the TNRM programme are available for adoption, and those interested in adopting them can approach AVS\u2019 animal welfare group partners.<\/p>\n

The TNRM programme was launched in 2018 to better manage Singapore\u2019s free-roaming dog population. <\/p>\n