Animal cruelty seems to be the theme for the past few days.

First, we had the Boon Lay Place community cat which died after being thrown from a height.

And now, news of a pigeon in Tampines found with a blow dart in its head surfaced. Again.

Pigeon in Tampines Found with Blow Dart in Head; ACRES Appealing for Info

On 12 Mar 2021, ACRES took to its Facebook page to appeal for information.

According to ACRES, it’s been a year since ACRES received their first call for a pigeon sighting with a dart in its sighting.

And yet, even till now, they are still receiving reports about pigeons with darts in their bodies.

The latest reports ACRES received were centred around the Tampines area, with sightings in these three places:

• Blk 513 Tampines Central (January 2021)
• Tampines Street 21 (February 2021)
• 267/269 Tampines Street 21 (February 2021)

Keep A Lookout For Suspicious Activity

Condemning the behaviour, ACRES is appealing for members of the public to keep a lookout for “suspicious activities” at the locations.

It is also appealing for people with information to come forward.

Those who have relevant information can connect with them at [email protected]

You can read their full post below:

Other Pigeon-Dart Cases

Earlier this year in Ang Mo Kio, a pigeon was seen with a homemade dart in its eye.

A concerned member of the public who found the pigeon said the dart was a “wooden stick with a sharpened end”.

Fortunately, the homemade dart has been removed, and the pigeon is under the care of ACRES.

That wasn’t the only case either and as early as Mar 2020, injured pigeons with darts found in their bodies were sighted in Jurong West.

In Aug 2020, it was discovered that the spate of attacks against the pigeons with blow darts was still going on.

Legal Consequences

If you think it’s only animals and there won’t be serious consequences, think again.

For those who are guilty of cruelty to animals, you can be jailed for up to 18 months, fined up to S$15,000, or both.

Repeat offenders face double the penalty (up to 3 years’ jail and S$30,000 fine, or both).

Back in 2017, a person had dragged his poodle down 19 flights of stairs, leaving a trail of blood, before leaving it to die.

For his crime, he was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, and two additional months for abandonment.

Feature Image: Facebook (ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore))