Dog killed in alleged hit-and-run incident in Hougang, family appeals for witnesses
A family whose dog was allegedly killed in a hit-and-run accident at an open-air carpark in Hougang is appealing for witnesses or the driver to come forward.
Gerrard Tan, a 32-year-old firefighter who works in the private sector, told Stomp that their family dog Girlgirl was a 14-year-old female Jack Russell-Maltese mix.
He described it as an obedient and cheerful dog that was well-loved by neighbours, that often followed Mr Tan's father closely.
The accident occurred on Nov 17 at around 10.25am, when Mr Tan's father was taking Girlgirl for a walk near 541 Hougang Street 51.
Girlgirl was unleashed and walking close to the elder Mr Tan. After crossing a road, he called out to the dog, but heard no response.
Turning around, he realised that Girlgirl was lying motionless on the road as a car drove off. The dog had sustained a fatal injury to the head, with half of its head crushed by the impact.
Mr Tan said his father could not recall the colour or model of the vehicle.
The family posted an appeal on Facebook group Dogs Singapore the same day, asking for the driver to come forward as the accident had caused "great distress".
Accompanying the post were photos of the dog, whose head, snout, and ears were bloodied.
Netizens concerned about unleashed dog
In response, netizens raised concerns that unleashing a dog could be dangerous for the animal. "I hope all dog owners leash their dogs to keep it safe, poor dog actually don't know what coming next," said one. "Please be responsible for your pet and the general public."
Koh Wenting, Mr Tan's younger cousin, responded in the comments, sharing that they were grieving the loss of their dog.
"This was a tragic accident, and seeing blame during such a painful moment has been incredibly hard," she said. "We're simply asking for a bit more compassion, our dog is already gone, and nothing can change that."
"Some comments are thoughtless. Leashed or unleashed, the driver should still be held accountable," another commenter said.
Several netizens also called for more CCTV cameras in carpark areas, while others suggested asking neighbouring car owners for dashcam footage.
