By Liew Hanqing

AS STUDENTS, my peers and I were continually exhorted to stop animal cruelty.

There would be assembly talks conducted by the for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, during which horrific pictures of abused animals were flashed, much to our horror and disgust.

With the advent of the Internet, however, animal cruelty has become, well, a different animal altogether.

On any popular Singapore-based classifieds websites, prospective pet owners will find thousands of dogs, cats and other small animals up for sale or adoption.

It is almost impossible to ensure that every animal finds a safe and caring home.

After all, how can one tell if a prospective pet owner has thoroughly considered the responsibilities of pet ownership, and has the required maturity?

How do we guarantee that everybody who places an ad to sell a pet online follows up on a sale with checks to make sure the animal is well looked after?

The ads on the classifieds sites provide insights into the kind of attitudes some prospective pet owners have.

Trade handphone for cats

One prospective cat owner writes: "I want to trade my new Nokia N97 handphone and $100 cash for two pedigree flat face female Persian or Ragamuffin kittens."

Another emphasises, in his ad, that buyers would "never find puppies like this at a cheaper price".

Just like gadgets and fashion accessories. These animals are being treated like items which can be bartered or sold to whoever makes the best offer - whether they are responsible owners or not.

It is obvious that the nature of pet adoption and sale is fast evolving, and this means the authorities need to be just as nimble in responding to these changes.

Currently, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) does not have jurisdiction over online advertisements.

However, a spokesman told The New Paper that if there is evidence that an individual who advertises online is using a venue to sell pets without a pet shop licence, AVA will investigate and take appropriate action - and that offenders can be fined up to $5,000 on conviction.

Still, given the pervasive nature of online advertising, it is important that the authorities look into ensuring that animals put up for adoption or sale online find responsible owners.

Unlike the latest handphone or designer wallet, these animals live and breathe - just like us.

This story was first published in The New Paper.