Animal cruelty and welfare
Animal cruelty and welfare cases in Singapore and how to report suspected acts of animal cruelty
Last updated 19 November 2025
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Animal welfare: A shared responsibility
From 2018 to 2021, the amount of feedback received relating to animal cruelty and welfare rose by 21.5%. However, this increase is likely due to the public’s greater awareness of animal welfare rather than increased incidence of cruelty.
Our investigations showed that over 95% of the feedback received was not related to animal cruelty or animal welfare. Instead, the feedback pertained mostly to nuisance caused by pets (e.g. loud noises, unpleasant smell, poor hygiene), and neighbourly disputes.
Reporting suspected acts of animal cruelty
Common offences that we investigate
Animal Cruelty
Cruelty beating, kicking, ill-treating, infuriating or terrifying any animal
Rashly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act causes unnecessary pain or suffering
Failure in duty of care
Abandoning your pets
Not providing adequate shelter and food
Not seeking prompt veterinary attention for any significant disease or injury
Illegal breeding and sale
Breeding animals at home and selling them for a profit
Illegal importation of animals
Bringing animals into Singapore without a valid import permit
Lack of dog control
Allowing your pet dog to be at large or not under proper control at public places
How to report a suspected act of animal cruelty
If you come across suspected acts of animal cruelty, please contact us to report the act here.
Here are some important details to provide if you are a witness to a suspected act of animal cruelty:
Date, time and exact location of the incident
Suspect’s details, such as:
Suspect's full name, contact number, residential address and ID number
Suspect’s vehicle number (if applicable)
Photo(s) or a description of the suspect's appearance (if the suspect cannot be identified)
Identity and contact details of all witnesses
Witnesses can provide detailed statements and must be willing to testify if the case goes to court
Photo or video evidence of the act
The animal which the alleged act of cruelty was inflicted on is a critical piece of evidence. If the animal is dead, do not dispose of or bury the animal. We need the carcass to conduct post-mortem tests. These tests can determine the cause of death.
If the animal was treated by a veterinarian, we need:
A full veterinary report detailing the injuries sustained and treatments required.
A post-mortem report, if the animal had died.
The veterinarian who performed the post-mortem to testify in court about the findings.
Any physical objects found at the scene, and which may be related to the case.
Investigating animal cruelty and poor animal welfare cases
Investigations into cases of animal cruelty can take time as we need to gather the following:
Relevant evidence
Interviews and statements from the suspect(s) and witness(es)
Veterinary reports and post-mortem results
Information from other government agencies
AVS investigates all alleged animal welfare and cruelty cases, including those on pet abandonment. Where necessary, we work with the relevant agencies and animal welfare groups on these cases. AVS takes enforcement action against anyone who has committed an act of animal cruelty. For first-time offenders, individuals who are found guilty of failure in duty of care is liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or 12 months’ jail term and for those who commit an act of animal cruelty are liable to a maximum fine of $15,000 and/or 18 months’ jail term.
Challenges
Investigations into cases of animal cruelty and poor animal welfare are challenging. Some challenges faced during these investigations include:
Lack of eyewitnesses and direct evidence (e.g. relevant CCTV footage)
Carcasses were disposed of, or found to be in bad condition, even before the case was reported, making post-mortem analysis impossible
Cases not being reported for follow-up
Case reports being delayed, which may impede investigations
To prosecute an offender, we need direct verifiable evidence (e.g. photographs, video etc.) and witnesses who are willing to testify in court. Therefore, we need the support of the public as well as animal welfare groups to provide such evidence to assist in the investigations.