Source: The Straits Times

IN THE first such case here, a dog breeder has been put behind bars for causing unnecessary pain and suffering to six dogs he owned.

Ng Kok Ming was sentenced to a $30,000 fine for animal cruelty offences committed last August at a kennel he rented from the Ericsson Pet Farm at Pasir Ris Farmway 2.

But it is understood the 43-year-old is now serving a six-week jail sentence because he could not pay the fine.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) had previously preferred to coax, warn or fine errant owners and breeders. This is the first time a breeder has been charged and convicted in court.

When contacted, the AVA said it has always taken animal cruelty enforcement very seriously.

“The decision on what action to take is proportionate with the seriousness of the offence. In Ng’s case, the offence warranted prosecution in court,” a spokesman said.

The authority said there were two similar cases in 2006 and 2008, but the breeders were not taken to court.

Instead, they were fined $1,000 each for failing to provide reasonable care and supervision for their animals.

But in Ng’s case, the six dogs – five of which were pedigree breeds – were tick-infested, emaciated and malnourished.

The worst was a miniature schnauzer which was found with pus-infected wounds on its ears, one of which contained maggots.

A veterinarian who examined the dog said it was also too weak to stand, and had to be hospitalised for 10 days.

The AVA said the six dogs were the only ones it managed to “positively trace” from a group of 90 dogs that belonged to Ng’s kennel.

Ng said he bought the dogs from another breeder in April last year – four months before the alleged offences.

He had paid $15,000, and also hired a worker to take care of the dogs. But soon after, he ran into financial problems and defaulted on rent at the pet farm.

He was also unable to pay his worker’s salary or upkeep the dogs.

According to court documents, Ng’s worker even had to borrow dog food from another breeder to feed the canines under his care.

As a result, the condition of the dogs became worse, and the worker was forced to give away the dogs to other breeders and animal volunteer groups.

A volunteer who took care of the six abused dogs said that currently, five of the animals had been adopted and were doing well.

The sixth – the schnauzer – is still looking for an owner, and is temporarily at a foster home.

“It had its entire ear canal removed, and this has affected it getting a home,” said the volunteer, who did not want to be named.