NParks investigates dog handler’s alleged mistreatment of pet at Coney Island Park

The National Parks Board (NParks) has launched an investigation into an incident of alleged animal mistreatment at Coney Island Park after a video surfaced on social media showing a dog handler kicking a dog.

The five-second clip, uploaded by the Instagram account @sgfollowsall on 6 November, captured two women walking a total of eight leashed dogs. In the footage, one of the women is seen kicking one of the dogs in the face.

The individual who filmed the video reported witnessing the event at 10.57 am during a walk in the park.

“Was taking a stroll along Coney Island at 10:57 this morning and wanted to take a video of these cuties. But in the end up witnessing and capturing animal abuse instead. Anyone know who they are please just ask them to quit their jobs if they are so unhappy,” shared Sgfollowsall, quoting what a follower shared with them.

The clip sparked an outcry online, leading to responses from the dog handler and authorities.

According to The Straits Times, NParks is addressing concerns raised by viewers and social media users.

Jessica Kwok, NParks’ group director of enforcement and investigation, confirmed the organisation had received feedback about the incident and is looking into the matter.

Kwok stated that NParks “will take action against anyone who has abandoned their pet, failed to provide adequate care for it or has committed an act of animal cruelty.”

The incident has also drawn the attention of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). SPCA’s executive director, Aarthi Sankar, said the organisation had received several reports about the case and had forwarded them to the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a department under NParks, for further investigation.

Social media users identified the dog handlers as employees of Stormwoofers Daycare & Boarding, a pet care agency founded in 2022.

Stormwoofers responded via Instagram stories, revealing that the dog involved in the incident is a shiba inu named Stormi, owned by the business founder. The Instagram channel also has limited comments.

The owner explained that she kicked Stormi after noticing the dog chewing something potentially harmful. Lacking direct control over Stormi’s leash, which was held by her colleague, she said she felt compelled to act quickly by using her foot to stop the dog.

Acknowledging the backlash and describing her actions as poorly managed, the owner stated she was acting out of concern for Stormi’s health, fearing the dog might ingest a toxic item.

She later apologised publicly during a call with The Straits Times, describing her decision as hasty.

She explained that Stormi, whom she has owned for three years, suffers from a sensitive stomach and has experienced digestive issues in the past.

The dog handler elaborated on her usual approach to such situations, explaining she typically instructs Stormi to “drop” or “leave” objects picked up from the ground.

However, on this occasion, she only noticed the dog chewing something at the last moment. “One more second and it would have been in her tummy,” she explained, adding that the video’s abrupt ending omitted her immediate response to check Stormi’s well-being and ensure the other dogs were not alarmed.

In response to the incident, the handler expressed her commitment to improving her training skills and stated she would explore ways to enhance her knowledge of pet care and handling.

Under Singapore’s animal welfare laws, the AVS website outlines that individuals found guilty of neglecting the duty of care to their pets may face penalties. First-time offenders may be fined up to S$10,000 and could face up to 12 months of imprisonment if found guilty of animal cruelty or failure to provide adequate care.