BITTER PUNGGOL RESIDENT CALLS AVA TO CULL DOGS IN ESTATE, CLAIMS DOGS ATTACKED HIM WHEN HE FELL ON HIS OWN

A Punggol resident claims he was “attacked” by stray dogs. He has been calling AVA to cull the dogs since 2012. However, in further examination, he was not attacked, but merely fell: “Suddenly, the dogs on his left came from behind and barked”. “I was startled, lost my footing and fell.”

Punggol is an area where tensions between stray dogs and humans are high – due to rapid deforestation leading to the displacement of the indigenous dogs. Thousands of dogs have lost their lives, and now, the remaining dogs face extermination because a minority relentlessly pressure the authorities to act, even though many understand that the dogs are shy, and run away, rather than attack people.

In a study published by SOSD and The Nielson Company last year on the stray dog situation in Punggol, eight in 10 residents surveyed felt that catching and neutering stray dogs is a good alternative to culling, and eight in 10 residents preferred to have the strays rehomed.

“This, however, has proven to be impossible as there are laws limiting the size of dogs allowed in HDB flats to 10kg. Even with the new Project Adore, HDB owners can keep only dogs of up to 15kg or 50cm (shoulder height). This only allows 10 per cent of stray dogs to qualify. Until the Ministry of National Development decides to respond to our pleas (to allow bigger dogs into flats), the stray dog situation will never improve and the public will continue to perceive that AVA is not doing its job, even though we know they are trying their best,” ~ Dr Siew, SOSD President.

You can do your part, by SHARING this post, and spreading the word, that the dogs are grossly misunderstood. Many do not know how to react when they encounter stray dogs, and as a result end up falling. The dogs DO NOT attack, and will not, if we know how to react.

Thank you to The New Paper, for this balanced article which sheds light on the true situation in Punggol.