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Pet groomer and pet farm owner charged for poor care of dogs under their watch

SINGAPORE — Two men were separately charged in court on Wednesday (July 20) for failing to provide proper care of the dogs under their watch, and for not complying with dog licensing and control rules as well as pet farm licensing conditions.

Edwin Tan (left) and Low Chong Kiat were both charged in court on Wednesday (July 20). Photo: Ernest Chua/TODAY

Edwin Tan (left) and Low Chong Kiat were both charged in court on Wednesday (July 20). Photo: Ernest Chua/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Two men were separately charged in court on Wednesday (July 20) for failing to provide proper care of the dogs under their watch, and for not complying with dog licensing and control rules as well as pet farm licensing conditions.

Low Chong Kiat, 43, was charged with 49 counts of failing to provide proper care of the dogs in his pet grooming school, and for not abiding by dog licensing and control rules.

He had allegedly abandoned 18 dogs over two days in March this year, in areas such as Yishun, Tampines, Sengkang and Hougang. The dogs were mainly poodles but also included a cocker spaniel, a shih tzu, among others. 

Low, who owns Prestige Grooming Academy, was also charged for not taking reasonable steps to ensure that his dogs were protected from any significant injury or disease. On one occasion, a female white-and-brown shih tzu was found with dental issues, skin conditions and signs of corneal damage, among other problems. 

Low was also charged with not complying with dog licensing and control rules, by keeping multiple dogs without a licence and for keeping more than three dogs on his premises — which is not a dog farm — without the permission of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) director-general. 

In March, the AVA had said it was investigating a case of 18 small dogs being abandoned across the island, reportedly by an individual who still had more than 30 dogs in his care. The man had met animal welfare group Voices For Animals president Derrick Tan, who had picked up some of the dogs that were left in Yishun, Tampines and other areas. 

Mr Tan had said then that the man claimed to be “facing a crisis” when the authorities wanted him to remove the animals. He then left the dogs in areas where he hoped people would take them in.

Low’s case will be mentioned again on Aug 4.

Separately, pet farm owner Edwin Tan Guowei, 28, was charged with nine counts of failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the dogs under his care were protected from any significant injury or disease, and for not ensuring they were rapidly diagnosed and not complying with pet farm licensing conditions. 

The eight affected dogs included an unsterilised bulldog, a schnauzer, a husky, and a pomeranian. They were found in poor physical condition, such as corneal swelling of the eye, muscle wastage and blindness. 

He was also charged with not complying with pet farm licensing conditions, such as providing rooms for animal treatment and isolation for animals which are sick and injured, non-rusty or undamaged cages to keep the dogs, and providing clean drinking water at all times. He is alleged to have committed these offences in March. 

Edwin Tan, who told the court he had no plans to engage a lawyer, runs the pet farm Kennel 7 at Pasir Ris. A pre-trial conference for his case will be held on Aug 17.

Those who fail to provide proper care of animals while conducting an animal-related business can be fined up to S$40,000, or jailed for two years, or both for first convictions.

For not complying with dog licensing and control rules, Low could be fined up to S$5,000 if convicted.

For not complying with pet farm licensing conditions, Edwin Tan could be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed for a year or both for the first conviction.

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