LIKE Mr Thio Thiam Chai ('Could no-big-dog rule be behind abandonment?'; ST, Oct 5), it dismays me that more dogs are being abandoned following the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)'s more stringent rules on dog ownership.

While AVA is to be complimented for seeking to ensure more responsible dog ownership, the rules governing ownership should not be retrospective because of the close bonds between owners and their dogs.

AVA should strive for a win-win situation, with pet owners, their children, the pets and the neighbourhood all given due consideration.

May I thus suggest that owners who are already keeping big dogs in their flats be given a deadline to register them if they want to keep them. New applications to keep big dogs in flats after the deadline should then be disallowed.

Simultaneously, rules on proper dog-keeping can be spelt out, in order that the dogs will not become a nuisance in the neighbourhood.

Yap Swee Hoo

MY FRIEND lives in an HDB flat. She bought a beagle puppy 10 years ago because she loved this breed very much. Now this dog has grown to its maximum size and is advanced in age.

She told me a few times that she really wanted to apply for a licence but dared not as she knew that AVA would not approve the application. Hence she has had to keep the dog illegally.

Not all big dogs bark loudly, irritating other flat dwellers. Also, owners of large breeds living in HDB flats do put in extra effort to discipline their dogs well. If not, they would face getting a warning or fine should their dogs become a threat to others.

Therefore, I fully agree with Mr Thio Thiam Chai that AVA should review its policy.

Rachel Ng Wei Ting (Ms)