SINGAPORE \u2013 Animal Lovers League (ALL) \u2013 one of Singapore\u2019s pioneer animal welfare groups \u2013 has lost its tenancy at The Animal Lodge (TAL), a facility supporting animal welfare groups and independent shelters. <\/p>\n
The group is required to return the current eight units it occupies to the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), a National Parks Board (NParks) cluster which oversees the lodge. <\/p>\n
ALL owes more than 50 months of rental arrears, said AVS. <\/p>\n
AVS director Trisha Eng said, however, that the issue was \u201cnot one that only involved overdue rent, but it was also about the welfare of the animals at the ALL shelter, making it very complex\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAVS had received feedback from volunteers of ALL regarding the welfare of these animals,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen AVS inspectors visited, they found that several of the animals were sick and not receiving prompt or adequate veterinary attention; and that many animals were also showing signs of fear, anxiety and stress,\u201d said Ms Eng.<\/p>\n
Announcing this at NParks\u2019 Botany Centre on Dec 8, Ms Eng said AVS \u201cneeded to take a measured approach as ALL is still taking care of its animal charges, some of which are old and sick\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cA sudden eviction could further compromise the well-being of the animals under ALL\u2019s care,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
ALL, which was set up in 2002, was located at Pasir Ris Farmway for 17 years before moving into TAL in Sungei Tengah near Choa Chu Kang.<\/p>\n
It has been a tenant at TAL since March 2018 and originally occupied 10 units with about 200 animals. In April 2019, AVS noticed that ALL was accruing rental arrears.<\/p>\n
Ms Eng said AVS offered instalment plans and to take over the animals, but ALL did not repay its arrears and did not agree to voluntarily return the units to reduce what it owed.<\/p>\n ALL usually takes in Singapore specials, or mongrels, but on occasion, it also takes in old dogs that were being given up by their owners. <\/p>\n ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The tenancy ended in December 2024, and AVS renewed only eight of the 10 units until Aug 5, 2025 \u2013 a nudge by AVS for ALL to downsize, said Ms Eng.<\/p>\n However, the group could not pay the arrears by the date and the tenancy was not renewed. AVS has issued seven advisories and two directives to ALL. <\/p>\n Ms Eng said the health and welfare of the animals under ALL remains the top priority.<\/p>\n AVS has, since December 2024, removed 15 animals from ALL that needed medical attention, some of which have recovered and been taken in by caregivers.<\/p>\n The group currently occupies eight units at TAL, and has about 170 animals in its shelter.<\/p>\n The Straits Times, as well as other media outlets, has reached out to the two founders of ALL, Ms Cathy Strong and Mr Mohan Div, and has yet to receive a reply from either. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/picture><\/div>