The issue of a seven-month-old dog that was put down by its owner for aggression is now with the lawyers, and it "should be for them to look at and advise the parties", said Law Minister K. Shanmugam.

The minister, who had weighed in on the controversy, said on Sunday he would not comment further on this.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an active ageing carnival in Yishun, Mr Shanmugam said: "People know that I'm a sympathiser in terms of animal rights. They sent a petition to me, lots of people have been writing to me, and I just set out the facts," he said, adding that many netizens had also posted on his Facebook page on the issue.

"Right is right, wrong is wrong. Now that we have asked lawyers to look at it I should not comment. But when I see something that is happening that I feel needs to be dealt with, I do my best to go in and help."

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Mr Shanmugam said that animal welfare volunteer Ada Ong, 35, who found Tammy a home with adopter Alison McElwee, "should get a lawyer to pursue the matter".

He was responding to online criticism over Ms McElwee's decision to put the dog down. A veterinarian at The Animal Clinic had agreed to do it as the dog had allegedly bitten Ms McElwee and her children and "was aggressive" during examinations.