AVS won't renew leases for 8 of 35 Animal Lodge tenants after tender
Eight commercial tenants at The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah will lose their leases when they expire in December 2026 after failing to meet minimum requirements in a tender exercise. Seven are dog breeders and one operates a pet boarding facility. The remaining 27 tenants will be allowed to stay un
SINGAPORE — Eight of 35 commercial tenants at The Animal Lodge will not have their tenancies renewed when they expire on Dec 5, after failing to meet the minimum requirements of a tender exercise aimed at raising animal welfare and operational standards. The affected businesses are seven dog breeders and one operator of a pet boarding facility, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said on Tuesday (Sep 1).
The remaining 27 tenants met the requirements and will be allowed to remain with tenancies that can be renewed for up to three terms until Dec 5, 2035. The 35 businesses currently occupy 53 units at the 59 Sungei Tengah Road facility and include pet breeders, boarders and a pet crematorium.
AVS director Trisha Eng said tenderers were required to submit proposals demonstrating how they would enhance animal welfare and operational outcomes beyond baseline regulatory requirements. Proposals were assessed holistically against both price and quality criteria, including animal health and welfare standards, husbandry practices and regulatory track record.
AVS had engaged and provided guidance to tenants since November last year through more than 15 sessions, including town halls, tender briefings and workshops. Ms Eng said the eight unsuccessful tenants did not propose enough measures that went beyond baseline requirements across areas such as animal health and welfare and husbandry practices.
AVS will work with the eight unsuccessful tenants to ensure plans are in place for relocation and rehoming of animals under their care. Ms Eng said the decision is final and no appeals will be considered. Citing confidentiality reasons, AVS did not reveal the identities of the eight businesses.
Several affected tenants told CNA the news came as a shock. House of Pups owner Michael Teo described the outcome as “unfair” and said the roughly three months until the Dec 5 deadline was insufficient to make arrangements for the animals, some of which are pregnant. He estimated he would need at least eight months to a year to wind down the business and rehome all the dogs. Rayru Kennel owner Raymond Toh also felt the timeframe was unreasonable.
The Animal Lodge was developed by the former Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority in 2017 to accommodate animal-related establishments affected by the redevelopment of areas such as Pasir Ris Farmway. AVS, which is under the National Parks Board, took over management of the facility in April 2019. Ms Eng said AVS will review the future use of The Animal Lodge based on industry needs and operational considerations, and available units could be offered through future tender exercises, including to new entrants.
