S'porean woman, 50, who amassed 79 dogs in house, fined S$21,500

A Singaporean woman, who amassed at least 79 dogs — 78 poodles and one golden retriever — at a landed property, was handed a S$21,500 fine on Nov. 19.

Julia Nicole Moss, 50, was fined as her dogs were not licensed and microchipped.

The number of licensed dogs allowed per privately-owned premises is capped at three.

Moss pleaded guilty to 28 charges with another 72 taken into consideration, reported CNA.

Her offences included having unlicensed dogs and unlawfully keeping more than three of such animals at her home.

If she cannot pay the fine, she will have to spend one month, four weeks and 24 days in jail.

Was warned for two years

Responding to Mothership's queries, the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said it was first notified about the pack of dogs living in Moss' home on Jun. 7, 2022.

All but two were toy poodle mixes.

The landed property was in the midst of repossession due to a mortgage default by Moss' husband.

A law firm working for the bank alerted AVS about the numerous dogs on the property.

The National Parks Board (NParks) conducted a first inspection on Jun. 15 and yielded 65 unlicensed dogs.

It surveyed her home multiple times over two years.

Instead of heeding NParks' warnings, the population of toy poodles ballooned.

Four more inspections and engagements occurred in 2022 with NParks reminding Moss to comply with the law.

Officers prompted her to microchip, neuter and rehome the dogs.

However, Moss ignored AVS' advice and her unsterilised dogs bred from 65 to 79 within two years.

Moss declared bankruptcy

Moss bought time by stating her intention to relocate to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates with the dogs.

In July 2023, she was declared a bankrupt and still is one.

By early 2024, Moss had not moved or microchipped the dogs.

On May 29, 2024, NParks issued a directive to Moss to microchip all the dogs within 90 days.

Moss referenced her bankruptcy and supposed relocation and failed to follow the directive.

House visit to microchip dogs

On Sep. 17, 2024, AVS veterinarians organised a house visit to microchip the dogs.

Eight of the 79 were found to have been microchipped.

A total of 61 dogs were then microchipped, with the rest to be settled on another day, as AVS ran out of microchips that day.

The cost to microchip 71 dogs came up to S$1,420, an amount still owed by Moss.

Secretly shifted the dogs

The law firm that had previously alerted AVS about the situation told NParks that they were actively engaging the High Court sheriff to issue an eviction notice.

As there was a likelihood that the dogs would be moved due to the eviction, NParks issued Moss a notice on Oct. 18, 2024.

She had to inform NParks of the new address if the dogs were to be relocated, the notice stated.

This was so that the authorities could monitor the dogs’ welfare situation while providing time to sterilise and rehome them.

An eviction notice was eventually issued, asking her husband and the occupants to leave by Oct. 29, 2024.

The bank extended the date of eviction to Jan. 25, 2025 on compassionate grounds.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, NParks also repeatedly questioned Moss on her plans for the dogs.

She vaguely responded that they would move to a property in Holland Village.

Without notifying the relevant authorities, she secretly shifted the dogs and refused to reveal her new address.

On Jan. 25, 2025, NParks and the law firm went to her home and found it empty.

She had failed to notify the Director-General (DG) of Animal Health and Welfare before removing the dogs and had also failed to disclose her new address.

She also refused to share her new address.

The poodles were only located in another nearby rental home after the public tipped NParks off.

On Apr. 17, 2025, the landlord terminated Moss' tenancy due to non-payment of rent.

She and her family and occupants had to move on a short notice.

As a result, she handed 37 dogs to NParks for rehoming, but spurned requests to surrender the remainder.

A court granted a forfeiture order for NParks to acquire the remaining dogs in July 2025.

A total of 52 confiscated dogs have since been rehomed.

Three of the dogs were returned to Moss after she took out valid licences for them

Pleaded guilty to 28 charges

The NParks prosecutor said the case was "unprecedented in scope and severity", highlighting Moss' "persistent defiance of regulatory oversight", cited CNA. 

Most of Moss' charges were related to her failure to microchip and get her dogs licensed.

The rest of the charges pertained to a lack of compliance and for exceeding the three-dog limit.

Moreover, despite four inspections and continued talks, the poodle population increased from 65 to 79 in two years.

In the sentencing, the judge underlined the unprecedented dog numbers and reoffences, as well as the potential harm to public health and dog's safety.

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Top photo from Voices For Animals/Facebook