Just when you thought that taking care of pets at home is a harmless hobby that anyone can enjoy, think again, especially if you’re in the business of selling pet animals for profit.
As residents of Singapore, especially for expats, it pays to know local ordinances as well as applied in the city to avoid getting into trouble with the law.

Woman who Bred Cats for Sale without License Fined S$5,000
A 69-year old woman has been slapped a S$5,000 last Wednesday (January 9) for breeding cats for sale without a pet farm license from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), as shared in a report by Channel News Asia.
June of last year, AVA officers visited the residence of a certain Lo Pia Yong to check on the cats she kept after reports have been raised regarding their welfare.
Authorities discovered a total of 70 cats kept in separate cages inside her home at One Tree Hill near Grange Road.
Investigations revealed that the woman is at no fault in terms of the welfare of her cats. However, they also discovered that Lo had been using her residence for unauthorized breeding and sale of her cats.
As per Singaporean law, anyone found guilty of operating an unlicensed pet farm can be subject to imprisonment for up to 12 months and fined up to S$10,000, or both.
According to officials from the AVA, members of the public can report similar cases via their 24-hour hotline 1800-576-1600 or through their official website.
Part of the country’s vision is not only to look after the welfare of its citizens but also of the animals living in the country, so as to ensure their safety as well as that of the greater society. This is especially important to manage the spread of animal-borne diseases which could also affect humans.