Singapore Pet Cremation Scandal: Dog’s Body Found in Rubbish Bin

On the morning of July 19, Liu Jianping, a 46-year-old secretary, discovered his family’s 16-year-old female dachshund, Kimi, dumped inside a black garbage bag at the bottom of a public rubbish chute, just moments after paying an Express Pet Cremation employee $180 for pet cremation services. According to Shin Min Daily News, the pet owner had hired the company to handle the remains of his dog, which had been with his family since 2010, but grew suspicious after spotting the company worker waiting downstairs for a taxi without any bags in hand.

Following the discovery, Liu and his family reported the incident to a nearby police station and notified the National Parks Board, while Express Pet Cremation has yet to issue a refund or respond to inquiries after initially stating they would investigate. Liu subsequently engaged a different company to handle Kimi’s remains, incurring an additional cost of $198 that brought his total expenses to $378, while local regulations from the Animal and Veterinary Service and the National Environment Agency strictly prohibit disposing of animal carcasses in public areas or utilizing waste-to-energy plants designed for large animal disposal.

Discovery at the Rubbish Chute After Payment

The sequence of events began early on the morning of July 19, shortly after Kimi passed away at 16 years old. Liu Jianping told Shin Min Daily News that he searched online for proper handling methods and selected Express Pet Cremation, a firm specializing in pet cremation and sea ash scattering. A male employee arrived at Liu’s home, placed the dog’s body into a bag, and departed after providing an invoice indicating the body would be cremated at Ubi and collecting a $180 bank transfer.

Minutes later, while heading to the rubbish chute area downstairs to dispose of household trash, Liu noticed the same employee waiting for a taxi without carrying any bags. Upon opening a black garbage bag stuffed at the bottom of a green rubbish chute, Liu discovered Kimi’s remains. “My hands were shaking. When my wife saw it, she cried on the spot. My mother also cried very sadly when she found out,” Liu recalled, noting that the family had owned the female dachshund since 2010.

Official Regulations and Corporate Response

Under current guidelines outlined by the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), pet remains may be buried on private property or land, but public disposal is strictly prohibited. Additionally, the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations forbid burying animal carcasses in public places. According to the National Environment Agency, local waste-to-energy plants are not engineered to handle the cremation of large animal carcasses such as dogs and cats.

After filing reports at a nearby police station and alerting the National Parks Board, Liu contacted Express Pet Cremation to demand a refund. An employee initially told Shin Min Daily News that the company would investigate the matter, but subsequently ceased answering phone calls and text messages. Liu then hired an alternative provider—receiving photographic documentation throughout the new process—and spent an extra $198, bringing his total expenditure to $378.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did Liu Jianping pay for the initial pet cremation service?
Liu paid $180 to the employee from Express Pet Cremation, and later spent an additional $198 with a different company, totaling $378.

Where was the dog’s body found after the initial pickup?
Liu found the black garbage bag containing Kimi’s remains stuffed inside a green rubbish chute near a HDB block.

What are the regulations regarding pet remains disposal?
According to the Animal and Veterinary Service and the National Environment Agency, pet remains can be buried on private property or land, but are barred from public areas and waste-to-energy plants.

How can pet owners better verify that cremation services properly handle deceased animals following incidents like this?