Working Dogs Welfare
In 2021, the LSPCA conducted an inquiry, prompted by public observations and complains regarding the poor appearance of security dogs especially those stationed in public areas like malls.
The welfare issues identified during this inquiry were:
- Poor nutrition resulting in poor body condition scores and increased susceptibility to infections.
- Poor housing structures that do not provide adequate protection from the weather, with no bedding and insufficient space for the size/ number of dogs.
- Lack of enrichment (particularly important when dogs are kennelled for many hours a day)
- Inadequate access to quality veterinary health care as evidenced by the absence of preventative health care like vaccinations, tick and flea control and deworming, resulting in diseases
- Failure to retire old dogs and failure to rest sick dogs
- Inappropriate dog training, handling and transport methods
- Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in incidents involving dogs attacking and causing harm to minors. While many of these dogs were/are owned by individuals, a few of them involve working dogs that are under the ownership of security companies
Together LSPCA and DAHLD launched a government-accredited ‘Stamp of Approval’ for security companies and institutions that work with dogs as a way of encouraging proper dog welfare practices that can translate into improved welfare of security dogs in the city. We initially worked with 10 security companies and only 5 were accredited in 2021.
LSPCA has now partnered with the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) and the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development (DAHLD) to implement a collaborative and upscaled project involving at least 20 security companies. The project’s objective is to improve the health, well-being, and working conditions of working dogs through targeted interventions, education, and collaboration with local stakeholders.
LSPCA together with DAHLD inspects dog kennels, identify areas for improvement, train/educate dog handlers and breeders on animal welfare and guide them as they make the necessary changes.
The stamp of approval is given to the companies and institutions that adhere to the animal welfare standards as outlined in the Animal Welfare Guidelines of 2019. LSPCA will continue to engage various stakeholders and encourage that they only give business to accredited companies. Legal action will be taken against companies or institutions that fail to improve after receiving the necessary education, support and encouragement. The stamp of approval will be revoked from companies that fail to uphold the animal welfare standards.