Singapore authorities are conducting investigations into a shocking incident of animal cruelty after a video surfaced showing a woman hitting a dog on its head multiple times and subsequently leaving it tied up and hanging from a railing. The incident was reported to the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) on January 25, prompting an ongoing inquiry.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), alerted to the case by concerned citizens, disclosed the abuse involved a domestic worker mistreating a pet poodle. Disturbing images depict the helper striking the dog on an apartment balcony and, in another instance, tying it up and suspending it from the balcony railing. Tragically, the dog succumbed to the abuse on January 22, leaving its owner, who had cared for it for nine years, devastated.
Derrick Tan, the president of the charity Voice for Animals, shared closed-circuit television footage on Facebook, revealing the woman physically assaulting the dog. The videos capture the distressing scenes of the helper using her hands and a makeshift tool to hit the defenseless animal.
The dog’s owner, who opted to remain anonymous, had installed CCTV cameras around his house to monitor the well-being of his pets. When informed of the dog’s death by his girlfriend, relayed by the helper, the owner grew suspicious. Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, he discovered the appalling mistreatment by the helper, who had been in their employ for just three to four weeks.
The SPCA, actively involved in the case, urged the owner to file a police report against the helper and report the incident to the AVS. The AVS, condemning pet mistreatment, clarified that first-time offenders caught abusing animals could face charges under the Animals and Birds Act. Penalties may include fines of up to $15,000 (US$11,100), imprisonment for up to 18 months, or both. The investigation underscores the severity of animal cruelty and the legal consequences for those found guilty.
