On 24 March, a 51-year-old woman pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to take reasonable steps to protect her pet against disease before it was rapidly diagnosed of it.
Singaporean Chia Lih Shan now faces a $2,500 fine for the offence. She will also be banned from owning other animals for a year if the application by NParks prosecutor Ron Goh ends up successful.
The woman had been caring for a 13-year-old miniature schnauzer named Minnie, and noticed a lump on it one day.
Yet, she failed to bring it to the vet for treatment even after being aware of the fact.
Only when they noticed Minnie was unable to stand on its own did Ms Chia and her husband Mr Christopher Chia decided to do so in July 2019, two months after Chia first noticed the lump.
The vet who attended to her told investigators that Minnie came to the clinic with a huge lump on its belly, measuring 13 inches in diameter. It seemed to be visibly wet with pus and was emitting a strong stench.
It could not stand even when supported and yelped in pain whenever the huge mass was touched.
Other signs of neglect were obvious – Minnie could not open its left eye as well, which had been crusted over with discharge and matted fur, in addition to having overgrown nails.
Furthermore, its ears were crusty and dirty, and its hind leg had been scalded by urine.
When offered food and water, Minnie also seemed to be hungry and thirsty.
The vet also noted that the box Minnie came to the clinic in stank of urine, the last factor that prompted the clinic to report the case to the Animal and Veterinary Service under NParks.
It Suffered From A Bacterial Infection
Minnie’s post-mortem results showed that it suffered from a chronic and persistent bacterial infection.
Unfortunately, it left the vet no other option than to euthanise it, as its health had deteriorated too badly by the time it was brought to the vet.
Ms Chia was Minnie’s registered owner and claimed that she had been bathing the dog, yet could not explain why she put off bringing it to the vet for examination or treatment while knowing about the lump, said Mr Goh.
Minnie had been with the couple since it was a puppy, and Ms Chia said that she did not own any other animals at her King Albert Park home.
“During that period, I faced many challenges, balancing between family commitment and husband’s health condition,” she wrote in a written plea to the court expressing her remorse and guilt over the neglect of Minnie.
“I am truthfully sorry for what had happened,” she added.
She could have been jailed for up to a year, fined $10,000 or both for her offence.
Let this be a lesson to all that if you decide to care for a pet: you should properly care for it with responsibility and not own one recklessly just because you thought it was cute.
Featured Image: Budimir Jevtic / Shutterstock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)
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