‘It’s either my life or the dog’s’: NSF rescues lost dog that was hit by a car in Bedok

SINGAPORE – A full-time national serviceman (NSF) put his own safety at risk by rescuing a dog that had dashed across a road twice on Aug 3.

Mr Ilham Jufri, who is serving at the Singapore Police Force’s K-9 unit, was hospitalised after injuring three of his fingers and joints in the process.

The 22-year-old was on an evening run in Bedok around 6.45pm when he noticed a small brown dog scurrying into the bushes near a park connector.

He caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a toy poodle, looking “beat up” and wet with dried leaves on its body, probably due to the rainy weather earlier.

He was trying to cajole it out of the bushes when the dog suddenly darted across the road and was hit by a car, which drove off without stopping.

Mr IIham instinctively ran to the road, raised his arms and started shouting to warn other drivers about the pooch.

“It’s either my life or the dog’s life,” he told The Straits Times in a phone interview on Aug 5.

“I have never yelled that loud before. I didn’t even think I had it in me to shout that loud.”

He scooped up the dog, which seemed to be having spasms, and placed the animal on the pavement. While he was calling the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Traffic Police, the dog sprinted across the same road a second time, narrowly escaping being hit by a car that managed to stop in time.

About 10 passers-by joined Mr IIham in trying to pin down the dog, which was running around a multi-storey carpark and various void decks in a seemingly distressed manner.

After about 30 minutes, a student finally managed to secure the frightened canine.

It was only after calling SPCA again and sending his exact location that Mr IIham noticed the joints near his knuckles on both hands had been bitten and he was bleeding badly.

When the bleeding did not stop after close to four hours, he sought treatment at Changi General Hospital.

He received around two to three stitches on each finger on the morning of Aug 4 during a three-hour surgical procedure.

“I will be able to take the stitches out in about 10 to 14 days. Fingers crossed – no pun intended,” said Mr Ilham, adding that he will then be guided to do hand exercises to regain strength.

Mr Ilham, who is used to working with bigger dogs, said the irony is not lost on him – being bitten and needing surgery because of a small dog.

He is also grateful for the praise he received online after his father took to Facebook to recount the incident. Despite getting injured, Mr Ilham told ST he would do the same thing again in a heartbeat.

“I’m still alive, so no regrets. But if I had left the dog there on its own, it probably would not have made it,” he said. “I’m glad I was there to rescue it, along with all the others who stepped in.”

In response to ST’s queries, SPCA confirmed it received a call around 7pm on Aug 3. Its rescue team took the dog into its care after deploying an officer to the scene.

Upon checks by its clinic, the dog was found to be unhurt but had a poor coat condition and dental issues. It has since been taken home by its owner, who told SPCA the animal is about five years old.

The dog was not microchipped and does not have a valid licence, said SPCA.

“We continue to urge all pet owners to be vigilant with their pets and to keep them safe. Our pets rely on us for their safety,” said SPCA, adding that owners should ensure their pets are properly microchipped and registered so tracing can be done should they get lost and be found.

SPCA said it is grateful to those who help an animal but stressed that it is also important to ensure their personal safety.

If the animal is in a dangerous location, for example on the road, one must assess their surroundings carefully before exiting their vehicle to help, since stressful situations can cause the animal to react defensively as a means of self-protection.

“Approach an animal only if there is low risk of harm,” SPCA cautioned, adding that documenting the exact location with photos and videos, including timestamps, will help in assisting rescue officers.

The public can call these 24/7 hotlines: SPCA’s on 6287-5355, or Animal and Veterinary Service’s on 1800-476-1600, if they spot an animal that is lost, abandoned or in distress.