SINGAPORE: A pet owner is calling for greater caution among cyclists after her dog was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident involving a speeding bicycle.
The incident took place on the morning of 19 May at a small park near Block 874B in Tampines.
Wendy Ong, the dog’s owner, shared the harrowing account on the Dogs Singapore Facebook page, describing how the accident happened while her helper was out walking the dog.
“Right after my dog did his business and my helper bent down to clean up, a speeding cyclist came out of nowhere and slammed into my dog from behind,” Ong wrote.
“The impact was so severe — it shattered his jaw and knocked out all his front teeth.”
She said the cyclist initially stopped but quickly fled the scene after seeing the dog bleeding from the mouth, without offering help or taking responsibility.
“We rushed him to the vet immediately. After an X-ray, the vet confirmed that his jaw was completely fractured and multiple front teeth needed to be extracted,” Ong said.
She added that her dog’s lower jaw had to be surgically repaired, with broken bones removed during the procedure.
Fortunately, the vet assured her that the dog would still be able to eat normally, as dogs primarily chew with their back teeth.
The total cost of the surgery and consultation was S$1,250, Ong said.
“I’m devastated. My dog is in so much pain — and all because of an irresponsible, heartless cyclist who didn’t even have the decency to stay and take accountability,” she wrote.
Ong urged cyclists to slow down and be more mindful of pedestrians and pets, warning that “one reckless moment can destroy a life.”
Public Offers Advice and Support
In the comments section of her post, many netizens expressed sympathy and wished the dog a swift recovery.
Others offered advice, including ways to prevent such incidents in future.
“Need to educate your helper too. Before picking poop always check the road and pull the dog close to you. Being defensive is important just like driving,” one user wrote.
Another suggested observing the area at the same time each day to see if the same cyclist might pass by again on a regular route.
When asked if her helper had been able to identify the cyclist, Ong said the only available description was that he appeared to be “an uncle.”
She explained that her helper is relatively new to Singapore and unfamiliar with identifying different types of cyclists.
Police Report Filed
Several commenters also urged Ong to check CCTV footage from the area and to report the incident to the authorities.
“Nowadays so many CCTVs around — there should be a way to catch this irresponsible cyclist,” one user wrote.
In response, Ong confirmed that a police report had already been filed.
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