SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating the case of a dog that died while under the care of a pet groomer.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage shared on social media on Wednesday (Jul 24) showed an unattended corgi pacing around a grooming table at Pawkins SG, a pet groomer located in Serangoon Central.
The dog had a leash around its neck that was attached to a grooming arm meant to hold it in place. The corgi later fell off the table and was hanged by the neck until it died.
The video, which was timestamped, showed a staff member entering the room more than 30 minutes later, before discovering the dog's body.
On the incident, NParks told CNA on Thursday that it takes all feedback received from the public on animal health and welfare seriously.
"NParks has received feedback on a case where a dog allegedly died at a grooming salon and is investigating the matter," it added.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) weighed in on the death of the dog, calling for "stronger legislation" in animal welfare.
In response to CNA's queries, Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director at SPCA, said the animal welfare group had been notified by a member of the public after coming across the video.
"We have since escalated the case to the authorities for their action. We understand that the pet owner has also reported the groomer to the relevant authorities," she added.
SPCA referenced an identical case which occurred in 2021. TODAY reported in May 2023 that another groomer was fined S$8,000 (US$5,960) and given a disqualification order of nine months after a dog died under her care.
Boon Regine Vienna, then a pet groomer at the Raku Inu pet shop along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, pleaded guilty to one charge related to causing unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal.
The white maltese, aged 10, was hanged by the neck on a short leash until it died. Boon had placed the dog on a grooming table and it accidentally slipped off the edge.
"In Singapore, there are currently no regulatory or educational requirements for pet grooming service providers," Ms Sankar said.
"The Code of Animal Welfare (for the Pet Industry) does specify some minimum standards, although failure to comply with them is not considered an offence.
"While breaches of the code can be used to support prosecution or enforcement action, the resulting penalties often fail to serve as effective deterrents."
SPCA noted that the short disqualification periods also mean that service providers may re-enter the pet industry soon after their offence, which poses a risk to animal welfare if these service providers are not adequately retrained and rehabilitated.
"The SPCA believes that there is an urgent need for stronger legislation in animal welfare and has been actively lobbying the government on multiple issues to better protect our animals," Ms Sankar said.
"These include upholding high standards of animal welfare within the pet industry."
SPCA said it believes that there is an "urgent need for stronger legislation in animal welfare", adding that it had been actively lobbying the government on multiple issues to better protect animals, like upholding high standards of animal welfare within the pet industry.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Pawkins SG said it was "distraught over the most unfortunate incident involving Fendi the corgi".
"We sincerely hope that all those who loved and cared for Fendi can accept our deepest and most heartfelt condolences and sympathies," the pet groomer added.
"We have groomed and cared for Fendi for about two years and all of us love her dearly. We are deeply saddened and affected by her passing. We have reached out to Fendi’s owner."
Pawkins also said an internal investigation into the matter was underway and it will cooperate with the authorities.
"In the interim, we have ceased our operations and will, on request, refund any outstanding packages purchased with us," it added.
The pet groomer had earlier restricted comments on its Instagram page after being inundated with angry comments.
A Facebook user who goes by the name Elizabeth Goh, shared in a post which tagged the dog's owner, Sonia Yj, that Fendi was one month shy of her fourth birthday.
The owner had sent both her dogs, including the corgi, for a grooming session on Wednesday and was beside herself after learning of Fendi's death.
She added that Fendi was cremated on Wednesday evening.
According to the Animal & Veterinary Service's Code of Animal Welfare that was published in 2016, the minimum standards for the management of a pet grooming business state that all groomers must be properly and adequately trained.
This includes in the area of animal care, animal handling and the grooming requirements of the various breeds and species.
Groomers must be familiar with different animal breeds and their requirements, as well as the use of grooming equipment or products.
"Failure to meet the minimum standards may be used as evidence to support prosecution for an offence under the Animals and Birds Act," said AVS, which is a cluster of NParks.
AVS also listed a range of "best practices" that pet grooming businesses should employ, including not leaving animals that are sent for grooming, bathing, or drying "unattended on grooming tables, rooms or in shower baths".
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Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage shared on social media on Wednesday (Jul 24) showed an unattended corgi pacing around a grooming table at Pawkins SG, a pet groomer located in Serangoon Central.
The dog had a leash around its neck that was attached to a grooming arm meant to hold it in place. The corgi later fell off the table and was hanged by the neck until it died.
The video, which was timestamped, showed a staff member entering the room more than 30 minutes later, before discovering the dog's body.
On the incident, NParks told CNA on Thursday that it takes all feedback received from the public on animal health and welfare seriously.
"NParks has received feedback on a case where a dog allegedly died at a grooming salon and is investigating the matter," it added.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) weighed in on the death of the dog, calling for "stronger legislation" in animal welfare.
In response to CNA's queries, Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director at SPCA, said the animal welfare group had been notified by a member of the public after coming across the video.
"We have since escalated the case to the authorities for their action. We understand that the pet owner has also reported the groomer to the relevant authorities," she added.
SPCA referenced an identical case which occurred in 2021. TODAY reported in May 2023 that another groomer was fined S$8,000 (US$5,960) and given a disqualification order of nine months after a dog died under her care.
Boon Regine Vienna, then a pet groomer at the Raku Inu pet shop along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, pleaded guilty to one charge related to causing unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal.
The white maltese, aged 10, was hanged by the neck on a short leash until it died. Boon had placed the dog on a grooming table and it accidentally slipped off the edge.
"In Singapore, there are currently no regulatory or educational requirements for pet grooming service providers," Ms Sankar said.
"The Code of Animal Welfare (for the Pet Industry) does specify some minimum standards, although failure to comply with them is not considered an offence.
"While breaches of the code can be used to support prosecution or enforcement action, the resulting penalties often fail to serve as effective deterrents."
SPCA noted that the short disqualification periods also mean that service providers may re-enter the pet industry soon after their offence, which poses a risk to animal welfare if these service providers are not adequately retrained and rehabilitated.
"The SPCA believes that there is an urgent need for stronger legislation in animal welfare and has been actively lobbying the government on multiple issues to better protect our animals," Ms Sankar said.
"These include upholding high standards of animal welfare within the pet industry."
SPCA said it believes that there is an "urgent need for stronger legislation in animal welfare", adding that it had been actively lobbying the government on multiple issues to better protect animals, like upholding high standards of animal welfare within the pet industry.
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PAWKINS "DEEPLY SADDENED"
In an Instagram post on Thursday, Pawkins SG said it was "distraught over the most unfortunate incident involving Fendi the corgi".
"We sincerely hope that all those who loved and cared for Fendi can accept our deepest and most heartfelt condolences and sympathies," the pet groomer added.
"We have groomed and cared for Fendi for about two years and all of us love her dearly. We are deeply saddened and affected by her passing. We have reached out to Fendi’s owner."
Pawkins also said an internal investigation into the matter was underway and it will cooperate with the authorities.
"In the interim, we have ceased our operations and will, on request, refund any outstanding packages purchased with us," it added.
The pet groomer had earlier restricted comments on its Instagram page after being inundated with angry comments.
A Facebook user who goes by the name Elizabeth Goh, shared in a post which tagged the dog's owner, Sonia Yj, that Fendi was one month shy of her fourth birthday.
The owner had sent both her dogs, including the corgi, for a grooming session on Wednesday and was beside herself after learning of Fendi's death.
She added that Fendi was cremated on Wednesday evening.
According to the Animal & Veterinary Service's Code of Animal Welfare that was published in 2016, the minimum standards for the management of a pet grooming business state that all groomers must be properly and adequately trained.
This includes in the area of animal care, animal handling and the grooming requirements of the various breeds and species.
Groomers must be familiar with different animal breeds and their requirements, as well as the use of grooming equipment or products.
"Failure to meet the minimum standards may be used as evidence to support prosecution for an offence under the Animals and Birds Act," said AVS, which is a cluster of NParks.
AVS also listed a range of "best practices" that pet grooming businesses should employ, including not leaving animals that are sent for grooming, bathing, or drying "unattended on grooming tables, rooms or in shower baths".
Continue reading...