Woman jailed for hoarding, ill-treating 39 cats
Cat hoarder Roslina Roslani, 34, was sentenced on Monday to two weeks' jail for failing to care for her 39 cats.
She also faced drug-related charges and was sentenced to a total of five years and seven months in jail.
Acting on complaints from her neighbours in Block 207, Yishun Street 21, officers from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and the Housing Board (HDB) raided Roslina's three-room unit on Feb 25.
Residents in the block had been living with the stench from her flat for a few years and they kept their doors and windows shut at all hours.
PHOTO: TNP FILE
AVA found 39 cats in cages, caked in faeces, and with cockroaches crawling around them.
The flat owner, Mr Roslani Ahmad, 63, is unemployed, and told reporters then that he had been keeping the cats in cages in the flat since 2000.
He said the cats were brought home by his daughter, Roslina.
The cats, which were in poor physical condition and health, were surrendered to AVA.
Four died shortly after, due to underlying medical conditions, and a fifth had to be euthanised because of poor health.
The remaining 34 cats were released to the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) for rehoming.
CWS president Thenuga Vijakumar told The New Paper that the non-profit organisation had been looking forward to this outcome.
She said: "The condition of the cats rescued from this hoarder speaks of their suffering and trauma. A total of 12 cats removed from that household died.
"A stiff deterrent penalty for the perpetrator will send a strong message that pet neglect is a serious offence."
REHOMED
Eighteen cats are still under CWS' care because they have various medical issues "that have taken a while to clear up".
"In total, the case has cost us $40,000 in medical and boarding fees to date. These costs will continue and increase until the cats are all successfully rehomed," she said.
Ms Thenuga said the surviving cats' transformation "is incredible and nothing short of inspiring".
Under the Animals and Birds Act, those guilty of cruelty to animals can be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed up to 18 months for the first conviction.
In a statement last evening, AVA said it condemns acts of animal cruelty including neglect resulting in the welfare of the animals being compromised.
"Animals from hoarding cases are often in bad physical and health conditions.
"Hoarding of pets may also cause public safety, nuisance and hygiene issues to the community.
"AVA urges pet owners not to hoard animals, and be responsible and considerate so as not to cause inconvenience to the community," its spokesman said.
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