Target: Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, Singapore
Goal: Strengthen penalties and enforcement so Singapore’s animal victims receive swift justice, with lifetime bans, mandatory treatment, and tougher oversight.
Shocking new figures show a 12-year high in animal cruelty and welfare concerns in Singapore. According to SPCA’s first full annual report, 961 cases were confirmed in 2024, involving 2,190 animals, which works out to an average of six animals suffering or dying every day. Reports describe disturbing incidents, including a pet poodle called Boyboy who was beaten on camera before its death and a community cat known as FieldField kicked, stamped on, then thrown from the 38th floor, with an arrest and charge following.
The data paints a wider picture. SPCA says cats made up most victims, abandonment surged, and cruelty involving youth more than doubled. The group also notes that consequences for abandoners appear weak, which may fuel repeat offending. Even where arrests occur, offenders can reoffend unless courts impose strong bans and mandatory interventions. These cases are not isolated. They reflect systemic gaps that allow cruelty to persist.
Singapore needs stronger deterrence, faster investigations, and clearer sentencing outcomes for egregious acts. This petition calls for tougher penalties for aggravated cruelty, lifetime ownership bans in severe cases, mandatory psychiatric assessment and counseling, an enforceable offender registry accessible to enforcement agencies, and resourcing for AVS to expand proactive enforcement and public reporting. These measures would protect animals, support investigators, and restore public confidence in the rule of law.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Desmond Lee,
We respectfully urge your office to direct the Animal & Veterinary Service to pursue stronger penalties and enforcement tools in response to SPCA’s report, which confirms 961 cruelty and welfare cases and 2,190 animal victims in 2024. Recent incidents described in public reports include a pet dog beaten to death on camera and a community cat thrown from the 38th floor. These accounts, alongside rising abandonment and youth-linked cases, suggest that current measures are not enough to deter serious harm.
We ask that you advance targeted reforms: increase penalties and sentencing guidance for aggravated cruelty, require lifetime bans on animal ownership in severe cases, mandate psychiatric assessment and counseling where appropriate, and establish an offender registry usable by enforcement agencies. Please also resource AVS to accelerate investigations, publish more granular enforcement data, and strengthen partnerships with SPCA and shelters so seized animals get timely care.
Singapore can set the standard for zero tolerance of animal cruelty. Clear penalties, swift enforcement, and mandatory interventions will protect animals and reduce repeat offending. We urge decisive action.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: René Modery
