NParks investigates video of handler kicking dog at Coney Island

SINGAPORE – The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating a case where a dog handler kicked a dog in Coney Island Park.

A five-second clip, which appeared on social media sites on November 6, shows two women walking side by side, each with four leashed dogs. One of the women is then seen kicking one of the dogs in the face.

The video was uploaded by @sgfollowsall on Instagram, along with the caption that the person who shot the video witnessed the incident at 10:57 a.m. on November 6, while walking through Coney Island Park.

In response to questions from The Straits Times, Ms Jessica Kwok, group director of enforcement and investigations of NParks, said the organization has received feedback on the incident and is investigating it.

Ms Kwok added: “We will take action against anyone who has abandoned their pet, failed to provide adequate care for it or committed an act of animal cruelty.”

Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said she had received several reports of the case and had forwarded them to the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) – which is part of NParks – for further action .

The dog handlers were identified on social media as coming from Stormwoofers Daycare & Boarding, a local animal care agency founded in November 2022.

The agency responded to the video via stories on their Instagram page, revealing that the dog was a Shiba Inu named Stormi, which belonged to the business owner himself.