Maid probed over alleged fatal abuse of employer’s dog; SPCA deems actions “brutal” and “appalling”

SINGAPORE:  The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has initiated an investigation into a domestic worker accused of fatally beating her employer’s dog in January.

The incident came to light through a Facebook post by veteran animal activist Derrick Tan, a friend of the dog’s owner.

According to the post, the dog’s owner, identified as Jason (pseudonym), had recently hired a domestic worker to oversee household chores and care for his pet poodle, Boyboy.

On 22 January, Jason departed for work as usual. However, later that evening, his girlfriend discovered the dog’s sudden demise while she was resting.

Initially attributing it to natural causes, they opted to cremate their dog.

In his post, Mr Tan wrote, “Jason rushed to the crematorium to bid his dog a final farewell.

“He noticed that his dog died in a stiffened up posture like after a fit or after certain trauma, and upon cremation he noticed a crack in the remains of his skull.

“Puzzled as his dog has always been in good health and hadn’t shown any signs of lethargy nor illness, Jason decided to check the CCTV to find out what exactly happened.”

Sadly, after examining the CCTV footage, the owner discovered that Boyboy had not died from natural causes as initially presumed, but instead had been subjected to abuse and fatally struck by his newly hired helper.

The footage, shared in Mr Tan’s post, allegedly shows the domestic worker inflicting multiple blows to the dog’s head with her hands and a makeshift rod, followed by hanging the dog on the balcony railing while filling a bucket with water.

Expressing shock at the footage, Mr Tan stated, “The helper was employed with the primary task of caring for Boyboy, and it is horrifying that she would resort to treating a helpless animal in such a way.”

Mr Tan elaborated that following Jason’s realization of the circumstances surrounding his dog’s death, he promptly obtained the complete footage detailing the events leading up to the tragic incident.

Subsequently, Jason filed a police report and informed the relevant agency about the actions of the helper.

“However,” Mr Tan added, “the agency did not show any concern for the seriousness of the case and only asked if Jason made a police report.

“Thereafter they removed him from a group chat that was to be for conversing with the transfer of the new helper, on the 25 January after knowing that Jason has also reported the case to Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS).”

SPCA swiftly responds to alleged animal abuse: urges action against offenders

SPCA, informed of the incident on 26 January, swiftly termed the alleged actions of the domestic worker as “brutal” and “appalling.”

They advised Jason to file a police report against the domestic worker and report the case to the AVS, responsible for enforcing animal cruelty laws in Singapore.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), Aarthi Sankar, the Executive Director of SPCA, verified the organization’s proactive participation in collecting evidence for the case.

She underscored their dedication to overseeing developments and providing ongoing support to Jason during the proceedings.

On Tuesday, 27 February, SPCA Singapore posted details of the incident on their Facebook page.

In Singapore, animal cruelty is a punishable offence, with fines of up to S$15,000 and imprisonment for up to 18 months for first-time offenders.

Repeat offenders may face fines of up to S$30,000 and imprisonment for up to three years.

Ms Sankar urged authorities to pursue the maximum penalty for those found guilty, stating, “We stand firmly against all forms of animal cruelty and will continue to advocate for justice on behalf of innocent animals.”

Additionally, SPCA Singapore in their post, urged pet owners to remain vigilant in ensuring their pets’ safety and well-being, particularly when delegating care responsibilities.

If you observe any instances of suspected animal cruelty or neglect, you can contact the SPCA’s 24/7 hotline at 6287 5355 or submit a report via www.spca.org.sg/report.

Alternatively, you can email [email protected].