Woman fined $6,500 for breeding and selling cats in Buangkok Crescent flat without licences

A 26-year-old woman has been fined $6,500 for breeding and selling cats from a flat in Buangkok without relevant licences.

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a statement on Feb 14 that the woman, Siti Hasmirah Hamidon, was fined $4,000 for using a flat to breed cats without a pet farm licence, and $2,500 for selling cats without a pet shop licence.

AVA received feedback on the alleged sale of cats at a flat in Buangkok Crescent in June 2017.

After conducting investigations, they found six adult cats and six kittens in the flat.

Investigations revealed that Siti Hasmirah had been using the flat to breed cats for sale since March 2017.

She had posted photographs of kittens for sale on her Facebook page and sold two cats.

AVA stressed that a pet shop licence is required to display any animal, including cats for sale. Anyone found guilty of operating an unlicensed pet shop is liable to a maximum fine of $5,000.

A pet farm licence is required for breeding cats for sale. Anyone found guilty of operating an unlicensed pet farm can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months.

AVA urged members of the public to play their part in safeguarding animal welfare.

"The public should promptly report cases of illegal pet shops or pet breeding to AVA via our 24-hour hotline, 1800-476-1600 or via our website," it said.

"Providing photographic and/or video-graphic evidence will help us in our investigations.

"All information shared with AVA will be held in strict confidence."

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