{"id":18229,"date":"2025-12-10T01:09:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T17:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=18229"},"modified":"2025-12-10T01:09:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T17:09:44","slug":"understand-the-challenges-of-animal-rescue-before-passing-judgments-shanmugam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=18229","title":{"rendered":"Understand the challenges of animal rescue before passing judgments: Shanmugam"},"content":{"rendered":"


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SINGAPORE \u2013 Minister for Home Affairs and Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam has called for the public to understand the difficult challenges of animal rescue and shelter work before passing judgments. <\/p>\n

His comments follow recent reports of animal welfare group Animal Lovers League (ALL) <\/p>\n

losing its tenancy at The Animal Lodge facility after<\/p>\n

<\/a> being more than 50 months behind in rental arrears, the animals under its care not receiving prompt or adequate veterinary attention, and coming under a probe by the Commissioner of Charities. <\/p>\n

Mr Shanmugam, who has known ALL co-founder Mohan Div for more than 10 years, wrote in a Facebook post on Dec 9 that Mr Mohan \u201cis a kind, compassionate and humble person who goes the extra mile to help animals\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cALL, which is a no-kill shelter, takes in abandoned animals and strays, animals which could be in a worse-off condition if left on the streets. Many of these animals are also old and sick and very hard to care for or rehome. And these animals have a second chance at life because of Mohan\u2019s hard work,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Mr Shanmugam, who is an animal lover himself and has adopted dogs as pets, said it has not been easy for Mr Mohan and ALL over the past years, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n

\u201cDonations reduced. Funds dwindled. And most of the funds received went towards the medical bills for animals,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Mr Shanmugam said there may be lapses along the way, and matters could have been better managed. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut Mohan\u2019s actions stem from good intentions. He should perhaps have sought help publicly when his funds ran low, and been more realistic about what he and his team could do,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Since December 2024, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) has received reports from volunteers concerned about the health and welfare of the animals under ALL\u2019s care. <\/p>\n

Mr Shanmugam said these animal welfare concerns raised have to be addressed and that AVS has tried to manage the situation by engaging ALL and working with its volunteers, as well as with other animal welfare groups and independent fosterers on the ground. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is good that AVS is taking steps to deal with the situation. The animals need to be cared for,\u201d he said, adding that people should understand the challenges before passing judgments. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe focus now has to be on how we can all play a part in supporting animal welfare.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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