S’pore owner allegedly planned to euthanise 1½-year-old goldendoodle 'cause nobody want him', says dog has since been rehomed

The owner of Simba, a 1½-year-old male goldendoodle, said he planned to euthanise the dog after being unable to find someone willing to adopt it, attributing the difficulty in rehoming it to its behaviour.

A reader alerted Mothership to Simba’s situation after another member of a group chat called “furball siblings” shared an appeal to find it a home.

Screenshots seen by Mothership show the owner discussing plans to euthanise it in a separate Bukit Batok residents’ group chat.

Responding to Mothership’s queries, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said its inspectors were told by the owner and a rescuer that Simba is now in foster care and will undergo training before being rehomed.

According to SPCA, the rescuer caring for Simba said its owner had cited euthanasia out of desperation.

Family allegedly pressed for euthanasia

In the residents’ group chat, Simba’s owner said the dog would need to be euthanised because “nobody want him”, adding that his family was pressing for this to happen.

Another participant asked when he intended to do so, explaining that they were reaching out to people who might be able to give Simba a home. The owner replied that he was planning to euthanise it “after 7 days”.

SPCA said the rescuer subsequently told its inspectors that the owner had limited experience with dogs and had cared for Simba for only a week.

Owner claims shelters would not take Simba in

When another participant in the residents’ group chat suggested approaching SPCA, Simba’s owner claimed that shelters did not want to take it in. He later attributed the difficulty in finding someone to take the dog to its behaviour.

Asked by Mothership about Simba’s behaviour and the shelters approached, the owner declined to provide further details. He did not identify which shelters had been contacted or explain the behavioural issues involved.

SPCA’s response did not establish which shelters had been approached or whether they had declined to accept Simba.

Simba reportedly rehomed

Speaking to Mothership, Simba’s owner said he was the dog’s third owner and had originally found it through Facebook adoption groups.

He said Simba had been picked up by a new caregiver on Sunday (Oct. 4) at 7pm, but declined to explain how the caregiver had been found.

The reader also shared a screenshot of an update in “furball siblings” by the same member who had circulated the appeal. The member said Simba had been adopted by “someone from a shelter”, alongside a photo appearing to show the dog being walked on a leash by a woman.

Mothership initially attempted to verify the reported adoption but was unable to independently confirm it.

SPCA subsequently clarified that Simba was handed over to a rescuer for fostering and subsequent rehoming. Its inspectors contacted the owner after being alerted to the chat messages, then spoke to the rescuer, who said Simba was settling into its foster home and would undergo training before being rehomed.

SPCA cautions against casually mentioning euthanasia

While SPCA said it sympathised with the owner’s situation, it cautioned against casually presenting euthanasia as a potential solution.

“Euthanasia is not the answer to a healthy but simply unwanted pet,” it said.

Speaking generally, SPCA said such mentions can prompt people to quickly offer to take over a pet’s care, creating false urgency and adding pressure to rescuers already handling genuine emergencies.

“For every healthy animal they accept, they have one less space for an animal whose life hangs in the balance,” it added.

SPCA advised owners to explore responsible rehoming options, including its rehoming noticeboard, or engage a professional trainer who uses force-free, positive reinforcement methods where behavioural challenges are the main concern.

It also urged prospective owners to consider the lifelong commitment carefully and plan for behavioural training from the outset, even before problems arise.

Singapore’s veterinary guidelines on euthanasia

According to the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), veterinarians must comply with the Code of Ethics for Veterinarians as part of their licensing conditions.

The code provides for euthanasia to prevent unnecessary suffering, but requires appropriate treatment options to be considered first. It also allows veterinarians to refuse a request for euthanasia if they do not deem it necessary. Decisions about treatment or animal care should be guided by the animal’s welfare, the owner’s commitment to treatment and public safety.

Separately, dog training and behaviour rehabilitation guidelines supported by AVS recommend professional assessment of aggression issues, early behavioural intervention and veterinary advice to rule out health-related causes.