Dogs lovers upset over increased culling

  Dog lovers upset over increased culling AsiaOne | Wed, Dec 21, 2011 Increased efforts to round up stray dogs at Punggol Waterway by authorities have been met with protests by animal lovers. The trapping and culling efforts were put in place after a jogger was scratched and bitten by stray dogs in the park last Wednesday. The Straits Times reported today that at least 25 activists gathered on Tuesday at the place where the attack occurred to meet members of the media and protest against the culling efforts. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told the English daily it has been carrying out operations in the area since September. Four out of the 26 dogs it has caught so far will be put down as they have been deemed aggressive. External service providers have also been engaged to help in the trapping and culling as some of the dogs have proved elusive, AVA said. According to The Straits Times, pet lovers have taken to social media to protest against the culling efforts. A Facebook group created to plead for the strays' lives called on Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Member of Parliament Ms Penny Low and the AVA to stop the culling. It has since garned 961 "likes". There have also been petitions on Ms Penny Low's and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's Facebook page. The AVA posted a note on its Facebook page on Wednesday morning saying that the management of stray animals is an emotive issue with no easy solution. "On one hand, we share the concerns of animal lovers and seek to safeguard the welfare of animals in Singapore. "On the other hand, we also have to ensure the safety of Singaporeans and consider those who may be afraid of dogs," the statement said. Rabies is also one of its concerns. "The primary purpose of controlling the stray dog population is for the control and prevention of rabies, which is fatal to both humans and animals. "Although Singapore has been free from rabies for over 50 years, rabies remains a real threat as the disease exists in many parts of our region. "A large stray dog population can exacerbate the spread of rabies to other animals and humans if they are exposed and bitten by a rabies-infected animal that gained entry into Singapore," the statement continued. Animal lovers reportedly visited the AVA's Centre for Animal Welfare and Control at Pasir Panjang to try to "bail out" the dogs. This requires about $500 in fees. The activists said they were unsuccessful. The jogger who was attacked told Channel NewsAsia last week that the incident happened on a footpath when a pack of nine dogs started clawing at her legs. She screamed when one bit her calf. The dogs ran away after two other joggers who heard her screams approached.