SOSD Team Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage has worked hard over the years to produce science-based data from various TNRM Projects; on Pulau Ubin and Marina Bay East, each site with over 150 dogs in support of engagement with the Animal Veterinary Service (AVS) to advocate a change of Singapore’s stray dog management policy from culling to a more humane TNRM policy.
Our efforts paid off when AVS launched a 5-year island wide TNRM Programme in November 2018. SOSD is currently working with AVS and other Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs) to make the nationwide project a success. SOSD has also worked with National Parks Board (NParks) and AVS on public TNRM educational materials as part of TNRM outreach, as well as internal TNRM policies relating to trapping and public feedback management. Since the commencement of the island wide TNRM project, SOSD has also rehomed TNRM dogs from this project, thus further contributing to the reduction in the stray dog population.
SOSD TNRM Sites
SOSD covers approximately 27 TNRM Project sites comprising 55 smaller sites (where Team TNRM manages all dogs on site), 10 ad hoc sites comprising 23 smaller sites (where Team TNRM assists on an ad hoc basis) and 37 other on-off sites (where Team TNRM assists with a view to rehoming)
SOSD TNRM Goals
For each TNRM Project site, SOSD makes best efforts to trap as many dogs as possible (with a 100% TNR target rate for all females), neuter and rehome as many dogs as possible (including all puppies below a certain age), and to only release as a last resort.
Management (which includes on site monitoring, dealing with complaints, outreach to educate stakeholders about TNRM) is key to ensuring that a site is managed successfully. This may involve trapping / re-trapping TNR dogs which are ill or injured or subject of complaint. A key part of management is investigating and dealing with source of dog ending up as a stray e.g. through abandonment. Further engagement with relevant stakeholders e.g. through implementing new regulations is required to ensure no new dogs are irresponsibly brought into the site by humans for breeding to act as guard dogs or otherwise.
Often, land use changes within a site (e.g. forested area turns into HDB land) leaves no choice but for dogs to be rehomed rather than to remain or be released.
TNRM Work
TNRM’s trapping work is often physically-demanding as traps need to be set up (e.g. building corrals), dogs need to be monitored (e.g. conducting ongoing dog census and reviewing voluminous camera trap footage), dogs need to be trapped and transported (e.g. sourcing available skilled manpower and resources) and puppies need to be located and trapped (bearing in mind not all puppies are easy to trap)
