The Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium (SAWS)

In 2008, ACRES, together with NTU Animal Lovers Society, NUS Students’ Animal Welfare Group and People for Animal Welfare (SMU) organised and held the Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium (SAWS)- the first ever national animal welfare symposium in Singapore.

From 2008 onwards, the Symposium will take place every year.

Open to all, The Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium aims to promote animal welfare and is a platform for members of the public, local animal protection organisations and government agencies to share ideas, build partnerships and work towards effective solutions to animal welfare issues of national concern.

The annual Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium is also the occasion for the launch of each year’s Animal Protectors Grant, and to hear from the previous year’s grant recipients how their grants have been put to use.

For more information about SAWS go to www.animalwelfare.sg

Read on for more about SAWS 2008 and 2009.

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Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium 2009

The second Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium, co-organised and hosted by NUS Student’s Animal Welfare Group and ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society), took place on Saturday the 16th May 2009 at NUS.

This year, lively discussions on the topics of Wild Animals in Entertainment and Domestic Animal Welfare, with panelists from local animal protection groups as well as the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), put the spotlight on these pressing concerns. Together, we were able to discuss how we can successfully address animal welfare issues and together come up with effective strategies to end animal exploitation and suffering.

A highlight of this year’s Symposium were the inspiring presentations by the eight groups who received the first ever national Animal Protectors Grants, launched at last year’s Symposium. The groups, predominantly comprising youths, shared how their projects- ranging from raising awareness on living in harmony with long-tailed macaques to making educational storybooks for children to sterilisation projects for stray cats- have significantly progressed animal protection efforts in Singapore and have made long-term positive impacts on animal welfare here.

The Symposium also saw the launch of the 2009 Animal Protectors Grant, a scheme by which groups of individuals are invited to apply for funding for projects which will help advance animal welfare in Singapore.

For some, new to the animal welfare scene, the Symposium was a wonderful opportunity to take their first step on the rewarding path to becoming an advocate for animals. The Symposium was also a great chance for animal lovers from all walks of life to meet with like-minded people, chat to local animal welfare experts and learn how to do more to help our furred, feathered and scaled friends!

Read Press Release here.

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Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium 2008 - A roaring success!

Singapore’s first ever animal welfare symposium was a roaring success! Held on the 24th May 2008, it attracted a crowd of around 300 people.

We started with a discussion on domestic animal issues, moving on to discuss animals in entertainment, laboratories and farms, after enjoying a delicious vegan tea break. This was followed by a lively session discussing wildlife issues.

The Symposium was a perfect setting for networking among animal advocates and many contact details were exchanged during the breaks. There were some engaging discussions from which many great ideas emerged. Young and old, we all learned something new.

Some of the ideas included making an educational animal-welfare themed computer game for children, the incorporation of graciousness towards animals into the Singapore Kindness Movement and an animal welfare symposium especially for children, to name just a few.

The Symposium also saw the launch of the first Animal Protectors Grant. This exciting new venture is an excellent opportunity for those who have ideas to help animals to act on their passion and be able to improve animals’ lives.

The organisers would like to thank all sponsors, participating animal groups, panelists and participants for their tremendous support which made the Symposium possible.

The future of animal welfare in Singapore certainly looks bright. We must ride on the momentum that has been built in recent years and continue to work together for this vital and worthy cause.