April 11, 2025
SINGAPORE – After washing and grooming a corgi, the owner of a pet grooming salon left the dog on a table to go for lunch.
But she failed to secure the corgi, named Fendi, with a double arm lock, using only a leash for the purpose.
Fendi subsequently fell off the table and struggled for close to a minute before it stopped moving, according to CCTV footage taken from the home-based salon, Pawkins SG.
On April 8, Vanessa Chiu Yan Er, 29, was fined $10,000. She had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to Fendi.
She will also be disqualified from running any animal-related businesses for nine months.
“All individuals working in animal-related businesses, including pet groomers, are expected to uphold higher standards of animal welfare, given that they are entrusted with the care of their clients’ animals,” the National Parks Board said in a statement on April 8.
The court had previously heard that Chiu, who was a part-owner of the salon located in Serangoon Central, had been grooming Fendi on July 24, 2024.
At around 1pm, she went out for lunch with her fiance and another employee. When the employee returned about 45 minutes later, she saw a motionless Fendi hanging off the table by its neck and called for help.
Chiu attempted to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Fendi before rushing the dog to a veterinarian, but to no avail.
Her lawyer, Mr Alain Abraham Johns, said Chiu has since closed her business and refunded her existing clients the money they had paid for grooming packages.
In mitigation, he said Chiu fully accepted that her carelessness had led to the death of Fendi, whom she had groomed on 12 earlier occasions. She also paid for the dog’s medical and cremation fees.
Mr Johns added that Chiu loves animals.
A first-time offender convicted of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $40,000.