The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) announced Wednesday that it had earlier this year successfully defended itself in a 10-month long suit by a dog owner who alleged that SPCA had wrongfully detained her husky.

In July 2012, an SPCA rescue officer responded to a call from a member of the public regarding an Alaskan husky that was tied to a tree in Yio Chu Kang.

Following failed attempts to contact the dog's owner, SPCA fostered the 6-month old husky out to another family, but a week later, a Ms Yang, claiming to be the original owner, contacted the SPCA in attempts to collect the dog.

As Ms Yang was unable to validate her ownership of the husky, the SPCA rejected her claims. Ms Yang then initiated legal proceedings against the SPCA in August last year for wrongfully detaining the husky and causing her financial loss, damage and infliction of emotional distress, claiming that the husky was purchased as an investment and intended as a show dog.

After ten months and two mediation sessions during which Ms Yang failed to turn up, her case was thrown out by the judge in June, and Ms Yang was ordered to pay the SPCA for legal costs, including the upkeep and maintenance of the husky.

The husky was subsequently reunited with his fosterer.