| Euthanasia
Introduction
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Singapore (in association with RSPCA U.K.) is a registered charity that depends on donations from the public. No government grant is received. The Society’s prime objectives are to promote kindness to animals and prevent cruelty. The SPCA does this through the investigation of cruelty cases; and aims to promote kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership by educating the general public.
Number of unwanted animals received
The SPCA is the only shelter in Singapore that does not have selective intake – i.e., it accepts all animals that are brought in. This means the SPCA receives about 800 animals each month, or an average of 27 animals a day. Up to 400 are unwanted or abandoned pets. The remaining animals are strays, many of which are sick, injured and/or newborn.
Why euthanasia is practised?
The SPCA abhors the necessity of practising euthanasia, but feels it is warranted under certain conditions.
1. The animal is sick, injured or in pain, and whose affliction cannot be cured, or involves permanent and serious disability.
2. There exists an unmanageable excess of animals because of over-breeding or abandonment.
Of the 800 animals the SPCA takes in each month, only around 85 are adopted. With so few adoptive homes, and a limited amount of space at SPCA, many of the other animals have to be euthanased.
How euthanasia is done
An animal must be put down humanely with the minimum of stress or suffering. At the SPCA, qualified veterinarians carry out all euthanasia procedures. The animal is given an overdose of barbiturates by injection. This method is acknowledged as the quickest and most painless way of euthanasia.
The public's role
1. Once surrendered to the SPCA, an animal becomes the property of the SPCA. Any member of the public who surrenders a pet or stray to the SPCA is told that because of the large numbers of animals received and the limited number of homes available to adopt them, there is no guarantee that their animal will be kept for adoption. The public should not surrender an animal if they are unable to accept that the animal may be euthanased. To avoid this outcome and to help reduce the burden on SPCA, they should try and find a home for the animal.
2. Limited space dictates how many animals can be kept at the SPCA at any one time (approximately 150 to 170 animals). This means the SPCA is unable to hold surrendered animals indefinitely in case people change their minds and want to take it back. Calling a few days later to take the animal back may be too late, so every consideration must be made BEFORE handing the animal over.
3. The SPCA does not have hospitalisation facilities to treat all the injured and sick animals it receives or picks up. Funds have to be used wisely to keep the SPCA in operational mode – if every animal were treated and kept indefinitely, it would very soon run out of space and funds.
All rescued animals that are in need of veterinary attention are brought to a veterinarian. In cases where a stray animal is injured, the animal is likely to be euthanased. The SPCA cannot afford to treat most of the sick and injured animals it receives, especially when there are so many other healthy animals to keep for adoption.
4. The SPCA sets criteria to select the animals that will be put up for adoption. This is based on health, temperament, age and space. Once an animal is put up for adoption, it will be kept until a home is found, however long it takes. However, animals will be reassessed on their suitability for adoption in cases of serious illness or negative behaviour changes.
5. The SPCA does not believe in confining animals long-term in cages, as the animals’ quality of life would be severely affected. Accepting all animals and keeping them permanently in a shelter would be at the expense of the animals themselves, because overcrowding, sickness and fighting would eventually result. |
