SINGAPORE, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Singapore authorities are looking towards tougher laws against animal abuse, Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said on Sunday.
"We will be taking legal changes to make pet abuse and animal abuse a much tougher offence, and we will deal with it strongly," Lee said at a charity dog walk organized by animal welfare group Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD).
"How you treat animals -- like many other things that you deal with in life -- is a reflection of how as a society we are maturing, (how) we're advancing, and so it's important for us to look at this aspect as well," he added.
On average, Save Our Street Dogs gets about 20 to 30 new dogs each month. Lee said that animal welfare organizations have to deal with many cases of pet abandonment, neglect and abuse.
Activists have also suggested that harsher penalties could prove more effective. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals proposed a jail term for a businessman who was recently sentenced to the maximum 10,000 Singapore dollars (8,000 U.S. dollars) fine for animal cruelty.
Law Minister K Shanmugam also said earlier that discussions have been held on the issue of improving management of stray animals with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and animal welfare groups. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority recently also asked an animal control expert to help with acceptable animal trapping practices, and animal welfare groups were invited to attend training sessions.