SINGAPORE – Glenn Yong may be one of the most-followed Singaporean celebrities on social media, but the actor-singer is not planning to create an account for his fur kid.

The 28-year-old, who has over 530,000 Instagram fans and more than 420,000 TikTok followers, is the proud owner of Rio, a six-month-old male merle pomeranian that he handpicked from a local pet store in April.

“A lot of people have suggested the idea, but I don’t even have the time to handle my own accounts,” he says. He did, however, post some photos and videos on Instagram when he first got Rio.

He has always wanted a pomeranian and one with a unique appearance. He chose Rio for his merle colouring, with black-and-white patches that make him look like he “comes from outer space”. 

Yong describes Rio as intelligent, confident, affectionate and sociable. “He’s so cute and the smart puppy knows he’s adorable too,” says the proud pawrent, laughing. 

“He’s always happy and loves to be around people,” adds Yong, a fixture in local director Jack Neo’s films, such as I Not Stupid 3 (2024) and The King Of Musang King (2023).  

 The actor can currently be seen in microdrama On The Line. The 10-episode series follows Ruth (Seow Sin Nee), a rookie immigration officer learning the ropes of protecting Singapore’s borders from her disciplined group leader Zachery, played by Yong.

On The Line is streaming on Mediacorp TikTok, Mediacorp Drama YouTube Channel and mewatch.

However, Yong worries that his puppy is too friendly with strangers. He says: “What if someone just takes him away?” 

As much as Rio is playful and energetic, the puppy loves snuggling up to Yong and his family, which includes his parents and his elder brother. 

“He’ll run to you when you get home. You simply cannot resist cuddling him when you see his face,” says ...