Animal advocates demanding justice for a dog euthanized earlier this year said they were disappointed that a four-month probe found no breach of ethics.
Exclusively Mongrels, which is locked in legal action against a couple it says violated terms by not returning the dog before putting it to death, said they were disappointed that the national animal welfare agency NParks concluded neither the vet nor owners had acted cruelly.
“What can we say, except we are saddened and disappointed by the outcome? Although to be honest, we had expected this outcome, because the NParks isn’t an awesome agency anyway,” the group said yesterday.
Animal group says couple euthanized ‘biting’ dog needlessly
The investigation was carried out by NPark’s Animal and Veterinary Service.
The dog, a 2-year-old rescue named Loki, died in April after being adopted by a Danish couple because it bit people, including a child. Both parties have taken legal action against each other, according to Exclusively Mongrels.
Attempts to reach the couple for comment were not successful. The animal group said that the legal actions are ongoing despite the couple’s departure from Singapore.
The animal advocacy group said it is suing the couple for not returning the dog as per their contract, and the couple has retaliated with a defamation suit.
“The civil suit with Loki’s owners is ongoing and we will do our best, together with our lawyers to get justice for Loki,” Exclusively Mongrels said on social media.
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Owners put Loki down during CB measures. Vet performed the euthanasia citing public safety and…
Posted by Exclusively Mongrels Limited on Tuesday, 15 September 2020
The veterinary service said it found “no failure in duty of care or cruelty” on the couple’s part as they had provided for Loki’s basic needs of food, water, shelter and veterinary attention, and had “treated it well.”
It added that the vet who euthanized Loki did not breach the ethics code’s admonition that it should only be done to “prevent unnecessary suffering” after other appropriate treatment options have been considered.
“Given Loki’s case history and continued unpredictability, the owners assessed that Loki was a risk to the family and requested to euthanise Loki. The veterinarian agreed, in the interest of public safety,” it said.
K Shanmugam urges public to stop harassing clinic where Loki the dog was put to sleep
Animal activist and Nee Soon MP Louis Ng, weighed in to say the code of ethics should be revised.
“There really is no breach because Loki’s euthanasia was investigated under the current code of ethics which is clearly insufficient. This has to be reviewed and significantly improved,” Ng said.
He said he’ll continue to raise the issue.
“This month, I’ve also asked that [Ministry of National Development] to consider setting up an independent committee [composed of] of vets, animal welfare groups and animal trainers to review and propose the new guidelines on pet euthanasia,” he said.
The news of Loki’s death sparked uproar among the public and even trended #JusticeForLoki on social media. Law Minister K Shanmugam even came out to caution the public against harassing the Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group clinic where Loki died.
[ No breach? ]
There really is no breach because Loki’s euthanasia was investigated under the current code of ethics…
Posted by Louis Ng Kok Kwang on Tuesday, 15 September 2020
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K Shanmugam urges public to stop harassing clinic where Loki the dog was put to sleep
Animal group says couple euthanized ‘biting’ dog needlessly
