Dog in abuse video has new owner and new lease of life
Mistreated puppy in viral video happy with new owner
It was seen being beaten on the head, lifted off the ground by its collar and swung around in mid-air.
In October last year, the alleged abuse of a six-month-old puppy that was caught on video sparked a furore here.
After the video went viral, the dog, named Pumpkin, was rescued by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and put up for adoption.
At least 20 people applied to adopt the puppy, said the SPCA.
Today, the 10-month-old dog has a new home, a new life and a new name.
Its new owner, Ms Gourie Pandey, 26, a part-time cycling instructor, told The New Paper that she renamed the dog Liska, which means fox in Czech.
"I don't understand how anyone could treat a dog like that, especially a puppy," she said.
"I didn't want her to be associated with her old name and her horrible past. So I gave her a new name for her to start a new life - one that's happier."
The New Paper visited Ms Pandey's semi-detached home in Kovan last Thursday and an excited Liska was at the gate to greet us.
As soon as we were inside, it jumped on us, nuzzled against us and followed us everywhere during the hour-long interview.
TNP PHOTOS: GAVIN FOOBut Liska, a cross-breed between a Japanese spitz and a samoyed, was not as friendly when she was first adopted, said Ms Pandey.
In the first two weeks, it was sullen and quiet, and displayed an adverse reaction to loud, metallic noises.
"Maybe it was also that she was in a new environment," said Ms Pandey.
But perhaps the most telling was how Liska hated wearing a collar around her neck, she added.
In the video, Liska's former owner was seen yanking its leash, which was attached to a collar around its neck, and lifting the dog off the ground.
Ms Pandey said: "Initially, Liska really hated wearing a collar. She would try to bite it off. It took a month for us to get her used to it."
PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE
Animals, like humans, suffer psychological damage and take time to recover, veterinarians told TNP.
Ms Pandey said she first watched the video sometime in November last year, just as she was looking to adopt a dog.
She jumped at the chance when she found out that the SPCA, through its Facebook page, had put Liska - or Pumpkin, as it was known then - up for adoption.
"I was always looking to adopt a dog from a shelter because there are so many of them who need to be cared for," she said.
"I knew there would be many people interested to adopt Liska, but I didn't rush down or anything."
Ms Pandey said she visited SPCA, which was then at its old premises in Mount Vernon, on Nov 23 to do the adoption paperwork.
"Perhaps it's fate because they called me the very next day and said I got her. I was overjoyed," she said.
Today, Liska is toilet trained and understands basic instructions such as to sit and follow its owner.
Ms Pandey, who is its main caretaker, feeds, bathes and grooms the dog. She also takes it for hour-long walks at East Coast Park or Punggol Park almost every day.
"As an owner, you have the responsibility to care for and love your pet," she said.
"Liska has also brought my family closer because everyone loves her to bits and chips in every now and then to care for her. She's our bundle of joy."
Lasting effects of abuse
Dogs, like humans, do suffer some form of post-traumatic stress disorder after they are abused, veterinarians told The New Paper.
Dr Jason Teo, a vet and owner of Point Veterinary Surgery who has over 14 years of experience, said he has seen many cases of dogs becoming withdrawn and different after they are abused.
He also took in a shiba inu (a spitz-style dog) that had been locked in a small toilet for many years by its former owner.
"Today, it still gets aggressive easily, is very hesitant towards humans and has a deranged look in its eyes. There's a chance it will never be the same again," Dr Teo said.
The rate and length of recovery depend on each dog's personality and character, he added.
"Some dogs will remember and take the abuse to heart forever. Some are more happy-go-lucky and tend to forget after a while."
Dr Rachel Tong of Spring Veterinary Care said owners can help their pets get over their unhappy pasts through actions of positive reinforcement.
"For example, if your dog hates wearing a leash, make it wear one while giving it a treat," she said.
"That way, it will come to change the association to something that makes it happy."
Dr Tong said there is no definite period of post-trauma recovery, which could take as long as a year.
"Be patient and dedicated. Once you gain your pet's confidence and trust, then you can slowly modify its behaviour and help it," she said.
Dr Teo agreed, saying: "The way to recovery is very simple: Just love your dog, properly care for it and make it feel comfortable in your home."
About the case
It was a video that shocked many netizens.
The 68-second clip of the alleged animal abuse first came to light when citizen journalism website Stomp put it up on Oct 31 last year.
The video, which was also uploaded onto The Straits Times' YouTube channel, garnered over 47,000 views.
In the footage, the Japanese spitz's former owner is first seen smacking the six-month-old dog on its head. The man later yanks the dog's leash, which is connected to a collar around its neck, upwards, lifting the dog in mid-air before spinning the animal.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) told The New Paper that it was alerted to the video on Oct 30 last year and that it worked with the police to visit the former owner's home.
Their investigations revealed that the dog's former owner had strangled it with a leash, thrown it against a wall and stepped on it.
The former owner surrendered ownership of the dog on Nov 2.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore told The New Paper that it is still investigating the case.
SPCA advises witnesses of abuse to call 999 and to also report the abuse to the SPCA.
Photographing or filming the offending act is encouraged if it is safe to do so. Under the revised Animal and Birds Act, anyone found guilty of cruelty to animals can be jailed for at least 18 months and/or fined up to $15,000.
SPCA: Pets are for life
Pets are for life, said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Before you decide to keep a pet, here are some points to consider:
- Think about why you want a pet and do research for information on the animal's life span and requirements for shelter, food, exercise, training, grooming and veterinary care.
- Consider the changes that might take place in your family's life over the course of the animal's life. Could you be moving? What if a new baby is born? What if a relative comes to stay?
- Be sure that you have the time, money, and desire to properly care for the pet every day for its entire life. A lack of planning often results in people giving up pets that they thought they could handle.
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