Xavian and Pack dog-training company suspends two of its staff for alleged dog abuse during photo session
Founder condemns 'disgustingly inappropriate behaviour' after videos surface of his employees hitting Shiba Inu, pushing another dog
SINGAPORE —Two employees of the dog training company Xavian and Pack were suspended on Monday (15 January), after videos depicting them allegedly mistreating two dogs were shared on social media.
The footage, shared on Instagram by user monkey_bear2, captured the trainers hitting a black Shiba Inu and forcibly pushing another dog to sit down during a photo session.
According to CNA, user monkey_bear2 reported witnessing the incident on Monday morning, near Blocks 39, 40, and 41 at Telok Blangah Rise.
Xavian and Pack's founder takes action in response to dog mistreatment incident
Responding to the incident, the company's founder Xavian Mar issued a statement on Instagram, acknowledging the "disgustingly inappropriate behaviour" observed in the circulating videos.
He clarified that he was not present during the incident, and has suspended the implicated staff members. The founder emphasised that such actions went against the principles of Xavian and Pack and assured that the company would thoroughly review all aspects of its services to prevent future occurrences.
SPCA advocates force-free training amidst video
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) told Yahoo Southeast Asia on Tuesday (16 January) that it was alerted to the video on the night of 15 January and has taken action by escalating the case to the attention of the authorities.
Aarthi Sankar, the executive director of SPCA, confirmed that their inspector has reviewed the video, and the SPCA is actively seeking information from individuals who may have experienced negative interactions with the trainers featured.
Concerned citizens are encouraged to reach out to the SPCA at depinspector@spca.org.sg, with the assurance that all provided information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
The video showcases what appears to be the use of "aversive training methods", and the SPCA is against such approaches, emphasising that "force should never be used on animals".
Recognising animals as sentient beings capable of expressing preferences and feelings, the SPCA stresses the importance of understanding and respecting their behavioural cues.
"In the video, one of the dogs is shown resisting the trainer's attempt to manipulate him/her into a sitting position. Participation in activities or training should be enjoyable and stress-free for our furry companions.
"It is perfectly acceptable if your pet prefers not to pose for photographs or engage in certain activities," Aarthi explained.
She said that the organisation is here to offer advice and resources to help members of the community learn about responsible pet ownership and force-free training methods.
These methods are designed to nurture a loving and enriching relationship with pets while teaching skills, such as sitting and appropriate behaviours.
"Conversely, violence and intimidation only cause fear and anxiety that may result in long-term health and behavioural issues," Aarthi added.
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