Why we should be concerned when animals are abused
Why we should be concerned when animals are abused
SINGAPORE - In the wake of the brutal killings of two community cats in May, some members of the public are echoing a question posed by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam after the first incident: What kind of person would do this?
In a January report, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said there were 961 confirmed reports of animal abuse involving some 2,190 animals in 2024. The figure is a 12-year high and means an average of six animals were subjected to suffering or death each day in Singapore last year.
SPCA's first full report on the state of animal cruelty and welfare in Singapore also revealed that more than half of these cases involved cats, with 1,330 cases, or 60.7 per cent.
The numbers have some mental health experts concerned.
Dr Annabelle Chow, principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology , said: 'At a moral level, these acts are appalling and reflective of a disregard for the suffering of sentient beings. They suggest that animals are perceived to be less worthy of compassion or protection.
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'Beyond morality, there are serious psychological and societal implications.'
Dr Lim Boon Leng, a private psychiatrist from Dr BL Lim Centre for Psychological Wellness said that such cases of animal abuse and cruelty are a 'worrying red flag'.
'We should be very concerned, especially when the acts go beyond mere neglect or impulsive aggression and take on a calculated, brutal nature,' said Dr Lim.
'The sheer level of cruelty inflicted - mutilation, repeated injuries, or killing with intent - often correlates with deeper psychological disturbance.
'Such behaviour isn't just anti-social; it may reflect entrenched callousness, sadism, or a lack of empathy so profound that it borders on psychopathy.'
Animal cruelty at a young age is a warning sign for future interpersonal violence, both Dr Chow and Dr Lim said, citing the Violence Graduation Hypothesis , which assumes a direct causal link between animal cruelty and interpersonal aggression.
Youth who abuse animals are also at an increased risk of harming peers, family members, and others later in life, Dr Chow said. For them, such behaviours may be driven by curiosity, a desire to gain peer approval, or even a desire to attract attention.
If left unaddressed, these behaviours may escalate and contribute to wider societal harm.
In clinical terms, the severity of violence is often a more telling indicator of risk than frequency alone, Dr Lim added - someone who goes out of their way to inflict prolonged suffering on an animal is far more likely to escalate, or already be engaging in, other harmful behaviours such as emotional abuse, coercive control, or violence toward vulnerable individuals.
'In Singapore's context, societal constraints (legal, cultural, and communal) may inhibit escalation to violence against people. But inhibition isn't rehabilitation,' said Dr Lim. 'The underlying pathology may fester and be expressed in less visible but still damaging forms: emotional abuse, coercive control in relationships, or domestic violence.'
The internet normalising disturbing content may also feed such behaviour. Both Dr Lim and Dr Chow agreed that the shock value of such brutal killings attract attention and increasingly desensitise viewers to such violence over time.
This creates a 'distorted feedback loop', says Dr Chow: The more shocking the act, the more engagement it garners on social media through likes, shares, and comments, and as conversational topics.
For some perpetrators, this visibility can feel like validation or recognition, negatively reinforcing the continuation of such behaviour.
What should I do if I think someone I know is an animal abuser?
'Firstly, if there is an immediate danger to an animal, we should take steps to protect it,' said Dr Lim.
'We must never minimise it or rationalise animal abuse away. It is never 'just a phase', a joke or a way to vent anger. The potential of an underlying psychiatric disorder and escalation of interpersonal violence is real.'
Not all perpetrators will become violent offenders, he said. But when one sees a level of cruelty that involves planning, enjoyment, or symbolic intent, such as targeting specific animals or repeating the act, it is often a red flag of a much more disturbed inner world.
'These are not simply 'troubled youths' or 'people having a bad day',' said Dr Lim.
He added that parents who observe their children mistreating animals should be concerned, as it may be indicative of underlying emotional distress and may be a reflection of the child's difficult or even abusive environment.
'When such behaviour is noticed, it's vital to approach the individual with compassion, seeking to understand the motivation rather than reacting with anger,' he said, suggesting beneficial steps such as fostering open dialogue and taking the individual to counselling or therapy.
While animal cruelty must be taken seriously, responses should balance accountability with understanding, said Dr Chow, adding that in such cases, it is never just about the act itself, but about what lies underneath: a breakdown in empathy, in self-regulation, sometimes in human connection.
To effectively mitigate the issue of animal abuse, Dr Chow said that addressing root causes is essential in preventing recurrence and creating meaningful change in the lives of perpetrators, as well as society.
She also believes that the wider community's response to both incidents reflects something hopeful.
'These incidents show us where those breakdowns exist,' she said. 'But they also show us what we still hold on to. When people speak up, when communities organise, when strangers come together around a shared cause, that's not just a reaction. It's a reflection of who we are.'
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Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Dr Charlotte Lim, 79, doing pull-ups with a 5kg weight. She began her strength training journey when she was 72. SINGAPORE – Dr Charlotte Lim stands at a petite 1.58 m and weighs 49kg, but she pulls her own weight in the gym. At 79 years old, she can do a 50kg barbell back squat and dead-hang for over 3½ minutes. Her training includes up to 100 pull-ups. Besides making friends with younger gym users, she has also picked up fitness lingo such as 'jacked', which has been used to describe her well-honed muscles. 'A total stranger came up to me, fist-bumped me and said, 'Well done, gym bro.' That was quite cute,' she says of an encounter in a gym in Perth, Australia, that she used while visiting her sister there. She never stops working out, even on holiday, rain or shine. Dr Lim's strength training journey started at age 72. Her children – health and fitness coaches Yan Lin, 42, and Tiat Lim, 53 – invited her to join the gym they run together, Bespoke Fitness, so they could train as a family. It was then at one-north, but has since relocated to a space under Dr Lim's 1,600 sq ft condominium unit in Farrer Road. Dr Lim, a widow who holds a PhD in anthropology, had exercised on her own since retiring from her job in human resources at age 57. She would run on a treadmill and do light weights, but her training was unfocused, she says. Dr Charlotte Lim (centre) with her two children Yan Lin (left) and Tiat Lim (right). ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO She was then 'skinny fat', with a body fat percentage of about 29, which is within the average range for women her age. But after starting the gym's FitRX training programme, she could do unassisted sit-ups within a year. 'Before that, I had to anchor my legs down before I could do a sit-up,' says Dr Lim, who turns 80 in December. 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ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Her workouts do take more than twice as long as others half her age. Although she star ts a t 7am, it sometimes takes her two hours to finish what younger clients complete in 40 minutes. But she says: 'I recover from my soreness and aches very fast now.' Ms Lin says: 'She's never given up on any workout, no matter how long. It's a reflection of the integrity of her character.' Dr Lim says: 'Whenever I complete a workout, I feel good. Then months or years later, I suddenly realise I can do things I never expected to do, like the chin-up. My biggest achievement is not having to see a doctor for health issues.' Her cholesterol levels are now optimal and she has managed to prevent sarcopenia, which is age-related muscle loss, says Ms Lin. Dr Charlotte Lim can do a 50kg barbell back squat, more than her weight of 49kg. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO Bespoke Fitness has about 30 clients, over half of whom are 50 years old and up. 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Its programme hopes to make strength training mainstream and address age-related muscle loss, a key cause of frailty, Mr Lim says. It now serves some 5,200 users annually, who range from 55 to 97 years old, with an average age of 71 for women and 73 for men. Nearly 40 participants in its community sites are aged 90 and up. Members undergo a structured 12-week programme with a pre-assessment, twice-weekly sessions on hydraulic or pneumatic equipment, as well as a post-assessment. Fees vary by centre, typically ranging from $7.50 to $20 a session in 24-session packages. They are kept affordable through its non-profit partners and the foundation's support. Nearly six in 10 seniors in the community are physically well but inactive, which means they need earlier intervention so they do not increase their frailty risk an d h ealthcare burden, he says, referring to statistics from the Ministry of Health's 2023 Frailty Strategy Policy Report. 'User needs have also evolved. Five years ago, many joined at the urging of their children. Today, more seniors sign up on their own, aware that frailty can be delayed or reversed. National initiatives like Healthier SG and Age Well SG have also brought strength training into sharper public focus,' he says. 'Younger seniors aged 55 to 65 are more health-literate and seek structured, results-driven sessions, while older participants in their 80s often have simpler goals – like staying mobile and independent – and require closer supervision to train safely.' A Sport Singapore (SportSG) spokesperson says about 14,000 individuals aged 50 and up visited its 28 gyms at least once a week in the first half of 2025. It did not provide comparison figures for previous years. A one-time entry ticket is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 65 and up, while those aged 55 and above pay $1.50 and adults aged up to 54 pay $2.50. Its ActiveSG Sport Centres also offer an eight-week Calm (Combat Age-related Loss of Muscle) programme for seniors who are at least 60 years old, where they learn about the importance of building lean muscle for daily activities and use resistance bands, free weights and gym machines to build their strength-training confidence. To make the programme more accessible, SportSG has taken Calm to 75 Active Ageing Centres as part of its Frailty Prevention Programme so far, and will reach a total of 100 such centres by the end of 2025. ActiveSG members who are Singaporeans and permanent residents can use their $100 SG60 ActiveSG credits to fully cover Active Health programme fees, including the $60 Calm programme. Gym is the new coffee shop Commercial gyms for seniors also have come up with innovative spins for their clients. Community is at the heart of Aspire55, a 900 sq ft gym in Commonwealth that started in 2014, says co-founder Janice Chia. It boasts nine state-of-the-art smart strength stations with Wi-Fi-enabled touchscreens from Finnish company Hur, but it is the camaraderie from working out together that keeps its 120 active members coming back . 'Our membership has grown steadily, especially post-pandemic, as more older adults prioritise strength and preventive health,' she says. 'As a social health-focused community, the strength training circuit is designed so members can laugh and chat with one another while working out.' Ms Janice Chia is the founder of Aspire55. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Aspire55's membership ranges from ages 50 to over 90, but most are between 60 and 80 years old. They undergo an initial fitness assessment – covering baseline strength, balance, body composition as well as functional tests – and repeat it every six months. Sixty-minute personalised strength training classes are held in small groups. Prices start at $700 for 10 sessions. Trial passes and social memberships are available, as is ad-hoc personal training. Aspire55 members are guided by fitness instructors as they undergoing strength training. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Aspire55 also serves another 300 seniors who take part in its a la carte activities, and has a database of over 10,000 seniors who are invited to active ageing events. The clubhouse has a 100 sq ft balcony where clients can plant vegetables and fruits. Its latest harvest includes blue pea flowers, mint and lemon, Ms Chia says. 'Commitment is sustained through strong community bonds, encouragement from trainers and the social aspect – members look forward to meeting friends during sessions. We also encourage mini potlucks where members spontaneously cook for one another. W e have enjoyed dishes, from freshly baked sourdough bread to nasi ulam to ondeh ondeh,' she adds. Other popular activities include dance evenings, fitness ball drumming, cheerleading, camps and karaoke sessions. Underserved market Seniors are a sorely underserved market Ms Chia wants to tap. Ageing is a US$4.56 trillion (S$5.84 trillion) market opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region in 2025, with Singapore's market potential estimated to be at US$72.4 billion, says Ms Chia. She is also the founder of Ageing Asia, an ageing-focused consultancy that is behind the 16-year-old annual World Ageing Asia Festival. In June 2025 , Aspire55's community brand, Singapore Seniors, became the active ageing operator for Commune@Henderson, Singapore's first intergenerational co-living space that houses seniors as well as foreign students. It was developed by TSTAP, a joint venture between dormitory operator TS Group and co-living provider The Assembly Place. Under Commune's community ambassador time-share model, seniors organise and teach activities such as painting and gardening in exchange for access to a personalised circuit strength gym programme similar to Aspire55's version . Students living there also help to teach the older adults tech-related classes, among other activities. Ms Chia hopes to replicate the concept of an intergenerational gym in private condominiums here, which often see their gyms empty during office hours. While condos usually have seasonal programmes for residents, she wants to create regular opportunities for young and old to interact meaningfully. 'This is a cost-efficient, scalable way to bring our model closer to homes,' she says. At Vigeo Personal Training's 1,900 sq ft gym in YWCA Fort Canning, members do not have to wait for their turn at a weight machine or search for missing dumbbells. Its 'gym within a gym' concept has pods containing the equipment they need for their workout, almost like a business-class version of the usual gym set-up. Mr Benson Poh, director of Vigeo Personal Training, helping Ms Julia Tey during a training session. It has a 'gym within a gym' concept, with pods that contain all the equipment members need. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO And unlike gyms which have a wall of mirrors, the ones here are strategically placed as semi-private partitions along the middle of the gym to make shy clients feel more at ease. Most of Vigeo's clients are above 50 years old and many have medical conditions such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, diabetes and general muscle weakness, says its director Benson Poh, who started the business six years ago. He declined to reveal his membership figures. It offers semi-private personal training, in which a coach takes care of two to four clients in a session and each can access his or her customised workout using a tablet at his or her pod. Fees start at $105 a session and members are encouraged to attend twice weekly. 'Gyms have always been about aesthetics, but we are trying to improve quality of life and help people stay healthy into their 60s, 70s and beyond,' Mr Poh says. That also means challenging stereotypes of what kinds of exercise seniors can do, while being mindful of their injuries and health issues. 'If you treat old people like old people, they will be old people. A lot of times, senior training is about taking it slow because you're very frail. But we want to challenge them to the best of their abilities,' he adds. One of the most heart-warming cases he has handled was a woman in her 70s who wept with joy after she was strong enough to get up from the floor, something she had not been able to do since knee replacement surgery. Part-time teacher Julia Tey, 50, signed up at Vigeo in November 2023 when she began gaining weight in perimenopause despite running and doing yoga stretches regularly. After strength training for a while, she realised she had to buy clothes in a bigger size as her muscles developed, but it triggered a 'mindset shift' from the perception that women must be stick-thin like K-drama actresses. 'Since gym training, I run better and feel independent and strong, physically and mentally. My back doesn't hurt when I try to carry something,' she says. 'I shamelessly feel like I'm 30 again.' Physiotherapy practice Thrive Healthcare launched its Legends programme in 2019 because it saw a gap in the market. The programme helps older adults with diverse medical conditions develop functional fitness, strength and conditioning, says physiotherapist Lenis Phoa. It has around 100 active members ranging from 50 to 91 years old, who can choose from its schedule of eight one-hour classes. Most attend once or twice weekly. Prospective members must attend a trial class at $35 to see if they are suitable. Packages start at $225 for five sessions and there is a couple package for spouses as well. Ms Phoa says the programme initially focused on safety and engagement for a diverse group of clients, but has since evolved to include a data-driven approach to track improvement, fitness and health education, as well as community building. One success story is Madam Cheok Soh Cheng, 74, who suffers from multiple health conditions. After joining the programme in July 2024, she has improved her health and gained energy and confidence, so much so that she is looking forward to taking part in the gym's in-house competition in Augu st. Madam Cheok Soh Cheng, 74, who suffers from multiple health conditions, has improved her health and gained energy and confidence after joining Thrive Healthcare's Legends programme for seniors. PHOTO: THRIVE HEALTHCARE Mr Li m from Lien Foundation says private gyms such as these serve a different segment of the silver market. He hopes all future Active Ageing Centres will include a dedicated seniors' gym. 'Their rise signals a positive shift towards ageing well – offering safe, peer-supported spaces for seniors to begin strength training. It is a fast-growing space. 'As seen in Finland and Japan, more players can drive innovation and help make strength training a norm for seniors, not the exception.'
New Paper
02-07-2025
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'If he needs to go, we will let him go': Man who survived acid attack as a baby dies at 26
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He had received his first chemotherapy treatment three days before his death and had expressed his hope to return to work. Mr Lim's first interview with the media appeared in The Sunday Times on Oct 21, 2012, when he was 13 and known as the boy who survived a horrific acid attack in June 1999. Back then, Mr Lim's parents, who were engineers in the family business, had left him in his grandmother's flat. His parents' helper Latifah was in the kitchen, while Mr Lim, who was then three months old, was asleep in the living room. The grandmother's helper Sumiyem, then 17, took the opportunity to pour sulphuric acid in Mr Lim's mouth, as she was jealous of Ms Latifah and wanted to get her into trouble. Ms Sumiyem was later jailed for eight years. The attack caused severe injuries to Mr Lim's mouth, throat and vocal cords. His upper airway was destroyed. He had to be fitted with a tracheostomy tube in his neck to help him breathe and a gastrostomy tube in his stomach for feedings. Throughout his life, he never tasted food and never once asked for it, his parents said previously. "I don't hate her," Mr Lim told ST in 2012, referring to his attacker. Mr Lim grew up to love music, and tried everything from swimming and hip-hop dance to badminton and piano. He went on to attain Grade 9 in guzheng and Grade 8 in piano and music theory. Mr Samuel Lim loved music and had studied piano and guzheng. PHOTO: ST FILE Over the years, he had performed in numerous concerts and helped to raise funds for charities. His final piano performance was in April, at a Beautiful Mind Charity concert, said his mother. Mr Lim's teachers at Yuan Ching Secondary School described him as an inspiring student and a role model, in messages left in a memorial book at his wake. In 2019, he received the Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics and multilingual studies at the National Technological University (NTU). Mr Samuel Lim graduated with a master's degree in pathology from the University of Melbourne. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MR SAMUEL LIM'S FAMILY In December 2024, Mr Lim graduated from his master's programme and the family celebrated the occasion with a road trip in Melbourne. On Jan 10, Mr Lim began his first job - at Thye Hua Kwan as a speech and language therapist. "He wanted to return to Singapore to contribute to the society," said Madam Tan. "He told me that he was also hoping to save up and buy an HDB flat one day." Mr Lim's father added that his son had always wanted to live independently and he was proud to earn his own income. Mr Samuel Lim and his family celebrated his master's degree graduation with a road trip in Melbourne in December 2024. PHOTO: COURTESY OF MR SAMUEL LIM'S FAMILY Mr Lim sought medical attention on May 14 for a nose bleed, and a specialist appointment was scheduled for him in July. But on June 6, Mr Lim felt that something was not right and headed to the accident and emergency department at the National University Hospital. When he arrived, his nose started bleeding persistently and he was hospitalised. He also experienced severe headaches and facial pain, said Madam Tan. Over the following two weeks, he underwent scans and biopsies, ultimately leading to the diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. Mr Samuel Lim's sister said her brother showed her that "it's not the adversity itself that defines our lives, but how we choose to respond to it". PHOTO: COURTESY OF MR SAMUEL LIM'S FAMILY Even though his stint at Thye Hua Kwan was short, Madam Tan remembered how Mr Lim was so committed that "he burned the midnight oil to work on their reports". His sister Yong Zhen, an undergraduate at NTU, said her brother had taught her the most important lesson in her life: "He showed me that it's not the adversity itself that defines our lives, but how we choose to respond to it." Mr Lim also inspired medical professionals who had walked with him from the time he suffered the attack, such as Associate Professor Daniel Goh. The senior consultant paediatrician at Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute at NUH said: "Samuel faced significant adversity in life from a very young age. Despite that, he faced life with boldness, strength and bravery. "He never let his physical limitations determine him. He lived life to the fullest and surmounted all barriers to achieve what many could not have imagined." Prof Goh also highlighted the unwavering support from Mr Lim's family at every stage of life, which showed how love and a strong community can play a vital role in a person's well-being and ability to overcome adversity. Even in his final hours, Mr Lim's strength did not waver. "He fought till the end," said Madam Tan. "Just hours before his condition turned, he was walking around the hospital full of life. "He was determined to live and he refused to let go," she added. "I told him... if he needs to go, we will let him go. We want him to be able to leave peacefully." Mr Lim will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium on July 2.
