The Local Pets Trade

Read a fairly long article in The Business Times and thought that at least some effort and research had gone into filling the content. Written by Fiona Lam and Vivienne Tay, and published on January 11, 2020, ‘Paws-perous business: The booming pets trade that’s also feeding an illicit market’, took a look at why the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) is reviewing the pet trade, focusing on breeding and boarding.

It's high time that this is done. Human nature is such that many will exploit the loopholes in any industry. The situation at boarding centers for pets is particularly bad. And the pet industry is not well regulated. The outcome of AVS’ review can only be good for animal welfare. It might drive business costs up, but it does mean keeping aspiring amateur breeders and illicit shops in check. FFS, breeding pets is a specific science. Responsibly breeding of animals and ensuring healthy genes and champion lines require a lot of work and research.

"Through our regular engagement with the industry, we've heard that standards need to improve and we acknowledge there are gaps (in regulation) to be filled in areas such as home breeding," says Dr Chang Siow Foong, group director of professional and scientific services at AVS under the National Parks Board (NParks). 

The breeding and boarding scenes as well as pet traceability are the initial focus areas for AVS. It expects to recommend measures to raise standards in these areas by early 2020, Dr Chang says.

I make my stand clear. I don’t support local breeders very much, even the registered ones. I’m generalizing here, to the point of being condescending — their grasp of science and genetics isn’t thorough enough for me. They didn't answer my questions with sufficient details. They seemed more interested to make a sale, and kept insisting that I could do a genetic test with the vet after the purchase. That didn't sit well with me.

I would have taken on the not-too-daunting administrative hassle of importing a dog from a trusted breeder overseas on my own, cutting out the middleman, a.k.a the pet shop. But if I can find a local pet shop who doesn’t work with local breeders and does only imports from ethical sources, I can live with that. (I did.) To that, I’m still iffy about buying, selling and breeding ‘designer dogs’, even from reputable overseas breeders with an established history of responsible breeding, positive care and communication.

The article tried to pull in all the factors that drive unlicensed breeding versus legitimate pet shops and breeders, pointing out loopholes in the regulation of pet boarding facilities, etc. They also pointed out the brisk business of home breeders selling pets online too, and supplying to unscrupulous pet shops. What would have fleshed out the article more and move it closer to investigative journalism, would be quotes from ‘home breeders’ or a few more pet owners who knowingly bought their babies from these dubious breeders/sources.

Industry participants warn of bourgeoning illicit activity. The booming black market, driven by the sizable profits to be made, is dominated by backyard breeders (BYBs), unlicensed home breeders who care little for animal welfare due to ignorance or to cut costs. Pets bought from BYBs can be ridden with birth defects, infectious diseases, and/or behavioural problems. Some conditions have been fatal while others cost up to five figures to treat.

I don’t judge people for their decisions in adopting or buying their pets. It’s their very personal choice. It doesn’t mean that being a pet shop makes it unethical, and animal shelters are always right, and we should #AdoptDon’tBuy. As much as I wanted to adopt a dog, I didn’t meet the right one at the right time. Often, the strict fosters put me off; and I always damn suay to meet the super zealots. Don’t tell me it’s in the best interests of the dog when you insist on turning up at my home without prior warning on any day you so please. Importantly, breed matters to all pet owners. The human hearts might simply prefer a certain breed and size.

To aspiring breeders, Dr Loon has this advice: "Do thorough research on the hereditary diseases your animals are prone to and the methods to screen for them. Be ready for the costs, effort and time involved, including managing health issues that may come up along the way. 

"It's not just a fun home project." 

Much of the industry's future hinges on the outcome of AVS' review. Stricter regulations, while without a doubt beneficial for animal welfare and consumers, will raise compliance costs for businesses and could shrink supply, inflating prices further. On the other hand, AVS has been floating the idea of licensing home breeders - if implemented, this will bring more pets into the legitimate trade and allow for lower prices.