Tammy's rescuer demands $1,200 in costs and damages from adopter

[Updated on 1 November 2013, 3:30pm: adding information about letter of demand sent to Alison McElwee]

The rescuer of Tammy, the healthy seven-month-old puppy who was put down, has sent a letter of demand to her adoptive owner Alison McElwee, calling for the payment of some $1,200 in damages and legal costs.

In the five-page letter shared with the media by animal advocate group Acres, lawyers representing Ada Ong informed McElwee that she has not only contravened the terms of the pet adoption agreement signed between the two parties in putting Tammy down, but also blatantly lied to Ong about her whereabouts even though the latter offered to take her back.

"The truth about what you had done with Tammy only came to light because our client was persistent about finding out about the welfare of Tammy," the letter said, noting that McElwee repeatedly refused to cooperate with Ong until the police intervened. "In view of the foregoing, you are clearly in breach of your obligations under the Pet Adoption Agreement, and are liable to (Ong) for damages."

Ong is seeking $1,000 in damages and a further $200 in costs, both sums of which will be donated to a charity of her choice. She is also seeking a written acknowledgement from McElwee that "in the circumstances, it was inappropriate and in breach of (her) obligations under the pet adoption agreement to put Tammy down".

McElwee has a week to respond to the letter, following which Ong and her team of lawyers, led by Member of Parliament Edwin Tong of Allen & Gledhill, will commence legal proceedings.

Tammy's case stirred up an online storm after it came to light that McElwee had instructed her to be put down by veterinarians at The Animal Clinic on 7 October, despite the puppy being healthy.

Law Minister K Shanmugam previously suggested that Ong could turn to lawyers for recourse.

"I have suggested to her [Ong] that she should get a lawyer to pursue this matter. She asked me for help and I have suggested a lawyer to her who will help her pro-bono," the minister said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

His response came after the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) commented previously on the euthanasia, which drew flak among animal lovers in Singapore.

The minister noted the uproar and also said, "Many animal lovers have been upset about the events surrounding puppy Tammy. Ada, who was Tammy's rehomer, spoke with me. I asked for the document which was signed between Ada and Tammy’s adopter (Alison McElwee). Ada told me that she made clear to Tammy’s adopter in subsequent conversations that Ada was prepared to take back Tammy."

He later commented again on his post, which had already attracted over 200 comments and more than 1,000 Likes, to prevent more people from condemning McElwee's doing.

"I hope we can refrain (on this page) from making remarks which are insulting and of a personal nature, about the adopter and her family. She will have her version of events, and we should be fair. I hope we, as Singaporeans, can show our fair mindedness," he said.

In a statement posted on AVA's Facebook page, the authority said veterinarians "may at times be called upon to euthanise an animal for various reasons, such as to alleviate their suffering, or if they are aggressive".

AVA said it "has looked into the facts of the case in the media reports", and said that the vet clinic which carried out the euthanasia had "experienced first-hand the aggressiveness of the dog".

The statement said the vets at The Animal Clinic, the vet clinic that Tammy's owner had brought her to, "found (the dog's) behaviour to be hostile" and that the "degree of its aggressiveness escalated".

However, Ricky Yeo, president of animal welfare group Action for Singapore Dog and a dog trainer whom Tammy's owner got in touch with, said the dog "did not exhibit any signs of aggression".

Tammy had three 2-hour sessions with Yeo in July and August. While Tammy started off nervous and cowering, by the end of the sessions she was "much more confident, and I was told that Tammy was playing well with (Alison's) kids and integrating well into the family", Yeo said.

He said when news broke via a Facebook post that Tammy had been put to sleep, he was "shocked and very disappointed".

According to the Facebook post that first started circulating early October, Tammy was adopted by Ms Alison McElwee in June.

The rescuers, whom had rehomed Tammy and her siblings, had a signed agreement with Ms McElwee - should the latter wish to give up the dog, the rescuers must be informed "so we can take our dog back".

Four months later, Ong was notified that McElwee found the puppy aggressive. Talks on how to handle the situation was ongoing when Ong said McElwee told that her that she managed to “(find) someone for Coco to go and she left yesterday afternoon.

It was only after a police report and much effort that McElwee told Ong that Tammy had been put to sleep.

The Facebook post went viral, with McElwee and the clinic that had put down Tammy facing a storm of criticism.

Animal lovers are up in arms about AVA's statement, with many asking if AVA had spoken directly to the parties involved.

Facebook user Jasmine Kee asked, "Facts from the media reports? Seriously? Did you even speak to the parties involved? Why is there no mention of the rehomer wanting to bring Tammy back?"

Another comment left by Serene See said, "Did AVA spoke to the rescuer? There's totally no mention of her and the trainer's point of view. This is totally unfair and biased"