No lease renewal for 8 pet businesses; AVS says their measures to improve animal welfare fell short
They were required to submit proposals that go beyond the baseline regulatory requirements.
The Animal Lodge, a facility in Singapore managed by the National Parks Board’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), announced that eight out of 35 pet businesses, including seven pet breeders and one pet boarder, will not have their leases renewed. The tenants who did not meet AVS's criteria for enhancing animal welfare beyond baseline regulations will not be granted lease renewals, even though the tenancies expire on December 5, 2035. The remaining 27 businesses will be able to renew their leases when their tenancies end.
The Animal Lodge, built in 2017, houses 53 commercial units occupied by 35 businesses, such as pet breeders, boarders, and a pet crematorium. To lease the space, tenants must provide shelter and ventilation for their animals and ensure daily checks. However, for the latest lease renewal, AVS required businesses to show how they would improve animal welfare further.
This could involve providing better living environments, implementing more robust health and welfare practices, or using additional measures like air-conditioning.
AVS director Trisha Eng explained that tenants are evaluated based on their regulatory track record and ability to improve and uphold standards over time. For example, Cat breeder ChubbyBuddy, which has about 50 cats, has been granted a lease renewal. They have installed an air-conditioned space and conduct DNA testing for their felines to identify hereditary health risks.
Dog breeder Wellfond Pets, whose four units will be renovated, will make their partially air-conditioned space fully air-conditioned and provide a free-roaming environment for breeder dogs. These businesses will be responsible for rehabilitating and repainting their spaces, with AVS monitoring their transition plans to ensure the animals' health and welfare are not compromised.
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