News

Woman Who Abandoned 16 Cats at Punggol to Be Fined $4,000

2021-02-18 , 3:21 pm

This might be a little bizarre.

We have heard of the Yishun cat killer but have you heard of the Punggol cat releaser?

Punggol Cat Releaser

Here’s the condensed background of the whole incident.

Nur Hajjar Osman, a 35-year old woman asked her accomplice Muhammad Haidhar Zulkifli to help her permanently abandon her 16 cats at Punggol on 28 February 2019.

Why, you ask? Because she was unable to take care of them.

What’s worse is that Haidhar agreed.

But the real question in our head is: where on earth did she get so many cats?

Midnight Cat Release Mission

Unlike Cinderella who needed to run home at the stroke of midnight, Hajjar and her accomplice were doing something else then.

Releasing cats.

In the wee hours of 1 March 2019, Haidhar dabao-ed (took away) 16 cats in 5 cages in a lorry that he had borrowed and drove around the area.

After their meowing drove him insane, he eventually decided to abandon the cats in their cages at Sumang Lane HDB block.

Cats Found Safe and Sound

The cats were then found by a member of the public on March 1, 2019. The Agri-Food Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) was contacted.

In April 2019, the National Parks Board (NParks) took over AVA’s responsibilities for animals.

The images of these caged cats went viral in a public Facebook group Sayang Our Singapore’s Community Cats, with several angry netizens seeking justice online.

Both Parties Were Charged

Hajjar pleaded guilty to two counts of animal abandonment under the Animals and Birds Act. Fourteen similar charges were also taken into consideration for sentencing.

NParks’ prosecutor called for a fine and ban, condemning her actions as “totally unacceptable” and said that they were proof of her “total disregard” for her responsibility as a pet owner.

Ultimately, Hajjar was charged a $4,000 fine. She pleaded for a lighter fine since she only works part-time and did not have a lawyer.

However, District Judge Teo Guan Kee declined her plea, since he did not see any reason to not adhere to the prosecution’s submissions.

She was also banned from owning any animals for a year.

Hajjar’s accomplice Haidhar was also charged, but it seems like he has more problems to worry about.

Aside from being accused of partaking in the Midnight Cat Release Mission, he is also accused of dealing with 10 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes last month at a Jurong West flat. He could have been jailed up to a year and/or fined up to $10,000.

Hajjar’s case is pending. However, for each abandonment charge, she could have been jailed up to a year, or fined up to S$10,000 for the first conviction, or even both.

Don’t Anyhow Buy and Release Animals

Research and think carefully before you purchase a pet. A pet is a lifelong commitment and not a decision to be made in the spur of the moment.

Pets that are abandoned are unlikely to survive. They can also be crushed by passing vehicles.

As quoted by Ms Jessica Kwok, group director of community animal management at Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), “We will look into all feedback on animal welfare concerns and animal cruelty, including pet abandonment.”

Things to Consider if You Want a Pet

If you are interested in getting a pet, here are some factors you should consider:

Finances: Aside from food, the living quarters and its toys. You should also take into consideration of the hefty vet fees your pet will incur. Like humans, a pet will get sick and injured as well.

Life expectancy: A hamster can live for 2 to 3 years while a turtle/tortoise can live for up to 40-50 years. You have to consider this for that is the period you will be responsible for the pet.

Size: Not everything stays small. That includes your pets. Terrapins that were the size of a fifty cents coin at a pet store will grow up to the size of a dinner plate. Make sure to do your homework before you get your pet.

Ms Kwok reiterated that pet abandonment was unpardonable, and said that, “Owning a pet is a lifelong commitment and owners must be responsible and provide appropriate care for the animals.”

Remember this, your pet is only a part of your life but to them, you are their whole life.

Feature Image: Facebook (Joanne Cheong)