By Cheryl Lim

FEWER pets were moved in and out of Singapore last year by their owners relocating here or to other countries.

Animal activists here say that many pets have been left behind or abandoned after their owners left Singapore because it was too expensive to move them, especially during the recession.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), which grants import and export licences for pets, said that 2,079 dogs were flown or shipped into Singapore last year, down by 25 per cent from the 2,765 dogs in 2008.

Similarly, only 587 cats entered the country last year, almost half of the 999 in 2008.

The numbers include dogs and cats imported for sale at pet shops.

Mr Ricky Yeo, the president of dog-welfare group Action For Singapore Dogs, said that imported dogs make up only 10 to 20 per cent of dogs sold here.

The number of dogs and cats transported out of the country also fell. Last year, 601 dogs and 391 cats were moved out, a decline from 855 dogs and 406 cats in 2008.

The decline could have resulted from "social factors", such as the economic recession, which led to less global pet travel, said the AVA's assistant director for corporate communications, Mr Goh Shih Yong.

Animal activists said that when the going gets tough, it gets tougher for pet owners to convince themselves to part with their money to move their pets overseas with them.

Referring to expatriates who return to their home countries and Singaporeans relocating, cat-welfare group MettaCats' founder, Madam Lee Siew Ying, 57, said: "People don't want to spend money on their pets during a recession, and the economy was particularly bad last year.

"Instead of spending money on veterinary health certificates and enlisting the services of a pet-moving company, they dump their pets in animal shelters or on the streets."

While she does not keep track of the numbers, she felt that her shelter took in more abandoned cats last year than in 2008.

Mr Yeo agreed, saying: "I'd say there were 20 to 30 per cent more dogs abandoned last year than in 2008, probably because of the economic crisis.

"A lot of expatriates were recalled back (to their home countries) last year, but if the number of dogs going out went down instead, some of the dogs could have been dumped."

Expatriates used to enjoy relocation benefits from their companies, but most of these were removed in the last three to five years, he said.

Singaporean pet owners were also to blame, he added.

He said: "Last year, I saw an increase of 10 to 15 per cent of locals who wrote in asking us to take their dogs in, because they were relocating.

"They have all sorts of excuses, such as having no time or no one to look after (the pet), but it doesn't make sense, since the whole family is moving. At the end of the day, it's about the money for Singaporeans."

Pet owners have to obtain an import or export licence from the AVA within 30 days of arrival or departure which costs $50 each.

The pet has to be checked by a veterinarian to obtain health certificates proving that it is free from rabies and other diseases.

These check-ups should not cost more than $100, said Mr Yeo.

Pet owners can hire a pet-handling company to transport their animal from one country to another, which can cost between $800 and $15,000, depending on the size of the animal and the destination.

The cost of moving a dog typically comes up to about $2,000 if a professional pet mover is used, said Mr Yeo.

But pet owners can transport the animals themselves to save money, he said.

"I will always encourage dog-owners moving, to consider doing it themselves instead of hiring a pet-moving company, if cost is an issue for them. This way, there will hopefully be fewer cases of pet abandonment."

cheryll@sph.com.sg

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