FREE MIKEY

Due recognition that tethering and caging dogs are forms of animal cruelty
I had written to AVA regarding a dog that was tethered to a pole in Oct 2013. The dog (of whom I've named Mikey) was only taken out for brief poo sessions once or twice a day. Mikey, was and has been to date been tethered on a 4 to 5 foot chain for about 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Although it’s quite heartening to hear about the government's recent initiatives towards animal welfare, I find AVA's response that the dog is adequately taken care of and failure to counsel this particular dog owner to release the dog is utterly disappointing. The AVA’s reply was “the dog seemed to be in good condition and very friendly which is a good indicator that the dog has regular human contact and well socialized”. I find this comment very disturbing. How does the over - friendliness exhibited by this dog indicate that it has been well socialized? Did the investigating officer monitor the situation for the last 2 years? Was there any evidence to show that the dog was seen socializing with the outside world? Or could it be the over -friendliness exhibited by this dog indicate that it is actually DESPERATE and HUNGRY for some attention? It’s hardly a comfortable situation for Mikey to live in, even though he is fed food and water.
Caging : Confining a dog in a cage that has barely enough space for it to move. It is just a way to keep a dog till one gets round to taking care of it properly. How can it be the start of true progress in animal welfare in Spore when AVA condones these kinds of practices? AVA’s policies are not compatible with the recent initiative to sterilize the stray dogs on Jurong Island and a total contradiction to raise awareness for animal rights ( MPs Tan Chuan Jin and Desmond Lee clean cars to raise awareness for animal rights Dec 31st 2014 Straits Times) Will the volunteers manning the East Coast adoption center ( i.e. if this actually materializes) in future encourage the public: to be kind, respectful and loving towards their adopted dog by being responsible or should they inform the public that tethering and caging are perfectly acceptable practices ? Tethering and caging are not excuses to housebreak a dog. There is obviously a more effective and humane method and it’s called TRAINING SENSIBLY. It is morally abhorrent to tether and cage a social animal like a dog, when all it wants is and deserve companionship, scratches behind its ears, nice long walks to explore its surroundings and the opportunity to lie down beside its guardian’s feet. Instead of being guided by a moral conscience in doing what is right, AVA has chosen to act no further on Mikey’s case. PETA has long recognized that tethering and caging as forms of animal cruelty, WHEN WILL WE?