A heart-stopping incident unfolded over the weekend as a pet dog found itself in a perilous predicament on the 14th-floor ledge of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) building in Hougang.
The dramatic rescue operation took place on the afternoon of Sept. 9 at Block 928, Hougang Street 91, according to Mothership.SG.
The entire heartwarming saga began when an alert neighbor on the 13th floor spotted the dog precariously navigating the narrow metal ledge.
The circumstances leading to the dog’s harrowing journey remained shrouded in mystery at first, but it was later revealed that the dog belonged to a resident on the 15th floor. As the canine attempted to navigate to safety, it found itself stranded on the ledge of the 14th floor.
Responding swiftly to public reports, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), along with law enforcement and Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) personnel, rushed to the scene. Their immediate priority was the safety of the trapped dog.
Simultaneously, the police managed to contact the dog’s owner, who arrived at the scene approximately 30 minutes later.
Safety nets and mattresses were strategically deployed as a precautionary measure to cushion any potential fall, with one net positioned between the 13th and 15th floors and another at ground level.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was also summoned to provide their expertise in the rescue effort. Their elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) was mobilized to address the unique challenge of retrieving the stranded dog from the 14th floor ledge.
A video shared with Mothership captured the meticulous and daring efforts of DART officers as they gained access to the 14th-floor unit.
In a gripping moment, the dog’s owner extended a leash from their window to secure their pet, ultimately guiding the canine to safety through the unit’s window.
This delicate and time-consuming operation spanned an agonizing four hours, but the dog’s life was saved, resulting in an emotionally charged reunion between the pet and its owner.
In response to inquiries from Mothership, the SCDF confirmed that they received the call for assistance at approximately 4:55pm on Sept. 9
