Violet Poh has started a petition requesting Housing and Development Board (HDB) not to unfairly discriminate between responsible dog-owners in HDB flats and private housings.
She adopted a Buddy, a golden retriever, which was abandoned at a groomer about 13 years ago. Buddy has developed tumour in his old age, and to make matters worse, HDB is demanding that the dog be evicted from the flat because it does not fit the specification’s of the Board on the type of dogs that are permitted in its apartments.
Under HDB Animals Rules 1989, HDB apartments are allowed only one dog of a toy breed or its cross that stands at 40cm at the shoulders and weighs 10kg or less. Whereas if you live in a private apartment (which may even be smaller than a HDB flat) there are no such restrictions.
If you have three dogs and live in a private home, you can now consider adopting a fourth dog — at a much lower licensing fee — announced Minister of State for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, (June 28 2014 ).
“Why the discrimination against those who stay in government’s housing ? Are we less responsible or incapable? Do we lack the space needed or the abilities to manage more than one dog in our homes?” Ms Poh asked a number of questions in pointing out that HDB flats are bigger, if not on par with condominiums.
Ms Poh who has subsequently adopted another puppy, a shih tzu, from a puppy mill said that the dogs “brought me out of my darkness and are the best companion for my children, including an autistic son.”
Saying how the dogs have given her family years of happiness, Ms Poh emphasised that “Buddy is not just a dog, he is family.”
“Can you dispose of your kin when they are old and big?” she asked.
Ms Poh’s petition (here: http://bit.ly/1SY7h00) has garnered about 800 signatures so far.
But will HDB relent?