Noah's Ark Lodge : manager outbid but ...

By Koh Huiting, The Straits Times

RAYMUND Wee, manager of the now well-known Noah's Ark Lodge, has been outbid

in a tender exercise that would have allowed him to continue operating the

animal sanctuary that was threatened with closure early this year.

   However, the good news is that Noah's Ark's animals will remain where they

are, but under different management.

   Former dog handler Thierry Lim, who outbid Mr Wee with a $60,101 per annum

bid (as opposed to Mr Wee's $48,000 bid) will take over Noah's Ark's boarding,

grooming, training and other pet services when the latter's lease expires on

May 15.

   But the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore's (AVA), previously

known as the Primary Production Department, is prepared to give Mr Wee an

extension to the end of June if necessary.

   Announcing the results of the tender, which closed on March 20, AVA's CEO

Ngiam Tong Tau said: "It is policy to award the tender to the highest bidder."

   Also taken into consideration in awarding of the tender was Mr Lim's

experience in managing boarding kennels and his willingness to provide the

same kind of services as Mr Wee.

   Though this change in management may strike apprehension in members of the

public with adopted animals being housed in Noah's Ark, the AVA was quick to

stress that Mr Lim is "highly qualified" and that it will "commit itself to

ensuring that the welfare of the animals is first priority".

   Also, as long as owners and adopters of the pets continue to support the

upkeep of their animals, the transitional period between the change in

management should go smoothly.

   So concerned is the AVA about the welfare of the animals during this

transitional period that it has even decided to supply their own staff to help

feed, groom and provide veterinary care to the animals.

   This will continue until Mr Lim is settled into his new management and

together with regular inspections throughout the farm, will help ensure that

the animals' welfare is in no way compromised due to the change in management.

   However, members of the public who would like to make separate arrangements

due to this change in management may arrange with Mr Wee to take their pets

home or transfer their pets to another boarding kennel, out of the seven

available in Singapore.

   Alternatively, they may also choose to arrange with Mr Lim to continue to

care for their pets or adopted animals in Noah's Ark.

   Other animal lovers may also help by adopting strays and contributing to

their upkeep in the kennel so "as long as we get the same type of support as

we did when Noah's Ark was managed by Mr Wee, there would be no reason to put

down any of the animals", reassured Dr Ngiam.

Source: The Straits Times
Date: 27 April 2000