Because of Lt. Dan's calm demeanor, Riddle coordinated with Shriners to hand him off to Sapphyre as a therapy dog. Sapphyre and Lt. Dan went home together Monday.
The dog's breeder, Karen Riddle, said that the 9-week-old White German Shepard was born in a litter of nine puppies and was the only one missing a paw.
SINGAPORE: A 25-year-old Malaysian man was sentenced to a total of eight months' jail on Thursday (Apr 16) for smuggling seven puppies into Singapore, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a joint news release.
For importing the dogs without relevant permits, he was slapped with a jail term of five months, and for subjecting them to unnecessary suffering or pain, he was sentenced to 3 months' prison. The sentences will run consecutively.
AVA said after investigations that the puppies did not have food or water during their journey. Five of the puppies subsequently deteriorated in condition and died due to to illness, while the remaining puppy is under quarantine at AVA's Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS), where it is being observed for signs of infectious or contagious disease.
AVA highlighted the danger of smuggling animals into Singapore. AVA prosecutor, Yap Teck Chuan, said: “The danger of the introduction of diseases, such as rabies, into Singapore is real.
The efforts of AVA and other authorities in regulating importation and enforcing quarantine measures, in order to ensure the safety of Singaporeans, will be futile if offenders continue to import puppies from dubious sources through illegal means.”
The appointment takes effect from Thursday and follows the resignation in January of its previous Executive Director. Mr Seah joined the SEC in October 2014 as Director of Communications and has been serving as interim Executive Director since February.