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SINGAPORE \u2013 Four out of the 23 rabbits that were allegedly abandoned in Seletar last week have died as at Sept 22, said the National Parks Board (NParks), which is investigating the case.<\/p>\n
The four were among seven kits recovered from Seletar Farmway 1 by animal welfare group Voices For Animals (VFA), which also rescued 16 adult rabbits from the location.<\/p>\n
The rabbits were found to have health issues, including overgrown nails and skin conditions, according to a medical assessment conducted by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), VFA and vets from The Animal Doctors on Sept 21.<\/p>\n
Some of the rabbits also had wounds, said NParks\u2019 group director for enforcement and investigation Jessica Kwok in a media reply on Sept 22.<\/p>\n
In response to queries, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said on Sept 21 it received a call about \u201ca large number of rabbits\u201d seen abandoned in Seletar Farmway at about 11.45pm on Sept 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cRabbits are fragile animals who are highly vulnerable to stress, predators, and environmental elements, making it urgent to take the abandoned rabbits in for the night,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
As its rescue officers were not able to be deployed at the time, SPCA said that it explored alternatives with the people who provided the feedback.<\/p>\n
With their help, the rabbits were able to find refuge with VFA by about 1am that night, SPCA said. It added that VFA will be sharing the evidence with NParks for further investigation.<\/p>\n
In an Instagram post on Sept 19, VFA said its team found \u201ctiny babies, merely a few days old, left to fend for themselves\u201d after it received a call about the rabbits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were told there could be 20-30 rabbits, with some still hiding inside the boxes that had apparently been used to dump them there,\u201d the post said.<\/p>\n
The animal welfare group added that the area was wet after a bout of heavy rain, and that many rabbits were covered in urine and stains.<\/p>\n
VFA\u2019s team had also combed through the entire stretch of the road to ensure that no rabbits were left behind.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who think dumping an animal somewhere is an easy way to get rid of a problem \u2013 it is not,\u201d it said in the post.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese animals were alive, vulnerable and completely dependent on humans.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kwok said that NParks takes all cases of alleged animal abandonment seriously.<\/p>\n
She added that the board will take appropriate enforcement action against owners who abandon their pets, fail to provide adequate care for them, or have committed an act of animal cruelty.<\/p>\n
NParks has urged members of the public who have information on the incident, including photos, videos, or eyewitness accounts, to submit them at https:\/\/go.gov.sg\/reporttoavs<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/a> or call its Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600.<\/p>\n Those convicted of failing to care for their pets, including abandoning them, may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.<\/p>\n The Straits Times has contacted VFA for more information.<\/p>\n