Woman seen cycling in Boon Keng with leashed Shiba Inu running on road

A woman was caught on camera cycling in Boon Keng with a leashed Shiba Inu keeping up behind her, prompting concerns from members of the public over the dog’s safety.

The video was posted by Evan Lim in the Facebook group Shiba Inu Club Singapore on May 6 at around 6:24pm.

Dog appeared to be panting

In the post, Lim wrote that a Shiba Inu owner had allegedly tied the dog to the bicycle while cycling along a busy road, and appealed for anyone who knew the woman to come forward.

The video lasted several seconds.

Lim told Mothership the video was taken on Wednesday at around 6:18pm, at the junction diagonally opposite Kwong Hwai Siu Hospital.

Asked how long the dog had been pulled along the road, Lim said it “seems like it has been ongoing for quite a while”.

He said: “You can see the dog is panting and trying his or her best to catch up with the owner.”

Lim added that reports had been made to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), NParks, and the police via OneService.

He has received some leads about the identity of the cyclist, who remained unidentified.

“Shocked and angry”

Lim said he felt “shocked and angry” when he first saw the incident.

“How could any dog owner do this?” he said.

“Why would they subject the dog or any animal to such abuse? This is super dangerous for the furkid. Any vehicle could have knocked the poor Shiba Inu down.”

Lim added that he hoped the authorities would not take the case lightly.

“Animal welfare should be improved in our society and country, we should protect the voiceless,” he added.

In an email seen by Mothership, SPCA Singapore told Lim on May 7 that it had received “multiple feedback reports regarding this matter” and was looking into it.

SPCA warns against leashing dog to bicycle

In response to queries from Mothership, SPCA said it is aware of the case and that its inspectors have escalated it to the authorities at NParks’ Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) for further investigation and any enforcement action.

SPCA said such incidents can endanger both the animal and people in the vicinity:

“Leashed to the moving bicycle, the dog is forced to keep pace whether or not they are physically able to.

“If they fall behind even slightly, the collar/harness could dig painfully into their skin and cause injury.”

SPCA added that in Singapore’s hot climate, heatstroke is a real possibility for dogs subjected to strenuous activity.

SPCA also noted that while the cyclist could be seen turning back to check on the dog in the video, it warned that such checks could only be “occasional and fleeting at best”, and would be insufficient to tell if the dog was in distress or discomfort.

“This momentary lapse of attention to the road conditions heightens the risk of a traffic accident, which would impact not only the cyclist and her dog but also other road users,” SPCA added.

SPCA said drivers behind the cyclist could also be distracted by the running dog, such as by trying to gauge and maintain a safe distance, and fail to notice other hazards.

NParks investigating incident

Jessica Kwok, Group Director of Enforcement and Investigation at the National Parks Board, told Mothership that NParks is aware of the incident involving a cyclist who leashed a Shiba Inu to a moving bicycle on May 6.

“Investigations are ongoing,” she confirmed.

Ms Kwok added that being a pet owner is a lifelong commitment, and that pet owners must be responsible and provide appropriate care throughout their pet’s lifetime.

Ms Kwok also said safeguarding animal welfare is a shared social responsibility.

She said:

“NParks takes all feedback received from the public seriously, and investigates them thoroughly if there is sufficient information provided.

“As with all investigations, all forms of evidence are crucial, and photographic and/or videographic evidence provided by the public will help.”

Online commenters concerned about dog’s welfare

The video also drew concern from Facebook users, with several commenting that the incident was dangerous for both the dog and road users.

One user said cycling on Singapore roads was already dangerous, and that having a dog running behind a cyclist on a busy road made it worse, while others said the dog could have been put at risk even if the cyclist was not riding at full speed.

Another commenter also raised concerns over Singapore’s humid weather, saying the dog’s paws could be hurt on the hot road and that running without rest or water could expose it to the risk of heatstroke.

SPCA advised members of the public who witnessed similar incidents to document them with clear photos and videos, especially if the situation is transient.

Such footage should be timestamped where possible, as it may serve as critical evidence, while the exact address and photos of the location can also help establish the context.

Reports can then be submitted to SPCA via its website, or to NParks/AVS through its feedback portal.

SPCA can be reached at 6287 5355 ext. 9, while NParks/AVS can be reached at 1800 476 1600.