After two sleepless nights, Mr Matthew Teh finally breathed a sigh of relief on December 9 when he learned that his missing chow chow, Kiko, had been found.
The 24-year-old undergraduate was in Vietnam with his family when they were alerted around 8pm on December 7 by dog daycare Woofworks that Kiko had gone missing. The dog had been spotted in an online video wandering on the Central Expressway (CTE).
“I could not sleep at all. I was extremely stressed and worried,” Mr Teh said when contacted.
Although the family was only supposed to return to Singapore on December 11, they flew back the very next day to start searching for their beloved pet. Kiko had been with the family for five years, ever since he was a three-month-old puppy. They had also offered a $5,000 reward for his safe return.
Coordinated Search Efforts
A Telegram group set up to coordinate search efforts quickly grew to at least 800 members. Searchers focused on the area around 6 Mar Thoma Road and the now-closed St Wilfred Sport Centre off Serangoon Road.
At around 3 pm on December 9, the group received the long-awaited news: Kiko had been found. A member shared a video showing Kiko inside a drain near 8 Mar Thoma Road. Moments later, the dog was seen standing next to his rescuer, safe and unharmed.
“We are bringing him now to a vet just in case, to check for any abnormalities,” Mr Teh wrote in a message to the group. He also thanked everyone involved for their “tireless and determined search for Kiko.”
The Day Kiko Went Missing
Kiko had been dropped off at Woofworks on December 5, around 10 am and was a regular at the daycare, attending twice a week for two years. According to a Facebook post by Woofworks, Kiko slipped out during a party for another pet when a visiting guest did not secure an exit properly.
“Our team chased after him immediately, but he was too quick, and we lost sight of him,” the daycare said. “We understand how distressing this is for his family, and we are deeply sorry this happened under our care.”
The daycare added that it is reviewing its safety measures, including smart tag locators, added barriers, and stricter visitor protocols, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
High-Risk Moments
Kiko had also been spotted walking on the CTE near 6 Mar Thoma Road at around 6.46 pm on December 7, according to footage from a car’s rear camera. The dog appeared unharmed despite crossing traffic lanes, and videos were later shared on social media, which helped alert the public.
