Have you ever had friends who told you they essentially learned how to swim because their parents just threw them into a pool?
Which, fair enough—I suppose it works in these cases because there’s parental supervision, which means the child can be saved in case they do start drowning.
However, things work differently when it’s a dog you’re dropping into the water.
Especially if said waters include fast-flowing waters at a canal in a reservoir.
Man Threw His 5 Dogs into Canal
On Wednesday (7 July), 58-year-old Cheong Wah Meng was fined S$11,000 for various offences after failing to abide by a prohibition sign and bringing his five dogs into a nature reserve, where he threw them into a canal.
He is to serve 40 days’ jail if he cannot pay the fine.
The Singapore permanent resident from Malaysia originally faced 27 charges, including charges for violating 12 laws under the Parks and Trees Act, another 12 laws under the Animals and Birds Act, as well as 2 charges for violating COVID-19 laws.
Cheong pleaded guilty to eight charges, including charges of taking a dog into a nature reserve, trespassing in a “no entry” area, failing in his duty of care to a pet, not leashing his dogs in a public place, and keeping more than three dogs without authorisation.
Nineteen similar charges were taken into consideration during sentencing. These nineteen charges included breaking COVID-19 safe measurement laws by leaving his home during the circuit breaker period.
The first incident took place on 8 May last year, at the Upper Peirce Reservoir Park located along Old Upper Thomson Road. The park is part of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
This occurs during the circuit breaker, when people were only allowed to leave their houses for essential purposes in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Cheong had reportedly taken his dogs to the reservoir park, despite the fact that pets are prohibited in nature reserves. He had already received a stern wearing two years before for taking his pets into a prohibited area.
In closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage provided by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), Cheong can be seen releasing his five dogs to run freely from his van into the nature reserve through a side gate. This was despite signage at the park clearly stating that pets were banned.
His five dogs comprise of, a Poodle, a Labrador Retriever, a Mongrel and two Golden Retrievers.
At the nature reserve, Cheong allowed his dogs to swim in the drainage canal and reservoir.
Man Repeated the Offence the Next Day
On 9 May last year around 11am, just one day after the first incident, Cheong returned to the nature reserve with his domestic worker and dogs.
Parking his van outside the main gate of the nature reserve, Cheong entered through the side gate as the main gate had been closed throughout the day during the circuit breaker in order to discourage visitors.
As reported by Today, they then made their way to a bridge over a drainage canal linking the Upper Peirce Reservoir Park and Lower Peirce Reservoir Park.
Cheong then allegedly dropped his poodle into the running water from a height of one meter after allowing his three retriever dogs to enter the canal. He then proceeded to walk along the grass verge, meeting his dogs at the outflow of Lower Peirce Reservoir.
Fortunately, his five dogs were ultimately not hurt.
This routine was allegedly repeated several times by Cheong before he left the park.
According to National Parks Board (NParks) prosecutor Packer Mohammad, there had been a “fast flow of water in the canal” at the time of Cheong’s visit.
Cheong’s act had been filmed by a member of the public and the video clip was later uploaded and shared on social media.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, this video clip had reportedly alarmed the Animal Veterinary Service (AVS) and various animal welfare organisations, causing over 50 people to arrive at the scene to rescue the dogs.
Man Allegedly Did it Out of Love for Dogs
When investigators looked into the incident, they found that Cheong kept his dogs at his Thomson View residence.
However, this did not match the address on the poodle’s dog licence, which stated that it should have been kept at 20 Pasir Ris Farmway 2, Unit 5.
It was also discovered that Cheong did not have the approval to keep more than three dogs at home.
Prosecutor Packer sought a total fine of S$12,600, pointing out that Cheong’s actions put the poodle “at risk of significant injury”, given that the estimated depth of the water in the canal was 70m.
In mitigation, Cheong’s defence lawyer, Mr Daniel Woo, said that Cheong loved his dogs and was solely motivated by his desire for them to be happy.
“Nevertheless, the ordeal has made him more mindful of his actions and he is filled with regret and remorse that his actions may have put his dogs in danger,” said Mr Woo.
In response to District Judge Ho questioning the need to drop the poodle from a height, Mr Woo replied that Cheong is “someone who may not be very gentle”, and that his “standard of danger is not what we are used to”.
Mr Woo added that the poodle had also wanted to play with the other dogs.
District Judge Ho noted in sentencing that the potential risk could have been high as dogs drown in fast-running water.
“No doubt, his intention was not to hurt the dog, but (it) was a dangerous act that did not take into account the safety of the animal,” Judge Ho said.
One charged for failing in his duty of care under the Animals and Birds Act can be sentenced to up to one year jail and fined up to S$10,000, or both.
One charged for entering a nature reserve, national park or public park that are closed to the public can be fined up to S$2,000.
Featured Image: Facebook (Chained Dog Awareness in Singapore)
