‘Unable to sleep not knowing how he is’: Man Reunites with Missing Pet Dog After 2-Day Search Following Viral Highway Scare
SINGAPORE — The bond between a pet and its owner is profound, often defying distance and logic. For 24-year-old undergraduate Matthew Teh, that bond was tested during a harrowing 48-hour ordeal that began with a distressing phone call overseas and ended in an emotional reunion beside a monsoon drain in Singapore.
After two agonizing, sleepless nights, the Teh family can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Their beloved five-year-old Chow Chow, Kiko, has been found safe after a frantic island-wide search that captivated social media and mobilized hundreds of strangers.
The saga, which serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of pet boarding, culminated on December 9 near Mar Thoma Road. The resolution came just days after heart-stopping footage circulated online showing the confused canine wandering dangerously close to moving traffic on the Central Expressway (CTE).
From Vacation to Nightmare: The Timeline of a Disappearance
The incident began to unfold on the evening of December 7. Mr. Teh and his family were enjoying a holiday in Vietnam, having left Kiko in the care of Woofworks, a pet boarding and daycare facility located on Kim Keat Avenue. Kiko was no stranger to the facility; he had been a regular attendee twice a week for the past two years, making the news that followed all the more shocking.
At approximately 8:00 PM on December 7, the daycare alerted the family with devastating news: Kiko was missing. According to reports, the dog had slipped out of the premises, sparking an immediate panic for the owners thousands of miles away.
“I had not been able to sleep and was extremely stressed and worried,” Mr. Teh shared, reflecting on the helplessness of being abroad while his pet was lost in an urban environment. The phrase ‘Unable to sleep not knowing how he is’ became the defining sentiment of the family’s ordeal.
The Highway Sighting that Stopped Hearts
The situation escalated from a typical lost pet scenario to a potential tragedy when footage emerged on social media later that evening. A video captured by a car’s rear camera, timestamped at 4:37 PM but posted later to the SGRV Facebook page, showed a dog matching Kiko’s description wandering along the CTE near 6 Mar Thoma Road.
In the footage, the dog appeared disoriented, cutting across expressway lanes as vehicles slowed down to avoid a collision. For the family watching from afar, the video was a terrifying confirmation of the danger Kiko was in.
Mobilizing a Digital Search Party
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the Teh family made the difficult decision to cut their trip short. Although they were originally scheduled to return on December 11, they booked an emergency flight back to Singapore, landing on December 8 to take charge of the search operations personally.
The urgency of the situation resonated with the Singaporean online community. In an era where digital connectivity drives real-world action, a Telegram chat group was established by a sympathetic stranger on December 7 to coordinate rescue efforts. Within hours, the group swelled to include at least 800 members—a mix of friends, fellow dog lovers, and absolute strangers united by a common goal.
To further incentivize information and safe return, the family offered a substantial $5,000 reward, underscoring their desperation to bring Kiko home.
Ground Zero: Mar Thoma Road
Based on the sighting on the CTE, search efforts were geographically targeted. Volunteers and family members combed the area surrounding:
- The vicinity of 6 Mar Thoma Road.
- The defunct St. Wilfred Sport Centre off Serangoon Road.
- Various green corridors and drainage networks in the Potong Pasir area.
For two gruelling days, the search yielded frustration and false leads, but the community’s resolve did not waver.
The Breakthrough: Discovery in the Drain
The turning point arrived in the mid-afternoon of December 9. At approximately 3:00 PM, the Telegram group erupted with activity. A member of the search party had spotted Kiko.
The chow chow was discovered inside a large drain near 8 Mar Thoma Road, not far from where he was last seen on the expressway footage. A video uploaded to the group showed the dog walking tentatively within the concrete channel, appearing tired but alive.
Twenty minutes later, at 3:20 PM, a photographic update confirmed the rescue. Kiko was out of the drain, standing beside his rescuer. The image was the signal the Teh family had been praying for. Reports indicated the owners rushed to the scene immediately, armed with water and durian—a treat likely intended to comfort and lure the exhausted animal.
In a heartfelt message to the Telegram group, Mr. Teh expressed immense gratitude: “We are bringing him now to a vet just in case to check for any abnormalities.” He thanked the hundreds of volunteers for their “tireless and determined search for Kiko,” acknowledging that without the community’s eyes and ears, the outcome might have been very different.
Accountability and Trust: The Daycare’s Response
While the reunion provided emotional closure, questions regarding how the incident occurred remain at the forefront. The security breach at Woofworks has sparked a conversation about safety protocols in pet boarding facilities.
In a statement released on Facebook on December 9, Woofworks provided their account of the lapse. They explained that Kiko was present during a party held for another pet under their care. The breach occurred when “an exit wasn’t secured properly by a visiting guest, and Kiko slipped out.”
The facility’s statement detailed their immediate reaction: “Our team chased after him immediately, but he was too quick, and we lost sight of him.”
Correcting the Course
Publicly apologizing, the daycare acknowledged the distress caused to the Teh family. “We understand how distressing this is for his family, and we are deeply sorry this happened under our care,” the statement read.
In response to the incident, Woofworks announced a review of their safety measures, promising to implement:
- Smart Tag Locators: To track pets in real-time.
- Physical Barriers: Additional gating to prevent “door dashing.”
- Stricter Protocols: Enhanced rules for visitors and entry/exit management.
Despite these assurances, the damage to the relationship seems irreparable. Mr. Teh stated firmly that he has “lost trust” in the facility, a sentiment likely shared by many pet owners who view security as the non-negotiable baseline of pet care.
The Rising Power of Community Pet Rescue
This incident highlights a growing trend in urban environments: the crowdsourcing of search and rescue operations for lost pets. The rapid formation of the Telegram group demonstrates how social media platforms have evolved into essential tools for emergency response.
In densely populated cities like Singapore, a lost dog faces immense hazards, from high-speed traffic to complex drainage systems. The ability to mobilize hundreds of “eyes on the ground” within minutes creates a safety net that traditional lost-and-found posters cannot match.
| Search Tool | Role in Kiko’s Rescue |
|---|---|
| Telegram Groups | Coordination of 800+ volunteers and real-time location updates. |
| Dashcam Footage | Identified the dog’s location on the CTE, narrowing the search radius. |
| Social Media Viral Reach | Alerted drivers to be cautious and brought the issue to national attention. |
Safety Tips for Pet Parents
While Kiko’s story ended happily, it serves as a cautionary tale. Experts in animal behavior and boarding recommend several steps for owners to ensure their pet’s safety when they travel.
1. Verify Facility Security
Before booking a boarding facility, inspect their physical barriers. Are there “airlock” systems (double doors) at all entrances? High-traffic areas are prone to accidental openings, and redundancy is key to preventing escapes.
2. Redundant Tracking
Microchips are essential for identification after a pet is found, but they do not help locate a moving animal. GPS collars or tags (like AirTags) are becoming standard recommendations for boarding situations, allowing owners to track location via smartphone immediately upon an escape.
3. Update Contact Protocols
Ensure the boarding facility has an emergency contact who is in the country if you are traveling abroad. Decisions on search resources, medical care, and logistics can be made faster by a local proxy.
FAQ: Understanding the Search for Kiko
Q: How long was Kiko missing?
A: Kiko was missing for approximately two days. He disappeared on the evening of December 7 and was recovered in the afternoon of December 9.
Q: Where was the missing dog eventually found?
A: He was found inside a drain near 8 Mar Thoma Road, not far from the area where he was spotted wandering on the CTE expressway.
Q: What caused the dog to escape the daycare?
A: Woofworks stated that a visitor failed to secure an exit properly during a party for another pet, allowing Kiko to slip out. The staff attempted to chase him but lost sight of the animal.
Q: Was there a reward involved?
A: Yes, the Teh family offered a $5,000 reward for the safe return of their dog, highlighting the urgency and emotional weight of the situation.
Q: Is the dog injured?
A: Immediate reports showed Kiko walking and standing. However, the owners took him to a vet immediately after the rescue to check for any internal injuries, dehydration, or abnormalities resulting from his time on the streets and in the drain.
For Matthew Teh and his family, the nightmare is over. The frantic flights, the sleepless nights, and the terror of seeing their dog on an expressway have been replaced by the comfort of reunion. While trust in service providers may take time to rebuild, the faith in the community—the hundreds of strangers who looked at a screen and decided to help—has undoubtedly been strengthened.
