A man was horrified after discovering the body of his 16-year-old pet dog in a rubbish bin, minutes after handing it over to a pet cremation company.
According to Shin Min Daily News, Liu Jianping (transliterated), 46, alleged that the employee who collected his beloved dachshund, Kimi, had dumped the dog’s body in a large green rubbish bin beneath his HDB block instead of taking it away for cremation.
Found dog’s body while throwing rubbish
Liu said he and his wife had Kimi, a female dachshund, since 2010. The dog died in the early hours of July 19 at the age of 16.
Liu then searched online for a pet cremation service and engaged Express Pet Cremation.
He said a male employee arrived at his home that same morning, placed Kimi’s body in a bag and left after issuing an invoice for $180, which Liu paid by bank transfer.
The invoice stated that the dog would be cremated in the Ubi area.
Minutes later, Liu went downstairs to throw away some rubbish and noticed the employee waiting for a taxi.
“He wasn’t carrying any bag. I immediately thought something was strange,” Liu told Shin Min.
When he looked into a large green rubbish bin nearby, he spotted a black plastic bag that appeared to have been deliberately pushed to the bottom.
“When I opened the bag, I was shocked to find Kimi. My hands were shaking,” he said.
He added that his wife burst into tears when she saw the dog’s body, while his mother was also devastated to hear what had happened.
“We’ve all been very sad these past few days. I keep thinking, if I hadn’t happened to find it, would the body have just been left there?”
Dog owner makes police report
Liu said he took Kimi’s body to a nearby police station to lodge a report and also alerted the National Parks Board (NParks).
Liu alleged that the company not only failed to carry out the cremation service he had paid for, but had also illegally disposed of Kimi’s body by throwing it into a rubbish bin. He believes the company should be held accountable.
When contacted by Shin Min, the person in charge of Express Pet Cremation said the company would investigate the matter, but did not respond to further calls or messages.
Hired another company to cremate Kimi
Liu later engaged another pet cremation company, paying an additional $198.
He said the second company kept him updated throughout the process by sending photos before the cremation and would also provide photographs when scattering Kimi’s ashes at sea next month.
Including the first payment, Liu spent a total of $378.
Liu said he later contacted Express Pet Cremation after discovering Kimi’s body in the rubbish bin and requested a refund. “However, they have yet to respond or issue a refund.”
He added that getting a refund was not his main concern. Instead, he hopes sharing his experience will alert other pet owners to be careful when engaging pet cremation services.
NParks: Large pet carcasses should be handled by commercial cremation providers
According to NParks’ website, waste-to-energy incineration plants are designed to dispose of household waste and are not meant for the cremation of larger animals such as dogs and cats.
Pet owners should instead engage commercial pet cremation service providers to handle the remains.
However, the agency said smaller pets such as ornamental fish, birds and hamsters may be wrapped securely and disposed of together with household waste.
PSA: BlackTree (黑树), the viral Chinese chain known for its Thai milk tea beverages, has landed in Singapore. The China-based brand is opening its first Singapore outlet by the end of July 2026 at 313@somerset, bringing its signature cheese foam drinks, Thai milk teas and more to Orchard.
Founded in 2025, BlackTree has quickly expanded across major Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. The brand is known for its playful drinks topped with intricate foam designs, and its Singapore opening marks its first international expansion.
For its Singapore debut, the brand has launched a limited-edition collaboration with Shanghai-based matcha cafe Matcha Wang. The Lily Lamb Special Matcha No.1 ($7.90) combines vanilla bean and milk, topped with a thick matcha cheese foam and a hand-drawn sheep design for bonus aesthetic points.
We enjoyed the rich and earthy matcha foam in No. 1, but felt that the drink itself was a little bland. Perhaps we’d have enjoyed the No.2 version ($7.90) better, as it’s spiked with King Jasmine Tea for a floral aroma.
BlackTree’s most recognisable drinks are its Thai milk tea creations, which come crowned with its signature cheese foam. Our unanimous favourite was the 400 Times Cheese Milk Thai Tea ($6.90), featuring smooth Thai milk tea with a thick layer of whipped coffee foam inspired by dalgona coffee.
The bittersweet coffee foam complemented the creamy milk tea well, adding a caramel-like depth to the drink.
The Milky Cat Cheese Milk Thai Tea ($6.90) is another eye-catching creation, featuring a classic Thai milk tea base topped with BlackTree’s signature cat-shaped cheese foam.
While we found the drink a little too mild and milky for our liking, the addition of coconut jelly and water chestnut balls made each sip more enjoyable, adding bursts of sweetness and a satisfying chewy texture.
Beyond Thai milk tea and matcha, BlackTree also offers a selection of fruit and tea-based creations. The Matcha Cheese Cloud Bamboo Oolong Milk Tea ($6.90) is an interesting option, though the earthy bamboo notes are somewhat of an acquired taste.
We preferred the Matcha Cheese Cloud Jasmine Milk Tea ($6.90), which combines fragrant jasmine tea with milk and matcha cheese cream. The floral tea notes paired nicely with the creamy topping, resulting in a smoother and more balanced drink.
For something lighter and more refreshing, consider the Sicilian Lemon White Guava Juice (price TBD), crowned with a rosemary sprig.
BlackTree is located along the outdoor stretch of shops at 313@somerset, just a short walk from Somerset MRT Station. Seating is limited, so we recommend getting your drinks to go if you’re unable to snag a spot.
In other exciting food news, HK-famous cha chaan teng chain Keming Bing Sat is set to open its third outlet at Tampines 1! You can also check out our guide to the best National Day food collabs and deals for 2026.
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #01-26, 313 Somerset Singapore 238895
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
BlackTree is not halal-certified.