A local news story that became unexpectedly big

Singapore’s calm reputation means that a small public confrontation can become surprisingly prominent local news. In June 2021, Mothership reported a dog owner’s allegation that a runner grabbed her Shiba Inu’s leash and flung it towards a railing at Robertson Quay.

According to the report, the owner was walking along the Singapore River with her four-and-a-half-month-old Shiba Inu, Pumpkin.

The owner said a runner came up from behind, grabbed the leash and flung it towards the railing. When she confronted him, she said he replied that the dog had been blocking his way and continued running. The account remained an allegation reported by the owner, not a court finding.

Singapore Police confirmed to the publication that a report had been lodged. Pumpkin had already been recovering from a throat issue, and the owner said she was unsure whether the incident had hurt him. It was a brief encounter, yet it became a story precisely because such scenes can feel unusual here.