In a world where our furry friends have become an integral part of our lives, it is alarming to hear about instances of neglect and indifference towards them.
A recent incident at IKEA Alexandra on October 15, 2023, sent shockwaves through the hearts of animal lovers and concerned citizens.
A Singaporean woman and her husband discovered a dog left unattended inside a locked car for more than 30 minutes and when the owner returned, appeared indifferent and told her to mind her own business.
An Unexpected Discovery
The story began when the Singaporean woman, Ms. Ng, and her husband were preparing to head home after shopping at IKEA Alexandra.
As they approached their car, they noticed unusual movement inside the vehicle parked next to theirs. Intrigued and concerned, Ms. Ng took a closer look, only to be horrified by what she found.
The Neglected Canine
What Ms. Ng discovered was a dog left alone inside the locked car. This incident took place at around 8 PM.
Ms. Ng, a fellow pet owner, couldn’t ignore the plight of the helpless dog. She realized that the dog had been left alone for a considerable amount of time, as the car’s bonnet felt cool to the touch. The situation was distressing, to say the least.
Ms. Ng then stepped out of her car to check on the dog. She observed the dog, which she believed to be a Japanese Spitz, pacing back and forth inside the vehicle, as she waited for the return of the owner.
Seeking Help
After about five minutes of waiting, Ms. Ng and her husband decided to take action. They contacted the building security.
The security team swiftly took action, making an announcement over the building’s public announcement system, urging the owner of the car to return immediately.
As Ms. Ng and her husband waited by the car, another concerned passerby approached them. This individual had also noticed the dog in the car and was worried about its well-being. He informed Ms. Ng that he had seen the dog at 7:37 PM and had even taken a picture of the situation.
By this point, more than ten minutes had passed since Ms. Ng’s initial discovery, indicating that the dog had been left unattended and locked inside the car for at least 30 minutes.
Confronting the Owner
Moments later, a man approached Ms. Ng and her group, appearing agitated. He questioned the reason behind them reporting his car. In response, Ms. Ng explained their concerns for the dog’s well-being and requested the owner to check on it.
The owner’s response was shocking. He claimed that he had left the dog in the car for only a short while and insisted that there was nothing to worry about. He even asserted that the car had cooled down and unlocked his car door to let his dog out to show them that it was unharmed.
A Matter of Cruelty
Ms. Ng emphasized that leaving the dog unattended in a locked car for more than 30 minutes was cruel. In a bid to make the owner understand the gravity of the situation, she urged him to consider being locked in a car with no air conditioning, water, or ventilation for half an hour.
In response, the owner claimed he could stay in the car for one to two hours. He brushed off concerns, stating that it’s none of her problem and told her “don’t be a busybody with what I do with my dog”.
He then got into his car and left the scene.
Reporting the Incident
Ms. Ng’s distress and concern led her to take further action. She reported the incident to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) as well as the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) to ensure that this matter did not go unnoticed.
The executive director of SPCA, Aarthi Sankar, said that the hot and humid weather of Singapore can turn a stationary vehicle into an over because the temperatures can rise very quickly, even if the windows are partially opened.
Temperatures can even hit 43 degrees celsius in just the span of 10 minutes, and lead to heatstroke in dogs and even deaths.