SINGAPORE - A dog was found outside a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat in Bedok Reservoir Road on Tuesday (Sept 19), starving and uncared for.

The scrawny dog, which had a collar around its neck, was seen with empty food and water bowls beside it.

Mr Benjamin Low, 37, self-employed in the sales and marketing sector, told The Straits Times that it was his colleague who first spotted the canine and took a photo of it to share in a group chat.

"I was working in the area. But as I wasn't exactly nearby, I used Facebook to see if anyone nearby could help," he said.

When he finished work at 10.45pm, he went to the location on the eighth floor of Block 607, Bedok Reservoir Road, where he met up with a couple who had responded to his earlier call for help.

When they tried feeding the dog food and water, it became aggressive towards them and started barking, waking the neighbours.

"When I asked how long the dog had been out, they told me a week or more, as the owners had gone for holiday," said Mr Low.

He added that he tried ringing the door bell of the unit, but there was no response.

They then called the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for assistance. According to Mr Low, an AVA officer arrived in about 45 minutes to take the dog away.

"While waiting, I got my wife to bring more food for the dog, and I was glad to see that it could stand up and walk a little on its own," he said.

Mr Low said they left the place when the AVA officer was still on the scene, as it was already after 4am.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, an AVA spokesman said it is investigating the case.