S'porean pet groomer, 29, fined S$10,000 after unattended corgi slipped off table & died

On Jul. 24, 2024, a pet groomer went on her lunch break with her fiancé and another colleague without realising she had left a corgi dog on its grooming table secured only with a short leash worn around its neck.

Around 10 minutes later, the corgi, named Fendi, tumbled off the table, causing it to be hung by its neck from the short leash that was attached to the table.

Although Fendi struggled for its life, its hind legs could barely touch the ground, and the leash began twisting and tightening around its neck.

By the time the pet groomer's colleague returned to the grooming area, Fendi was already hanging motionless from the short leash.

Although the pet groomer rushed Fendi to a veterinary clinic nearby, the vet confirmed that Fendi was unresponsive and its heart had stopped.

On Apr. 8, 2025, the pet groomer, Chiu Yan Er Vanessa, a 29-year-old Singaporean, was fined S$10,000 after admitting to her offence.

She was also disqualified from running any animal-related business for nine months, said the National Parks Board (NParks).

Founded home-based pet grooming salon with fiancé

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the fatal incident took place at Pawkins SG LLP, a home-based pet grooming salon founded by Chiu and her fiancé in July 2023.

On the day of the incident, the couple went to Fendi's owner's residence to fetch two dogs — Fendi and Hades — for grooming at around 9:45am.

After returning to Chiu's residence, where the pet grooming salon is located, the couple, along with an employee, gave both Fendi and Hades a wash before drying them.

Chiu then began grooming Fendi at a grooming table in the grooming room, while her employee did the same for Hades at another table.

Forgot to secure Fendi with double arm lock

At around 1:30pm, Chiu and her employee left the salon with her fiancé for their lunch break at a nearby coffee shop.

However, before exiting the grooming room, Chiu's employee secured Hades with a double arm lock on its grooming table, which was found to be a usual practice for the business.

In contrast, Chiu forgot to secure Fendi with a double arm lock and only did some area cleaning before leaving.

According to investigations findings, on occasions where dogs had to be left on the table, securing them with a double arm lock will secure them to the table and prevent them from falling off the sides.

Fendi's struggle caught on camera

After Chiu left with her fiancé and her employee for lunch, Fendi, Hades, and four other dogs were left on their own without any supervision.

At around 1:42pm, the dogs started barking and moving excitedly, although court documents did not specify what triggered the response.

Within moments, Fendi tumbled off the table and began struggling for its life.

Although other dogs started barking and jumping after noticing Fendi's ordeal, no help arrived as all the groomers had left the salon for lunch.

Shortly afterwards, Fendi stopped struggling and appeared to have laboured breathing.

The incident was caught on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

Fendi's owner had previously shared the footage with Mothership.

Left 6 dogs unattended for about 45 minutes

After leaving the six dogs unattended for around 45 minutes, Chiu's employee returned to the grooming area at around 2:17pm.

She was the first of the trio to return, and when she discovered Fendi's situation, she immediately called for help.

In response, Chiu rushed in, checked for a pulse, and attempted to perform a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Fendi.

After her employee asked her to take Fendi to a vet nearby, Chiu complied and rushed Fendi to a veterinary clinic with her fiancé and her employee.

Strangulation 'highly stressful' for Fendi: NParks

At the veterinary clinic, Fendi was unresponsive upon presentation and had no heartbeat.

Later on, the clinic also confirmed that Fendi was unresponsive and that its heart had stopped at around 3:15pm.

During investigations into Fendi's passing, a veterinarian from the Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS) of NParks also assessed and opined that asphyxiation by hanging is highly stressful.

"Fendi would have been subjected to immense amounts of stress and pain while it was struggling to breathe and also to free itself from restraint," added the veterinarian.

Chiu received highest sentence for similar cases

On Apr. 8, 2025, Chiu was fined S$10,000 and disqualified from running any animal-related business for nine months after pleading guilty to one count of unreasonably omitting to do an act which caused unnecessary pain and suffering to Fendi.

According to NParks, this is the highest sentence imposed on a pet groomer for similar cases.

Previously, a 22-year-old pet groomer, Boon Regine Vienna, was fined S$8,000 and disqualified from running any animal-related business for nine months in 2023.

Boon was found to have left a maltese under her care unattended for seven minutes after she went on a smoke break in 2021.

During this time period, the dog accidentally slipped off the edge of the grooming table and was left hanging by the neck on a short leash until it died.

Top images via Fendi's owner