The owner of a pet peacock that viciously attacked a three-year-old girl on November 28, 2021, has been given a stern warning by the authorities.
The Singapore Police Force, in consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, took action against the 59-year-old man for negligence in handling his pet, as revealed to the media.
BACKGROUND
The distressing incident took place as the young girl and her family were walking along Tavistock Avenue. They noticed a house with a peacock inside its compound, and the gate was wide open. As the child stood outside the gate and peered in, the peacock aggressively charged out and attacked her.
The girl’s mother, Kris Chan, expressed her concern about the open gate and the dangerous situation that unfolded before them.
Following the attack, a dispute arose between the family and the peacock’s owner over who should take responsibility for the incident.
The owner attempted to defend himself, claiming that the girl provoked the peacock by staring at it. Despite the owner’s assertion, the police and legal authorities found him liable for negligence in handling the potentially dangerous pet.
As a result of the incident, the man decided to give away the peacock and paid compensation to the victim’s family. The compensation aimed to cover the medical expenses incurred due to the attack, which left the young girl with 3cm stitches.
However, despite the compensation, the family was unsatisfied with the outcome, citing that the peacock’s owner had received previous warnings regarding the animal’s behavior. Kris Chan provided evidence of previous incidents involving multiple victims prior to her daughter’s attack.
Disappointed by the response from the authorities, the family resorted to filing a civil suit against the peacock’s owner to recover their daughter’s medical fees. Additionally, the traumatic incident has had lasting effects on the young girl.
Now five years old, she has developed a fear of all animals, including dogs, cats, and chickens. Even when visiting friends with dogs, the animals must be muzzled and kept in separate rooms.
Despite the challenges, Chan expressed hope for her daughter’s recovery. “She’s gradually getting better. We finally started going to the zoo again only this year,” she told reporters.
Singapore allows the keeping of up to 10 non-commercial poultry, including peacocks, but incidents like this highlight the need for responsible pet ownership to ensure public safety.
With the stern warning issued to the peacock’s owner, authorities send a message to pet owners about the importance of being aware of and mitigating potential risks associated with their animals.
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