Singapore woman faces multiple charges for keeping 79 dogs without licence in landed property

SINGAPORE: A 50-year-old Singaporean woman has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly keeping at least 79 dogs in a landed property without a valid licence and failing to microchip them. Julia Nicole Moss returned to court on Wednesday (23 July) for a further mention of her case. She faces 82 charges in total, most of which relate to owning dogs without licences. According to court documents, Moss is accused of keeping 79 miniature poodles at a property along Wak Hassan Drive on 28 August 2024. This figure far exceeded the legal limit of three dogs permitted on private residential premises. On the same day, she allegedly failed to microchip all the animals in her care, despite being directed to do so by the Director-General of Animal Health and Welfare on 29 May 2024. On 25 January this year, Moss allegedly failed to inform the Director-General that she was relocating the 79 dogs from the premises. According to the charges, the dogs were moved to another house along Wak Hassan Drive, and Moss did not provide the new address, which contravenes the Animals and Birds Act. The case was adjourned to allow Moss time to engage legal counsel. She is expected to return to court in August.

Potential Penalties

For keeping more than three dogs at an unlicensed property, Moss could face a fine of up to S$5,000. Failing to comply with the Director-General’s microchipping order carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both. Owning a dog without a licence is punishable by a fine of up to S$5,000 per charge, while failing to inform the Director-General before relocating the dogs could result in up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$5,000, or both.

Animal Welfare Group Steps In

Some of the dogs involved in Moss’ case were later taken in by animal welfare organisation Voices For Animals (VFA) and put up for adoption. In a Facebook post on 17 April 2025, VFA stated that the dogs were adult cross-breeds who were “not toilet-trained”. The organisation also warned that it could not confirm whether the dogs had any medical conditions, stressing they were not suitable for adopters seeking healthy pets. In a subsequent update on 23 July, VFA revealed it had taken over 37 dogs from the case and successfully rehomed all of them. The organisation added that it remains on standby to assist with the remaining dogs.