A 29-year-old pet groomer was fined S$10,000 (US$7,400) on 8 Apr 2025 for causing the death of a corgi that was left unattended on a grooming table last year. Vanessa Chiu Yan Er also received a nine-month disqualification from running any animal-related business.
This is the highest sentence imposed on a pet groomer for similar cases, according to the National Parks Board (NParks).
Corgi Death Sparked by Negligence in Grooming Safety Measures
The fatal incident occurred on 24 Jul 2024, at a home-based pet grooming salon, Pawkins SG, in Serangoon Central. The dog, named Fendi, died after slipping off a grooming table and hanging by its neck from a short leash.
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Chiu, who started the business with her fiancé around July 2023, had been grooming Fendi and another dog, Hades. Both dogs belonged to the same owner.
Court documents revealed that Chiu cleaned the area before leaving for lunch with her fiancé and an employee at around 1.30pm. The trio left a total of six dogs unsupervised for 45 minutes.
While the employee had secured Hades with a “double-arm lock” – a standard safety measure to prevent falls during grooming – Chiu forgot to secure Fendi in the same manner.
Instead, Fendi was left on the table with a short leash secured with an adjustable ring that would tighten around its neck.
CCTV footage showed that at about 1.42pm, the dogs started to bark and move excitedly. Fendi then fell off the table and was hanged by the neck from the short leash.
The dog’s legs were barely able to touch the ground, causing it to struggle for about a minute before losing consciousness.
Failed Rescue Attempt and Legal Consequences
When Chiu’s employee returned at about 2.17pm, she found Fendi motionless and called for help. Chiu checked for a pulse and attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation before rushing Fendi to a veterinary emergency clinic.
The clinic confirmed the dog was unresponsive with no heartbeat. Fendi’s heart had stopped at around 3.15pm.
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Fendi’s owner, Sonia Tan, was only informed of her dog’s death more than an hour after the incident, once it had been confirmed by the veterinarian.
Chiu had previously pleaded guilty to one count under the Animals and Birds Act for omitting to do an act, which caused unnecessary pain and suffering to Fendi, while carrying on an animal-related business.
The prosecution noted that industry best practice requires a dog to either be placed on the floor when left unattended or properly secured if left on a grooming table.
Chiu’s lawyer, Alain Abraham Johns, told the court that Chiu had since shut down her grooming business and refunded clients for any unused grooming packages.
She had groomed Fendi on 12 previous occasions without incident and had taken full responsibility for her negligence. Chiu also paid for the dog’s medical treatment and cremation.
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NParks emphasized that all individuals working in animal-related businesses are expected to “uphold higher standards of animal welfare, given that they are entrusted with the care of their clients’ animals.”
For this offense, Chiu could have been fined up to S$40,000, jailed up to two years, or both, on a first offense under the Animals and Birds Act.
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