Working group to look into standardised training for animal handlers

SINGAPORE — Animal-related businesses will have up to two years to comply with a new requirement under proposed changes to laws on animal welfare that calls for their staff to be trained and certified in animal care and handling.

To ensure standardised training and accreditation in this area, discussions are ongoing with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to come up with a course.

In addition, a working group formed by the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC) — which arose from recommendations by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC) — is also looking into expanding an existing animal care and handling programme at Temasek Polytechnic. The working group is also reviewing the existing curriculum and will work with stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient training facilities and places.

Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, AWLRC chairman Yeo Guat Kwang suggested that businesses be given a one- to two-year grace period to meet the training requirements after the Animals and Birds (Amendment) Bill is passed.

Should there be a standardised training course, MSCC chair Alex Yam said it could cover topics such as animal health and first aid.

Among the proposed changes to the animal welfare legislation — which were tabled as a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament earlier this month — is one that requires animal handlers at businesses such as pet groomers, pet hotels, wildlife attractions and animal welfare groups to hold qualifications or be trained in animal care and handling.

Currently, only operators, managers and staff of pet retail outlets and dog farms are required to attend compulsory structured training in pet animal management and welfare.

A Temasek Polytechnic spokesperson said about 300 people have attended their Pet Care and Management (Companion Animal) course since it was introduced in 2010. About 90 per cent of participants were pet retailers.

Pet groomers whom TODAY spoke to felt the new requirement would give customers peace of mind that their pets are well-cared for.

Mr Aaron Wong of pet resort and spa Goldie and Lab noted that even without certification, most businesses do treat animals properly, as the sector is dependent on feedback and reviews from customers.

Mr Yeo also addressed queries on why the proposed penalties were lower than the initial AWLRC recommendations. Last year, they had called for a maximum fine of S$50,000 and/or a three-year jail term to be imposed on repeat offenders. However, under the proposed penalties for animal cruelty, repeat offenders can be fined up to S$30,000 and/or given a jail term of three years. Animal-related businesses can be fined up to S$100,000 and/or given a three-year jail term.

“When we came up with this penalty, we tried to adjust it accordingly by ensuring that the penalty is maintained proportionally ... to the other existing legislations for human offences,” said Mr Yeo.

Asked about why the definitions of animal cruelty were not adjusted to consider the psychological stress an animal could have faced, Mr Yam said it was hard to prove psychological trauma in animals and there had not been any science at the moment to explicitly detect such stress in animals.

The Bill will be debated in Parliament on Monday.