SINGAPORE : After months of planning and fund-raising, Animal Lovers League has opened its own shelter at Pasir Ris Farmway 3.
Animal welfare groups were up in arms when the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority started culling stray cats last year.
They wanted sterilised strays to be kept alive, but there was a lack of pet shelters to take them all in.
Now, a
160-strong cat community lives at Pets Villa, a shelter set up by the Animal Lovers League in February.
Most of the cats were caught off the streets by the AVA, while others were evicted pets from HDB apartments.
Housed in the next building are some 70 dogs, either abandoned by owners or found roaming the streets.
At the shelter, they are all sterilised and given a home.
But each animal must have a sponsor; monthly charges are S$30 for a cat, and S$100 for a dog.Although there are some 50 volunteers helping out, the shelter still needs money to defray its
S$20,000 monthly expenses.
"At this point we need S$50,000, to convert what you see, the dog kennels and the catteries into an open concept. I wouldn't want them shut in all the time. Although the units are spacious, they need to come out," said Cathy Strong, president of the Animal Lovers League.
Besides cash donations, the group also hopes animal lovers will give dog and cat food on a regular basis.And donations have also been coming in, in various forms.
One company committed to building a swimming pool for dogs on a plot of land, while another is paying for the shelter's sign-board.
Pets Villa is putting up some of the animals for adoption.
But before you start rushing down to pick up the pet that you like, please make sure you are living in a place that allows you to keep them.
The Animal Lovers League will hold a fund-raising dinner on 5 June.
Those interested can call 675 51424 for more details. - CNA
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Reporter Croco, aka Good Boi
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