SINGAPORE - A total of 18 dogs found within two days were likely abandoned by one owner, animal welfare activist Derrick Tan told The Straits Times on Friday (March 25).

In Facebook posts on Thursday (March 24) night, Mr Tan said that Voices for Animals (VFA) and other animal welfare groups have picked up 18 dogs since Wednesday.

Mr Tan, who founded VFA, called it a "dumping session", and put up a video describing the "island-wide dog abandonment".

The dogs, mostly poodles, poodle crosses and malteses, were found in an Yishun industrial park, Tampines, Sengkang, Upper Serangoon and Petir Road. They smelled bad, had long nails and skin issues, said the 35-year-old.

Mr Tan said they have managed to trace the suspected former pet owner through "their networks".

The former pet owner told Mr Tan that he left 18 dogs in various parts of Singapore in the hope that they will be adopted.

More than 15 volunteers from VFA and the Ocean Rescue group were up until 4am last night searching for abandoned dogs, Mr Tan said.

"All 18 dogs have been accounted for," said Mr Tan, who had earlier urged animal lovers to keep a look out for more lost or abandoned dogs.

Most of the dogs are now with VFA. Others are with the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and one is with the Animal Lovers League.

Two are at a vet as one has scabies and one has ringworms, Mr Tan said.

SPCA acting executive director Jaipal Singh Gill, 33, said that the Society has taken in eight small pedigree dogs since Wednesday - an "unusually high number".

Of the eight, six are male and have not been sterilised, while two females show signs of being used for breeding, he said.

SPCA has made a report to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA). An AVA spokesman said that it will be working with animal welfare groups to investigate.

Six of the dogs were microchipped which can help to trace the owner, said Dr Gill.

"Any person who has abandoned animals, they need to be brought to justice," he added.

But he cautioned that not all animals found by the SPCA have been abandoned. Some were lost and are eventually re-united with their owners.

In this case, all the dogs show signs of having the same owner.

"The dogs are bright and alert but some have similar skin problems, are groomed the same way, and all have long nails," he said.