The Platinium Dogs Club (PDC) saga seemed to reach its conclusion after the owner, Charlotte Liew, pleaded guilty to 4 charges of failing her care duties as a pet owner and 3 additional charges.
On Tuesday (31 Aug), she was sentenced to 2 weeks’ jail and fined $35,700.
However, some Singaporeans are appealing for a harsher sentence via an online petition. Concerned animal rights advocates believe this is a necessary deterrent to show that Singapore does not condone animal abuse.
At the time of writing, the petition has amassed more than 7,700 signatures.
A day after the sentencing, a Change.org petition created by one Mr Andrew Tan emerged.
The petition is titled, “Review sentence for Charlotte Liew for animal abuse and obstruction of justice”.
During PDC’s business operations, 2 dogs died under her care—Prince and QQ. Prince was a Shetland sheepdog, and QQ was a Jack Russell Terrier.
Liew also faced multiple charges for operating PDC while it was an unregistered business and provided false information upon its registration.
In Singapore, the maximum sentence for animal abuse is a 2-year jail time, a $40,000 fine, or both. While Liew received a hefty fine, petition starter Mr Tan believes her jail term was short.
Emphasising the anguish experienced by the owners, he said money should not be the answer to resolving crimes. As such, he is appealing for a heavier jail sentence to deter perpetrators of animal abuse.
More than 7,000 Singaporeans have signed the petition to review her 2-week prison sentence. Much like Mr Tan, they believe the sentence was too light.
This person believes that the light sentence will not deter others from committing a similar crime or re-offending.
Besides longer jail time, another suggests she should be banned from running any pet-related business for life instead of a year.
Other signees highlighted the need for longer jail terms to protect voiceless animals.
Although authorities clamped down on Liew’s controversial business, the public’s clamour for a heavier sentence isn’t unfounded.
Some consider their dogs as family members and loved ones. Hence, losing their beloved furkids due to an abusive pet sitter is an unfortunate tragedy.
We hope this saga ends with a sentence that’s fair to the victims involved.
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Featured image adapted from Change.org and Facebook.
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