Family’s Relief as Missing Chow Chow, Kiko, Found After Two-Day Search
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A Singaporean family experienced immense relief on December 9th after their beloved chow chow, Kiko, was located safe following a frantic two-day search that spanned across teh island and even prompted an early return from a family vacation. The ordeal began on December 7th when the family received notification from a local dog daycare that their pet had gone missing.
Harrowing 48 Hours for Kiko’s Owners
The anxiety began for Mr. Matthew Teh, a 24-year-old undergraduate, while he was in Vietnam with his family. Thay were alerted around 8 p.m. on December 7th by Woofworks dog daycare that Kiko had escaped. Adding to the distress, a video surfaced online showing the dog wandering along the Central Expressway (CTE), a major highway in Singapore.
“I hadn’t been able to sleep and was extremely stressed and worried,” Mr. Teh shared. Despite being scheduled to return on December 11th, the family instantly altered their plans, flying back to Singapore on December 8th to actively participate in the search. Kiko had been a cherished member of the family for five years, welcomed as a three-month-old puppy. To aid in the search, the family offered a $5,000 reward for Kiko’s safe return.
Community Rallies in Online Search Effort
The search quickly gained momentum thanks to the power of social media. A Telegram group was established on December 7th by a concerned stranger and rapidly grew to over 800 members, all dedicated to coordinating search efforts. The breakthrough came around 3 p.m. on December 9th when a member of the group shared a video of Kiko walking inside a drain near 8 Mar Thoma Road.
Shortly after,at approximately 3:20 p.m., another update showed Kiko safely out of the drain and standing with the individual who found him. the owners were reportedly rushing to the location, bringing durian and water for their relieved reunion. Mr. Teh expressed his gratitude in a message to the Telegram group, thanking everyone for their “tireless and steadfast search for Kiko.” He added, “We are bringing him now to a vet just in case to check for any abnormalities.”
Daycare Account and Safety Concerns
Mr. teh explained that he had entrusted Kiko to Woofworks on December 5th at 10 a.m.,as the dog was a regular attendee,visiting the daycare twice a week for the past two years. However, he admitted to having lost trust in the facility, located on Kim Keat Avenue.
Woofworks declined a direct interview, stating they were focused on the ongoing search. however, the daycare issued a Facebook post on December 9th explaining that Kiko had been attending a party for another pet when “an exit wasn’t secured properly by a visiting guest, and Kiko slipped out.” They acknowledged their team immediately pursued the dog but lost sight of him. The daycare emphasized their continuous search efforts, including posting flyers and alerting authorities, and expressed deep regret for the incident. They also announced plans to enhance safety protocols, including the implementation of smart tag locators, additional barriers, and stricter visitor guidelines.
Footage captured by a car’s rear camera on December 7th at 6:46 p.m. showed Kiko near 6 Mar Thoma Road, further illustrating the extent of his travels. This video, posted on the SGRV Facebook page, depicted cars stopping to allow the dog to cross the expressway. Search efforts had been heavily concentrated around 6 Mar thoma Road, near the now-closed St Wilfred Sport Centre off Serangoon Road.
The successful recovery of Kiko underscores the power of community collaboration and the deep bond between people and their pets. The family’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust safety measures at pet care facilities and the unwavering dedication of pet owners.
