50-year-old Singaporean woman fined S$21,500 for keeping 79 unlicensed dogs in landed home
A 50-year-old Singaporean woman has been fined S$21,500 for keeping 79 dogs in her landed home, far exceeding the legal limit of three and failing to comply with multiple directives issued by the authorities.
Julia Nicole Moss pleaded guilty on Wednesday (19 Nov) to 28 charges, including keeping unlicensed dogs, unlawfully housing more than three dogs on a private property, and failing to comply with orders from the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).
Source: Voices For Animals on Facebook
Another 72 charges were taken into consideration. If she does not pay the fine, she will serve one month, four weeks and 24 days in jail.
The prosecution described the case as unprecedented in scale, noting that Moss persistently ignored regulatory requirements over several years.
78 poodles & 1 golden retriever found unlicensed
According to CNA, AVS and the National Parks Board (NParks) were first alerted in June 2022 after a law firm reported numerous dogs at Moss’ home, which was undergoing repossession due to her husband’s mortgage default.
Officers found 65 unlicensed and non-microchipped dogs during the initial inspection.
Despite four inspections and repeated reminders throughout 2022, Moss did not comply, and the number of dogs grew to 79 by 2024.
As of 7 Oct 2024, all 78 poodles and one golden retriever in her care remained unlicensed, and 71 had not been microchipped.
Source: Voices For Animals on Facebook
Moss repeatedly claimed she intended to relocate to Dubai with the dogs, citing her husband’s employment, but provided no evidence of incoming funds to substantiate this.
She was declared bankrupt in July 2023.
Dogs relocated without notice, NParks tracks them down
In May 2024, NParks issued a directive requiring Moss to microchip all dogs within 90 days.
She failed to do so, and AVS vets later microchipped 71 dogs during a September 2024 house visit. The S$1,420 cost remains unpaid.
As the family faced eviction, NParks ordered Moss to inform the authorities if she moved the dogs, but she did not comply.
When officers arrived on 25 Jan 2025, they discovered the family had already vacated the property with all the dogs and had not disclosed their new address.
NParks eventually located the animals in April 2025 after receiving public feedback that Moss had moved them to a rental home in Sembawang.
Source: Voices For Animals on Facebook
The tenancy was later terminated due to outstanding rent, forcing another relocation.
37 dogs surrendered, remaining dogs eventually seized
During the April 2025 eviction, Moss agreed to surrender 37 dogs for NParks to rehome with assistance from an animal welfare group.
However, she later refused to hand over the remaining animals despite repeated offers of support.
NParks seized the rest of the dogs in July 2025 after Moss continued to withhold cooperation, and a court subsequently granted a forfeiture order.
To date, 52 dogs have been rehomed, while three have been returned to Moss after she obtained valid licences for them.
The judge noted that the persistent non-compliance, coupled with the large and growing number of dogs, posed potential risks to public health and animal welfare.
Also read: Woman in S’pore facing 82 charges after 79 dogs found inside landed home
Woman in S’pore facing 82 charges after 79 dogs found inside landed home
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Featured image adapted from Voices For Animals on Facebook.
