Singapore’s Animal Lovers League loses tenancy after alleged neglect of rescue animals

SINGAPORE: Animal welfare group Animal Lovers League (ALL) has lost its tenancy at The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah following allegations of neglect that reportedly led to the deaths of rescue animals.

The Animal Lodge, managed by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks), provides facilities for animal welfare groups and independent shelters, including ALL.

In a media briefing on Monday (8 Dec), AVS stated it had received reports from volunteers about the health and welfare of animals at ALL since December last year.

The agency found the shelter’s management to be “poor”, with the welfare of animals “progressively deteriorating over time”.

Despite multiple engagements with ALL regarding these concerns, AVS said “little to no progress was observed”.

Citing worsening welfare conditions and financial issues, the agency decided not to renew ALL’s tenancy, which expired on 5 August. ALL is required to return its units to AVS as soon as possible.

Volunteers Report Persistent Neglect

Four long-term volunteers — Huang, Wen, Susan, and Tim — alleged that neglect had been a persistent issue across both the cat and dog sections of ALL.

According to Tim, the animals lacked consistent access to clean food, water, and acceptable living conditions. With only two full-time cleaners, the large number of animals often led to rat infestations.

“These conditions place elderly and high-needs animals at particular risk. The moment an animal is diagnosed with a disease, within a month, the animal is dead,” Tim said.

Huang, who has managed the volunteer programme for seven years, said the shelter’s owners, Cathy and Mohan, were “out of the loop” and often unresponsive to requests for veterinary care.

Volunteers alleged that the owners delayed treatment due to financial difficulties, leaving animals to deteriorate.

Wen recounted taking a dog, Brownie, to the vet herself for an infected eye that required surgery, as the shelter lacked funds. Volunteers often had to cover veterinary bills and supplies out of their own pockets.

Low Adoption Rates and Hoarding Concerns

Volunteers also raised concerns about ALL’s poor adoption record.

Only two dogs were adopted in 2025, while seven died.

Huang attributed this to “hoarding” tendencies by the owners, who allegedly refused to send high-needs animals to boarders or fosterers.

Wen shared an instance where she offered to care for a dog with a heart murmur, but was denied by the shelter. The dog, Jing Jing, later died.

Susan, a 16-year volunteer, said attempts to rehome animals were often blocked without explanation.

Financial Struggles and Volunteer Burden

ALL, a registered charity, regularly raises funds from the public, yet volunteers frequently cover essential expenses themselves, including vet fees, food, and staff wages. Volunteers estimate spending around S$600 per month on supplies.

While volunteers collectively believe that Cathy and Mohan are no longer capable of managing the shelter, they are unable to take action.

No Annual General Meetings (AGMs) were held, meaning there was no mechanism to replace the owners.

In 2024, 25 volunteers petitioned authorities, citing welfare concerns, financial mismanagement, and operational deficiencies.

They also highlighted that the shelter owes AVS around S$500,000 in unpaid rent and S$300,000 in outstanding veterinary bills.

AVS Confirms Concerns and Oversees Animal Care

AVS confirmed that inspections of ALL’s 10 units housing over 200 animals revealed poor management and deteriorating welfare.

Many animals lacked prompt veterinary attention and displayed signs of stress, fear, and anxiety.

“Many animals also showed signs of fear, anxiety, and stress, as well as insufficient provision of daily essential resources such as feeding and watering points and litter boxes,” AVS said.

On 20 August, ALL surrendered 15 animals requiring urgent medical care to AVS. Several have since recovered and been taken in by caregivers.

AVS continues to monitor the remaining animals through inspections and engagement with the shelter.

Despite providing advisories, directives, and financial support, including an instalment plan for rental arrears, gaps in management persisted. ALL reportedly owes 53 months of rental arrears.

AVS is now working closely with animal welfare groups and individuals to develop a long-term plan for the care and rehoming of ALL’s animals, with several groups expressing interest in taking them in.

Commissioner of Charities Launches Investigation

The Commissioner of Charities (COC) announced on 9 December that it is investigating the governance and administration of ALL.

The probe follows feedback received and the shelter’s alleged non-compliance with the Charity Act.