Mr. Alfred Khan, a home breeder who runs the Facebook page "Designer Bengal Singapore" is still giving away a free bengal kitten to "one lucky individual" on May 9 despite receiving backlash, not just from animal lovers in the community, but also the authorities, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) here.
On the morning of Jan. 28, Mr. Khan, who's been running a bengal cat breeding service out of his home for the past three years, posted this message on Facebook: "We are pleased to be giving away for FREE a gorgeous Bengal kitten to one lucky winner on 9th May 2015, whom will be randomly picked in this contest."
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), he later replaced "contest" with "no fee adoption". The entire post was removed after negative feedback flooded the page.
The SPCA had said it "vehemently opposes" the giveaway of any live animal as a present in any contest or competition, no matter the circumstance."It is categorically unethical to give away a kitten as a prize," executive director Ms. Corinne Fong told CNA.
Read Also: Netizens in rage over photos of kitten given away as "hantaran"
Though Mr. Khan apologised to "all animal lovers" for having caused "any misconceptions", he said his intention was just to be generous and promised those who'd entered the "contest" he would still pick one person to get a free bengal kitten from him.
He told CNA he had already planned to screen the potential owner by meeting their family, understanding their lifestyle and checking if they'd be able to afford a pet. He also assured the cat would be sterilised and that the new owner would receive guidance from him through regular follow-up sessions. "This (kitten) is not for them to resell. This is for them to keep and to love," Mr. Khan said.
Photo: Designer Bengal Singapore
Mr. Alfred Khan, a home breeder who runs the Facebook page "Designer Bengal Singapore" is still giving away a free bengal kitten to "one lucky individual" on May 9 despite receiving backlash, not just from animal lovers in the community, but also the authorities, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) here.
On the morning of Jan. 28, Mr. Khan, who's been running a bengal cat breeding service out of his home for the past three years, posted this message on Facebook: "We are pleased to be giving away for FREE a gorgeous Bengal kitten to one lucky winner on 9th May 2015, whom will be randomly picked in this contest."
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), he later replaced "contest" with "no fee adoption". The entire post was removed after negative feedback flooded the page.
The SPCA had said it "vehemently opposes" the giveaway of any live animal as a present in any contest or competition, no matter the circumstance."It is categorically unethical to give away a kitten as a prize," executive director Ms. Corinne Fong told CNA.
Read Also: Netizens in rage over photos of kitten given away as "hantaran"
Though Mr. Khan apologised to "all animal lovers" for having caused "any misconceptions", he said his intention was just to be generous and promised those who'd entered the "contest" he would still pick one person to get a free bengal kitten from him.
He told CNA he had already planned to screen the potential owner by meeting their family, understanding their lifestyle and checking if they'd be able to afford a pet. He also assured the cat would be sterilised and that the new owner would receive guidance from him through regular follow-up sessions. "This (kitten) is not for them to resell. This is for them to keep and to love," Mr. Khan said.
Photo: Designer Bengal Singapore