April 28, 2018, 03:15 PM 
On Tuesday, April 24, a stray dog was found dead on a field near Yishun Avenue 6.
The news didn't bode well for the residents in the vicinity.
According to a Friday morning Facebook post from cat welfare group Yishun 326 Tabby Cat, it is suspected that the dog had been deliberately poisoned by parties commissioned by the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
"Suspicious" men often seen near field
The group, citing residents at Yishun Riverwalk, an HDB build-to-order development, said there is a pack of stray dogs that roams on the field and in the area.
However, three men they described as "suspicious" were allegedly observed emerging from a white van that would be parked close to the field at about 8pm on a number of consecutive evenings leading up to Monday, April 23.
That night, before the dog carcass was found the next day, residents in the area claimed to have noticed one of the men going into the forested area with a white plastic bag in his hand, but returning without it.
Despite being confronted by the residents, the man allegedly ignored them and walked away.
Dog food and gloves found in discarded plastic bag
Speaking to Mothership, a representative from Yishun 326 Tabby Cat said a group of their volunteers went into the forested area on Wednesday, April 25, after being alerted by a resident.
There, they said they found a white plastic bag that contained a packet of dog food, a container and a pair of gloves.
In a video uploaded on Facebook, which we reproduce here, a couple of volunteers appeared to find the white plastic bag allegedly left behind by the man in the forested area:
Speaking in Mandarin, one of them instructed the others to look for any evidence of medicine bottles where the powder may have come from.
The following day, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was informed of the case, and they in turn directed the National Environment Agency to clear the dog's carcass.
Suspecting that the dog had been poisoned to death, the group filed a police report.
Contractors allegedly engaged by AVA
To the community's members, it was "clear" that the men were AVA-commissioned contractors whose task was to get rid of dogs in the area after receiving complaints of cyclists allegedly being chased by them.
"It was clear that the 3 men were contractors engaged by AVA to get rid of the dogs in the area. When called, AVA refuted the poisoning but admitted they did engage contractors to solve the complain case whereby stray dogs ran after cyclists."
A representative from the community page also told Mothership that the dogs are conditioned to "feel excited" when they see cyclists as one of the dogs' regular feeders typically cycled into the field to feed them.
Angry reactions
The post has since garnered more than 1,000 shares, with many outraged:
[related_story]
Read the group's full account of what happened here:
AVA responds
In response to Mothership.sg queries to verify these claims, an AVA spokesperson confirmed with that there was indeed feedback on stray dogs chasing members of the public.
The spokesperson said AVA's priority in stray dog management is to ensure that public safety and public health are not compromised.
In light of this, she said they conducted surveillance of the area and assessed that there was a public safety risk:
"When AVA receives feedback on stray dogs, it conducts surveillance of the area and if necessary, activates contractors to remove stray dogs. Impounded animals’ conditions are checked when they arrive at AVA. We also work with our partner animal welfare groups to rehome suitable animals."
We were told by AVA, however, that contractors have to follow a set of guidelines and inhumane methods such as poisoned baits cannot be used:
"All external contractors have to follow a set of guidelines jointly developed by AVA and SPCA. The guidelines cover how contractors can capture, handle and transport animals, as well as the types of equipment that are allowed to be used in animal management operations. Poisoned baits are not allowed to be used."
They claimed, however, that they have not received any reports alleging poisoning of stray dogs in the area and urge members of the public to contact them at 1800-476-1600 if they have any information on this case.
Previous incidents
A similar suspicion of deliberate animal poisoning by AVA happened last year when several stray dogs were found dead around Seletar Farmway 4.
In December 2017, Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) and Second Minister for National Development (MND) Desmond Lee shared on his Facebook page that the AVA will be working closely with animal welfare groups on a five-year national Trap-Neuter-Release -Manage (TNRM) programme for stray dogs in Singapore.
"They plan to rehome as many of the sterilised dogs as possible. Those that are unable to be rehomed and which do not pose safety risks will be released at suitable locations to live out their lives naturally. The aim is to sterilise at least 70% of the stray dogs in Singapore within five years."
Top image via Yishun 326 Tabby cat's Facebook page
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