A Singaporean couple have been fined a total of S$8,500 after their four dogs escaped from their home and injured a Labrador retriever in Bedok.
Merissa Leow Hwee Li, 51, was fined S$3,100, while her husband, Lionel Tay Wei Yuan, 52, was fined S$5,400 at the State Courts on 25 August 2026, according to CNA.
The four dogs were two Rottweilers and two Cane Corsos. Investigations found that none of them had a valid licence.
Four Dogs Escaped Through a Faulty Gate
The incident happened at about 9pm on 9 January 2024.
A domestic helper was walking her employer’s Labrador retriever around a residential estate in Bedok when they passed Sennett Road.
The couple’s four dogs escaped from their home through a faulty gate and ran onto the road, where they became involved in a scuffle with the Labrador.
The owners rushed to the scene and, with the help of their domestic helpers, managed to separate the dogs.
The Labrador was badly injured.
According to CNA, it suffered an open wound on its neck measuring 9cm long and 7cm deep, as well as puncture wounds elsewhere on its body.
Its veterinary treatment cost about S$3,360.
None of the Four Dogs Had a Valid Licence
Investigations subsequently found that all four dogs were being kept by Leow and Tay without valid licences.
One had never been licensed, while another had previously had its licence cancelled. The licences for the remaining two dogs had expired.
CNA reported that one of the dogs was registered under Tay’s cousin, while another had been adopted from one of his colleagues.
In May 2020, Leow had also contacted the authorities about another dog, saying her family could not get along with it and asking for its licence to be cancelled because they would no longer be keeping it.
The licence was cancelled, but the dog continued to stay at the couple’s home.
The couple also did not have permission to keep more than three dogs at the premises.
Rottweilers and Cane Corsos Are Specified Dogs
There was another issue with the breeds involved.
The Animal and Veterinary Service currently lists both Rottweilers and Cane Corsos as “specified dogs”, which are subject to additional restrictions because they are considered potentially dangerous breeds.
Both fall under Part 2 of the specified dog list.
Such dogs are subject to extra requirements including being leashed and muzzled in public, insurance coverage of at least S$100,000 and a S$2,000 banker’s guarantee.
The couple had also not been permitted to keep more than one dog from the restricted breeds involved in the case.
Couple Pleaded Guilty to Five Charges in Total
Leow pleaded guilty to two charges under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules: allowing her dog to be found at large and keeping a Rottweiler without a valid licence.
Another seven charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.
Tay pleaded guilty to three charges for keeping a dog without a valid licence, keeping more than three dogs at his home and keeping more than one dog of a restricted breed.
Two other charges were taken into consideration.
Their lawyer, Benjamin Gabriel Sew, told the court that the couple were not operating an illegal breeding business and described them as “true dog lovers”.
The defence said one dog belonged to Tay’s cousin and was being looked after by the couple, while another had been taken in because they did not want it to be put down.
The lawyer also said the gate had recently been serviced before it malfunctioned on the night of the incident.
The couple paid their fines in full.
CNA had initially reported that Leow was ordered to pay about S$4,000 in compensation for veterinary and medical expenses. However, CNA updated its report on 28 August to state that the court had since revoked that compensation order.
