Pet groomer charged over death of dog in alleged negligence case

SINGAPORE: A 29-year-old pet groomer, Vanessa Chiu Yan Er, has been charged with causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal after a tragic incident involving a corgi, Fendi, at the home-based grooming salon Pawkins SG.

Chiu, a manager and partner at the salon, appeared in court on Wednesday (11 December).

The incident occurred on 24 July at about 1.45 pm in a unit at Serangoon Central, according to court documents.

CCTV footage revealed that Chiu, Fendi’s groomer, allegedly left the dog unattended on a grooming table without securing her with a “double arm lock.”

The footage showed the dog falling from the table and becoming entangled in her leash.

Fendi struggled for about a minute before losing consciousness. Efforts by groomers to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation were unsuccessful, and the corgi was pronounced dead by a vet later that day.

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Groomer faces charges under the Animals and Birds Act

Chiu has been charged with one count of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal under the Animals and Birds Act 1965.

If convicted, first-time offenders face up to two years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to S$40,000.

Her next court hearing is scheduled for 15 January 2025.

According to MustShareNews, Fendi’s owner, 24-year-old Sonia Tan, stated that the groomers on duty had all left for lunch, leaving the dogs unattended.

She was unaware of the practice of leashing dogs on grooming tables without securing the arm to prevent such accidents.

Ms Tan said she was informed of Fendi’s death more than an hour after the incident, once the dog had been pronounced dead by a vet.

The corgi, who was one month shy of her fourth birthday, had been a regular client at Pawkins SG.

Business halts operations

A day after the incident, Pawkins SG expressed their condolences in an Instagram post, describing the tragedy as “the most unfortunate incident.”

The salon pledged to cooperate with authorities and ceased operations temporarily.

However, as of December 2024, the salon’s Instagram page continues to list the business as closed.

Ms Tan reported filing complaints with the police, the National Parks Board (NParks), and the Animal & Veterinary Service. NParks confirmed it had received feedback and launched an investigation.

Pawkins SG had allegedly offered to cover the costs of the grooming session, veterinary fees, and cremation expenses.

However, the owner’s decision to report the matter highlights her concern about ensuring accountability in the pet grooming industry.