Six-month-old dog swung in mid-air by owner to be put up for adoption: SPCA

The man twirling his dog in mid-air by its leash. PHOTO: STOMP

SINGAPORE - The man who was filmed swinging and spinning his dog in mid-air officially surrendered ownership of it on Monday morning (Nov 2), said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, SPCA's deputy executive director Selina Sebastian revealed that the six-month-old Japanese Spitz will be put up for adoption once investigations by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) have been completed.

It is currently under SPCA's care. An adoption notice will be posted on the organisation's website.

Ms Sebastian added that SPCA is "pressing for strong deterrent action" against the dog's former owner.

A shocking clip of the incident, which showed him using a leash to lift his dog up by its neck in a room, was uploaded on citizen journalism website Stomp last Saturday. (WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT)

The man, who spoke in Mandarin, appeared to have been trying to get it to follow him with little success.

Netizens who viewed the video expressed anger and disgust at the man's actions, with the majority calling for him to be punished severely for his cruel treatment of the animal.

According to Ms Sebastian, SPCA was alerted to the case last Friday at around 11.30pm.

It reacted swiftly, enlisting the assistance of the police to remove the dog from the man's home at 12.45am on Saturday.

"Due to the nature of the case, we viewed it as an emergency and acted quickly to ensure the dog's safety," she said.

A veterinarian who subsequently checked on the dog did not discover any noticeable physical injuries on it.

SPCA is currently working with the AVA to put together a case against the man.

Under the revised Animal and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals, including abandonment of any animal, can be jailed for at least 18 months and/or fined up to $15,000.

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