Breakdown of Cause of Death of Dogs at Dog Farms and Pet Shops Since 2019

12 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development for each year since 2019, what is the breakdown of the cause of death for dogs reported to have died at (i) dog farms and (ii) pet shops.

Mr Desmond Lee: Licensed dog farms and pet shops are required to report the death of any dog under their care and provide information on the cause of death to the National Parks Board (NParks). They are also required to submit a death certificate signed by a licenced veterinarian.

Based on the information reported in the death certificates, the cause of death is often inconclusive as post-mortem examinations are typically not conducted and dogs may have multiple health issues. Notwithstanding, NParks has observed that most dogs that passed away in dog farms had chronic diseases, such as cancer, kidney disease and diabetes. Death cases in pet shops may involve various factors, including transport stress and undiagnosed health conditions.