While trying to discipline his newly bought poodle, a Singaporean man hit it so hard that it fell unconscious.

According to Channel NewsAsia, Yeo Wee Soon then hit the dog's head against a bathtub before placing its body in a bucket filled with ice water.

The bucket was then dropped into the river along Delta Avenue in Tiong Bahru.

The male poodle — named To-Bi — had also been kept without a licence.

It had only been bought online a week before it was killed.

The incident

Today reported that Yeo, 48, pleaded guilty on August 21 to one charge of animal cruelty by causing unnecessary suffering to the dog.

The incident, which took place on February 6, was triggered after Yeo's mother was upset about To-Bi's fur being smeared with faeces.

Yeo then went to wash the dog. However, when To-Bi struggled during the washing, Yeo "tapped" it twice to discipline the dog.

According to Straits Times, NParks prosecutor Packer Mohammad said that when the dog responded by biting Yeo's finger, Yeo "tapped" the dog harder and it collapsed.

Attempting to revive To-bi

Yeo then attempted to revive To-Bi by hitting the dog's head against the bathtub twice.

He also tried placing it in ice water and showering it with cold water.

When this caused To-Bi to become motionless, Yeo placed the dog in a bucket and brought it to the river.

Reported by his parents

Yeo's parents, who heard To-Bi wailing, saw him leaving the house with the bucket and returning without it.

They grew suspicious after they could not locate the dog, and reported the matter to the police.

ST quoted Packer as saying that Yeo's "action was unreasonable and led to the unnecessary death of the dog".

Mental conditions

According to Today, Yeo's laywer, Violet Netto, told the court that it was Yeo's first offence and that he had owned a dog since he was 16, without incident.

"Perhaps because of his mental condition, he might have inadvertently caused…unnecessary suffering to the dog," she said without elaborating on Yeo's mental condition.

District Judge Eddy Tham called for an assessment of whether Yeo is suitable for a mandatory treatment order or a community service order.

Mandatory treatment order or community service order?

A mandatory treatment order is a community sentencing option offered to offenders suffering from mental conditions that contributed to the offence.

A community service order would allow offenders to do unpaid community service as a means of making amends for their crime.

Causing a dog unnecessary pain or suffering can bring fines of up to S$15,000 or jail of up to 18 months, or both.

Another charge of keeping a dog without a licence will be taken into consideration when Yeo is sentenced on September 17.

Top image by Dan Smedley and Matt Higham via Unsplash