For the second year running, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has used somewhat unconventional methods to educate young people about respecting animals

During an event on Saturday (May 27) it offered experiential learning elements like shock collars, dog cages, and virtual reality simulations to let participants experience abuse from an animal's perspective

Some participants said they were surprised at how much pain a shock collar could cause

SPCA said such methods were necessary to address issues such as abusive behaviour, adding that it has seen a noticeable rise in animal abuse cases committed by minors

Amid a recent spike in animal abuse cases in Singapore committed by minors, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is once again turning to shock collars and dog cages to get more young people to have empathy and respect for animals.

For the second year, the SPCA is offering these unconventional experiential tools at an annual event dubbed the "SPCA Pawsome Pawty".

During this year's event held on Saturday (May 27) at its premises in Sungei Tengeh Road, the society invited participants to experience a day in an animal’s "paws" to gain a deeper understanding of animal sentience, and learn about responsible pet ownership.

Aside from electric shock collars and dog cages, there were virtual reality (VR) headsets that children could try on to experience what it might be like to fall from a height — something that SPCA hopes will provide them with an empathic lens which to view stories about cats being flung off high-rise flats.

When asked why it was adopting such tools, the society's executive director Ms Aarthi Sankar, 36, told TODAY on Friday that there was a pressing need to counsel children about animal welfare issues.

She added that “young children do not realise that animals show the same pain we do” and that these methods “teach animals fear by repressing their behaviours rather than solving problems".

Ms Aarthi said that the VR simulation portraying of a cat falling from a building serves as an "impactful" way for children to “see the world through their (cats’) eyes,” and “be compassionate and develop an innate understanding of animal sentience”.

“We hope that these programmes will help to shape the narrative on how animals should be treated and act as a resource for parents to continue meaningful discussions,” Ms Aarthi said.

In 2022, the SPCA was alerted to seven cases of animal abuse that involved minors, said its executive director Ms Aarthi Sankar.

ANIMAL ABUSE ON THE RISE

There has been a rise in the reported instances of animal abuse, Ms Aarthi said.

“Last year, the SPCA was alerted to seven cases of animal abuse that involved minors. This significant rise is in stark contrast to previous years, where there had been only one or less such cases annually," she noted.

Last September, a teenager attempted to force a lit cigarette into a cat’s mouth, according to a report in The New Paper.

In December, a boy was caught throwing a cat off the 22nd storey of a Housing Board (HDB) block in Boon Lay.

And in April, a teenager was caught on camera allegedly trying to perform an obscene act on a cat outside a HDB unit.

Ms Aarthi said that she believes such cases are on the rise because of social media's influence — such as TikTok trends and pranks showing teenagers doing strange things to their pets, such as placing cats on dangerous ledges, or forcing them to squeeze through tiny holes.

“With the lack of meaningful exposure, awareness and interaction with animals, there is a pressing need for immediate and comprehensive efforts to instil a sense of empathy and respect for animals among young individuals to address underlying issues regarding abusive behaviour,” Ms Aarthi added.

HOW DOES A SHOCK COLLAR FEEL?

Shock collars are used on animals in the name of training.

They are usually worn around an animal’s neck, and emit an electrical pulse if it displays unfavourable behaviours such as excessive barking.

During Saturday's event, children aged 13 and above were given the opportunity to try out such collars on their wrists — strictly limited to a pulse of level one to two out of a maximum of 99.

This was carried out under the supervision of their parents and the collar's remote control was operated by SPCA staff.

After trying the shock collar during a preview of the event on Friday, this reporter found it unexpectedly painful.

A pulse of level four felt like a needle prick and by level 10, my hand flinched uncontrollably.

It made me contemplate the intensified discomfort it would inflict on a dog’s neck, particularly when the shock is sudden.

I also tried fitting myself into a cage, and as a dog owner myself, I was deeply disheartened by the dirty, restrictive and isolating environment.

Experiencing the VR simulation of being a cat falling from a building evoked a sense of distress and helplessness in me.

The animated simulations used are toned down from the year before, SPCA said, taking into account feedback regarding the excessive gore in the graphics last year.

For example, there is no blood splatter shown when the "cat" lands on the ground from the fall.

Ms Ashrita Soman, 15, and her mother Smitha Prabha, 39, who were second time attendees at SPCA's event, told TODAY on Saturday that it was an "eye opening" experience. 

“It was spine-chilling because I did not expect to feel that level of impact,” said Ms Ashrita about wearing a shock collar.

The VR simulation was also useful in helping children "understand the seriousness of cats dropping off high buildings", Ms Smitha added.

“This is not play, and (we) should treat every living thing, cats or dogs, as how (we) would treat a family member,” Ms Smitha said, adding that she felt it was a meaningful experience for her daughter.

Shock tactics aside, SPCA volunteer Shannon Wong Li Xuan, 21, added that the society also advocates "positive reinforcements" for dogs such as "food motivation and human socialisation for shy dogs and for members of the public to learn proper training methods".

But children, in particular, "need an avenue learn the importance of responsibility and the life term commitments of owning a pet before doing so", she added.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by GLADYS WEE

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