Permanent Animal Exhibition Licence for Pet Cafes (PDF)

PERMANENT ANIMAL EXHIBITION LICENCE FOR PET CAFES (WITH ANIMALS FOR INTERACTION) The Animal & Veterinary Service (“AVS”) is a cluster of the National Parks Board, a statutory board constituted under the National Parks Board Act (Cap. 198A). A. No person shall use any premis...

PERMANENT ANIMAL EXHIBITION LICENCE FOR PET CAFES (WITH ANIMALS FOR INTERACTION) The Animal & Veterinary Service (“AVS”) is a cluster of the National Parks Board, a statutory board constituted under the National Parks Board Act (Cap. 198A). A. No person shall use any premises for the permanent exhibition of animals without a valid animal exhibition licence from the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) issued in accordance with the Animals and Birds (Pet Shop and Exhibition) Rules 2004. The licence is renewable annually. B. The licensee shall comply with all statutory requirements of other government agencies and authorities, such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Housing Development Board and Singapore Food Agency, which are related to the application of this animal exhibition licence. C. The conditions and procedures detailed herein apply to dogs and cats. The licensee must be able to demonstrate that the facilities and the management of the animals meet all required standards. He must ensure that the special needs of each species are met. For other species of animals, a separate proposal to AVS must be submitted. Approval of the proposal, if given, will be subject to separate licensing conditions. THE LICENSEE (THE EXHIBITOR) D. The licensee is the person identified in the licence as being responsible for the orderly and proper operation of the exhibited animal collection and for compliance with the requirements of the licence. E. The licensee is responsible for the health and welfare of the animals and must ensure that every staff is adequately trained to perform their duties in this regard. F. If the person specified in the licence is no longer connected to the exhibition, an application for transfer of licence must be made by the person assuming responsibility. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LICENSEE G. The licensee shall: Ensure that the animals are healthy and in good condition; Ensure that the animals are exhibited in good living conditions that are clean and comfortable; Ensure there is no new introduction of animals to a group that has been tested and are waiting to enter the café; Ensure that the animals are managed in a proper manner that is appropriate for the species, age and gender of the animal, given enough rest and not subjected to stress; Ensure that animals are safely and appropriately confined; Updated 18 July 2024 1  Ensure that there is no sale, giving away or adoption of animals or introduction or replacement of animals without prior approval from AVS; Promote animal health and welfare, and responsible pet ownership. H. The licensee shall fulfil the above responsibilities and comply with the licence condition(s) set down below. Failure to fulfil the responsibilities or comply with any condition(s) shall render the licensee liable to composition(s), suspension or revocation of the licence or prosecution for failure to ensure duty of care or cruelty to animals. I. AVS reserves the right to inspect the premises at any reasonable time to ensure that the conditions of the licence are fully complied with. J. AVS reserves the right to impose additional conditions, and suspend or revoke the licence. LICENSING CONDITIONS ANIMAL HOUSING & ENVIRONMENT 1. All animal housing must provide at least the following basic living conditions conducive to the overall well-being of the animals: a) Adequate shelter, shade and ventilation; b) Adequate space for the animals to move freely and comfortably, to lie down and stretch, to exercise and to rest; and c) Adequate hiding places and rest areas. 2. Only compatible animals of the same species can be group-housed together. 3. High standards of sanitation must be maintained. There must be a cleaning regime to remove animal hair regularly throughout the day. All areas used by the animals must be cleaned and disinfected daily with appropriate quick-drying and animal-friendly cleaning and disinfecting agents. Housekeeping activities must not cause undue stress to the animals. 4. There must be a quiet isolation room for animals that are not well to rest and recuperate. The animals must be able to stand, sit, turn around and lie comfortably. Alternatively, the animals must be removed and sent for veterinary attention immediately. 5. There must be a separate space for the animals to have sufficient rest and be away from any interactions, and this area must not be accessible to customers. 6. There must be adequate measures to prevent the animals from escaping from the facility. 7. Where cages are used in the isolation room, they must be in good condition and properly secured. Cages must be made of material that is strong, non-toxic, Updated 18 July 2024 2  corrosion-resistant and easy to clean and disinfect, such as stainless steel and aluminium. Cages must be placed directly on the floor or on a stable structure. 8. The licensee is to engage a pest control company and have a pest control plan in place. Any chemicals used by the pest control company must not be harmful to the animals exhibited in the premises. WASTE MANAGEMENT 9. There must be a separate toileting area for the animals, which is inaccessible to and out of sight of the public. 10. There must be a strict protocol to ensure good waste management: a) Faeces must be cleared frequently to maintain cleanliness and minimise smell; b) Steps must be taken to minimise tracking of waste into and within the interaction area, e.g. by placing foot mats/rugs at the entrance to the interaction area; c) Faecal and waste matter must be double bagged and secured properly, e.g. with a cable tie or equivalent, and disposed of daily in an appropriate receptacle; d) Staff are to wear appropriate gloves and other protective apparel (e.g. apron), when handling faecal matter, and clearing and disinfecting the litter boxes. The gloves and protective apparel used for such purposes must not be used for any other purposes. 11. For cat cafes: a) All litter trays must be inaccessible to the public; b) Litter trays of adequate sizes and numbers must be provided; c) Cat litter must be used in sufficient amounts and soiled litter discarded as often as necessary to keep the environment clean and odour-free; d) Litter trays must be emptied and cleaned with a suitable disinfectant at least once daily. ANIMAL MANAGEMENT & HEALTHCARE 12. The licensee must engage a licensed attending veterinarian to formulate and oversee: a) A comprehensive healthcare and animal management programme that includes diet and feeding, sterilisation, vaccinations, and treatment schedules for internal and external parasites; b) An infectious/zoonotic disease prevention and control plan for the cafe that includes prevention measures, screening and operational plans in the event of a disease outbreak, including isolation, treatment and follow up before reintroduction into the cafe. 13. All animals entering the café must be checked and certified healthy and free of infectious/zoonotic disease by the attending veterinarian. This is to safeguard against the introduction of disease to the resident cats and to customers. The animals must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate (in accordance Updated 18 July 2024 3  with the attached sample template, Annex A) bearing a date not more than seven (7) days prior to entry. 14. Animals must be sterilised and microchipped prior to entering the premises. 15. Animals must be maintained in good health and body condition. Sick, diseased or injured animals must be removed from the premises and attended to by the attending veterinarian. 16. All cats must have been screened and tested negative for Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Toxoplasma gondii before entering the premises. The test used must be effective in identifying infected cats, to safeguard against the introduction of the disease into the café. 17. Animals with skin diseases must be examined by the veterinarian and where necessary, screened and tested negative for zoonoses such as ringworm and scabies, prior to entering the premises. 18. Animals must be fully vaccinated and treated for internal and external parasites on a regular basis, as prescribed by the attending veterinarian. 19. Clean drinking water must be provided at all times. 20. The licensee must provide each species of animal with an appropriate diet which is nutritious and wholesome to meet the physiological needs of the animal. 21. Animal feed must be stored under appropriate temperature and humidity. Animal feed preparation must be done in a clean area that is separate from the washing area. 22. Animal feed storage containers must be properly sealed to keep the feed fresh and wholesome. 23. All items used for and by the animals must be cleaned and disinfected daily. Drinking and feeding receptacles must be non-toxic and corrosion-resistant. 24. The licensee must display an emergency contact number on the front of the premises for the public to call in the event of an emergency and there must be arrangement in place for emergency evacuation of the animals. 25. Each animal in the premises must be accounted for. Records of the following must be kept and produced for AVS’ inspection: a) animals held – their numbers, species, breed, sexes, ages, microchip number and sterilisation status; b) source of all animals; c) health records for each animal and group, including medical history and vaccination status as well as documentation of the treatment against internal and external parasites prescribed by the attending veterinarian; Updated 18 July 2024 4  d) vaccination certificates (which must have the complete particulars of the animal, including breed, sex, age, colour, microchip number and the signature of the attending veterinarian who did the vaccination); e) incident reports of injuries to persons caused by the animals in the premises. 26. Dogs must have valid dog licences. 27. Only the types and numbers of animals specified on the licence are to be kept on the premises. 28. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be established and made available to AVS during inspection. These SOPs shall include: a) Sanitation and waste disposal; b) Maintenance of the facility (e.g. cat trees and beds); c) Health care and daily monitoring (behavioural and health) of animals by staff; d) Veterinary health care; e) Isolation/quarantine of sick and stressed animals; f) Socialisation of new animals into the café; and g) Management of injuries to persons caused by the animals. This must include documentation of incidents in the form of incident reports which have to include key details such as the particulars of the injured person(s), type of injury, first aid given, the incriminated animal, outcome of the matter, any follow up actions. HUMAN-ANIMAL INTERACTION 29. The welfare and safety of the animals and the public must be strictly observed at all times. 30. Adequate hand sanitizers and washing amenities are to be provided for staff and customers. Steps must be taken to remind customers to wash their hands before consuming food or drinks e.g. through signages and verbal reminders by staff. 31. Staff must ensure that customers do not leave opened/exposed food unattended in the interaction area. 32. Staff must assess if the animals are comfortable with the level of interaction with customers and take remedial measures if they are not. 33. Children admitted into the interaction area must be closely supervised by adults and staff. 34. Customers must not bring their pets into the interaction area. 35. Customers must not be allowed to feed the animals, as this can result in overfeeding or improper feeding, which can lead to animal health problems. OTHER REQUIREMENTS Updated 18 July 2024 5 36. The licensee must employ only person(s) who are suitably qualified, and trained in a manner stipulated by AVS, to be in charge of the animals. Specific in-house training must be undertaken to enable staff to recognise and handle stress, sickness and disease in the resident animals. 37. All staff/assistants must be aware of the conditions of the exhibition licence issued by AVS. 38. There must be no sale, giving away, adoption of animals or introduction or replacement of animals without prior written approval from AVS. 39. The licensee must follow the proposal approved by AVS which shall include: a) Design and layout of the facility; b) Animal socialisation/acclimatisation/interaction plan; c) Number of customers allowed per session and the length of the session; and d) Notices to inform customers about zoonotic disease risk. 40. AVS’ approval must be sought if changes are to be made to the proposal. 41. The licensee will be required to comply with additional licensing conditions as set out in the covering approval letter that is issued with the licence. 42. The licensee must submit an exit plan that details the preparations and the steps that will be taken with respect to the disposition of the animals in the eventuality that the cafe ceases business. The plan must be kept up to date. Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) 52 Jurong Gateway Road #09-01 Singapore 608550 Tel: 1800-476-1600 Email: [email protected] Updated 18 July 2024 6  ANNEX A SAMPLE VETERINARY HEALTH CERTIFICATE SECTION I IDENTIFICATION OF THE DOG/CAT/ANIMAL Species: _____________________ Breed: __________________________________ Name of animal: _______________________________ Sex (please circle): Male / Female Neutered / Entire Age or Date of Birth: ___________________ Colour: _______________________ Microchip Number: __________________________________ The animal has been scanned on _________________(day/month/year) and found to be implanted with a microchip bearing the above microchip number, which is also reflected on the animal’s vaccination certificate. SECTION II ORIGIN OF THE DOG/CAT Name of previous owner: ___________________________________ Contact Number: ________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ SECTION III SANITARY INFORMATION I, ___________________________________________, the undersigned veterinarian, being a licensed veterinarian certify in respect of the dog/cat described above that: (A) Vaccinations For dogs: The dog is fully vaccinated* against Canine Distemper, Canine Infectious Hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations. Date of last vaccination: For cats: The cat is fully vaccinated* against Feline Calicivirus, Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus,and Feline Panleukopenia Virus, according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations. Date of last vaccination: * Fully vaccinated means that the animal has received its full complement of vaccines to effectively protect against the said diseases. There has to be one week rest after the final vaccination before introduction of the animal into the pet café. (B) External Parasite Treatment The dog/cat was treated with a product effective against external parasites (fleas and ticks) between 2 and 7 days of entry into the cafe (state active ingredient and date of treatment). Date of treatment: ___________________ Name of product: ____________________ Active ingredient: ____________________ Updated 18 July 2024 7 (C) Internal Parasite Treatment The dog/cat was treated with a product effective against internal parasites (nematodes and cestodes) between 2 and 7 days of entry into the cafe (state active ingredient and date of treatment). Date of treatment: ___________________ Name of product: ____________________ Active ingredient: ____________________ (D) Clinical Examination and Disease Screening The dog/cat has been examined and was found clinically healthy and free from external parasites and any clinical signs of infectious, contagious or zoonotic disease (such as ringworm and scabies) within 7 days of entering the café. For cats: The cat was tested negative for FeLV and FIV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and was immediately kept in a premises free from FeLV and FIV prior to entry to the café. If a different test is used, the test must be determined by the attending vet to be effective in identifying infected cats, to safeguard against the introduction of the disease into the café. Date of test: Premises where cat was kept prior to entry to cat café: The cat was tested IgM negative for Toxoplasma gondii by the Immunofluorescence test (IFAT) or other AVS approved test kits and was immediately kept in a premises free from Toxiplasma gondii prior to entry to the café. Please refer to Annex B for instructions on blood sampling for Toxoplasma gondii testing at the Animal Health Laboratory, Animal & Plant Health Centre (APHC), AVS. If a different test is used, the test must be determined by the attending vet to be effective in identifying infected cats, to safeguard against the introduction of the disease into the café. Date of test: Other tests to be done (as prescribed by attending veterinarian based on clinical examination of the animals) Ringworm Scabies Salmonella Name of clinic: __________________________________ Name of veterinarian: ______________________________ Date of examination: _______________________________ Signature of veterinarian: ____________________________ Updated 18 July 2024 8  Annex B Instructions on Blood Sample Submission for Toxoplasma gondii Testing at the Animal Health Laboratory, Animal & Plant Health Centre (APHC), AVS 1. At least 1 ml of plain whole blood or 0.2ml of serum per cat is required for the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) Immunofluorescence test (IFAT) conducted at APHC. All plain whole blood or serum samples must be collected in leak proof blood tubes, and labelled with the name of the cat, its respective microchip number and the date of sample collection from the cat. The tube(s) should then be placed in a tamper-proof security bag that is sealed at the same veterinary clinic from which the blood sample was obtained. After the security bag containing the blood or serum sample has been sealed, the referring veterinarian must sign across the seal and append the clinic’s stamp. 2. Sample(s) can be transported at ambient temperatures within the same day of collection, or be kept in the refrigerator (~4°C) for up to 24 hours, prior to submission. Do not freeze the sample(s). Sample(s) must be accompanied by an Animal Health Laboratory case submission form that is to be completed by the referring veterinarian. Payment for the laboratory test can be made via the veterinary clinic or can be made directly at APHC by the submitter. When testing is completed, all test reports will be forwarded to the referring veterinarian unless otherwise indicated on the case submission form. 3. The cat must be tested with negative result for Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using an immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or Vetall SensPERT test kit. For the IFAT, an IgG antibody level of less than 1/64 would be considered as test negative while an IgM antibody level of less than 1/16 would be considered as test negative. For the Vetall SensPERT test kit conducted at the veterinary clinics, the absence of purple band at the IgG and/or IgM test line would be considered as negative for IgG and/or IgM respectively. A purple band should appear at the control line to indicate that the test is valid. Please refer to Vetall website (http://vetall.onkr.com/) for further information. 4. In event where the testing is not conducted in Singapore, the testing must be conducted in an approved country by a laboratory recognised by the government of the country where the laboratory is situated. All laboratory reports must be in English and contain the name of animal, the microchip number, the date of blood sample collection for testing and the type of testing method. Updated 18 July 2024 9