Owner of Platinum Dogs Club pet hotel fined and jailed after dogs die under her care
Posted on 01 September 2021 | 4,477 views | 7 comments
David Sun
The Straits Times
August 31, 2021 The owner of pet hotel Platinium Dogs Club has been jailed and fined for failing to properly care for the animals entrusted to her. Charlotte Liew, 33, was jailed for two weeks and fined $35,700 on Tuesday (Aug 31). She pleaded guilty to four charges of failing in her duty to care for the dogs, and one charge each of giving false information, obstructing the course of justice, and registering the business under a different address and her sister's name.
Another five charges, which include four for failing in her duty of care for the dogs, were taken into consideration in sentencing.
Liew has also been banned from running pet-related businesses for a year.
Numerous dogs suffered under Liew's care and two of them died.
The pet hotel operated from January 2018 at a residential house in Bukit Panjang, offering boarding services for dogs.
But it was registered only in October that year, under Liew's sister's name, with an address in Woodlands.
On Dec 16 that year, a shetland sheepdog named Prince was boarded at the house.
But he died sometime between Dec 22 and 24.
Liew claimed Prince died after being bitten by another dog housed there.
But the actual cause of Prince's death could not be determined, as Liew had cremated the dog under a false identity on Dec 24.
It was almost a week later when she told the owner Prince had gone missing, ignoring further questions from her.
The owner went to look for Liew at the house, even getting down on her knees to plead with her to reveal Prince's whereabouts. But Liew continued to ignore her.
On Dec 20 that year, a jack russell terrier named QQ was boarded at the house.
She suffered from acute pancreatitis in 2017 and Liew was told she should be fed only special low-fat kibble provided by the owner.
But Liew did not ensure this, and had on occasion fed the dog unsuitable food.
A week later, QQ was on the verge of death and looked skinny, with abrasions on her inner thighs and faeces and urine all over her body and limbs.
Liew then took her to a vet, where QQ died from acute renal failure a few hours after admission.
On Dec 29, the pet boarding house in Bukit Panjang was raided by the authorities following complaints that pets in its care were allegedly mistreated.
The then Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) found 12 dogs and a rabbit during the raid.
The Straits Times
August 31, 2021 The owner of pet hotel Platinium Dogs Club has been jailed and fined for failing to properly care for the animals entrusted to her. Charlotte Liew, 33, was jailed for two weeks and fined $35,700 on Tuesday (Aug 31).
The AVA had found 12 dogs and a rabbit during a raid and took temporary custody of the animals found at the house. PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO
Source:
The Straits Times
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