Last month, Dutch architect and designer Alfred Leeflang came to us in the hopes of tracking down his adopted dog Vlek, who used to live at the now-demolished fish farm on Seletar Farmway 4.

In the weeks that followed, two regular stray dog feeders and carers for the canines in the area connected with Leeflang. Recently, Leeflang returned to share sad news: Vlek was found dead.

He shared that one of the dog carers was able to help him track down Ah Seng, one of the two brothers who looked after the dog at the farm, and that they met him on a Saturday in end-March near the former fish farm's area.

"He had to move when the fish farm was demolished, and prior to this, he lost his job as as a sea crab cutter. He was forced to leave and could not take Vlek with him.

When we searched the area we stumbled on a fish farm located at Farmway 3, just south of where Vlek was staying originally. I showed the photo of Vlek. Immediately, and without hesitation, the manager by the name of Alan, responded: “oh he is dead already. Poisoned” and then: “I can show you. I have video. I can show his grave if you want” Vlek was murdered together with his black “dog friend”. Both died a horrible death. Both looked bloated and in a terrible state."

One of the volunteers showed him a photo of the black dog Vlek was found with:

The chief suspicion the volunteers have as the cause of Vlek's death, which they discovered back in October 2016, as well as those of numerous other stray dogs roaming the area, says Leeflang: contractors believed to have been hired by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

Together, Leeflang tells us the volunteer team he has spoken to has found several strays dead in the area, from a series of observed methods:

- Poison

- Drowning in wells

- Catching in electronic-operated cages

Additionally, he says volunteers told him there is a S$400 bounty on each killed stray.

AVA says they haven't done animal operations in the area, or been informed of any dog deaths there, since Jan 2017

When we approached the AVA to verify these claims, a spokesperson told us the following:

"AVA has not been conducting any animal management operations in the Seletar Farmway area since January 2017. We have also not received any feedback on dog deaths in the area. Members of the public who have information on the dog deaths (e.g. photographic or video evidence, witnesses, etc) can contact us via our 24-hour hotline, 1800-476-1600. All information shared with AVA will be kept in the strictest confidence."

Also, the spokesperson stressed, guidelines jointly developed by the AVA and SPCA dictate that any parties contracted by the AVA to carry out animal management operations are not allowed to kill stray dogs. Nor are they allowed to use inhumane methods like electric cages, poison or drowning.

AVA also conducts surprise checks on contractors who are carrying out these operations to ensure that their guidelines are adhered to. All dogs caught, they say, must be surrendered to the AVA, whereupon their health conditions will be checked by the authorities.

"AVA takes feedback on animal welfare seriously and will take action against anyone found guilty of breaching our guidelines. External contractors who breach our guidelines will also be suspended and their contracts may not be renewed."

As heartbroken as Leeflang is, he tells us he is grateful that the people who found him and his companion buried them in the forest nearby.

"I rescued Vlek from the street after he was badly treated by people and on the run from something terrible, in a very bad state. I stood by Vlek for years and proved that he was an exceptional dog. Against all odds and what people were saying that he was dangerous and should not be alive, Vlek saved my life as well. Vlek was the best dog one could meet, my true best friend in life. I feel a lot of pain that his life ended that way."

Here's a picture he shared with us of Vlek when he was found (Warning: graphic image below):

RIP Vlek.

Here's an article you should check out next:

We cycled through 700 years of Singapore history just to write this article

Related articles:

Owner of dog at demolished Seletar fish farm hopes to track him down again

Lifelong fish farmers clearing out their ornamental fish because farm must close by mid-Nov

Top photo courtesy of Albert Leeflang

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.