Man amputated pet mouse’s leg and sold wild animals online

A 24-year-old man in Singapore was sentenced on Tuesday (7 July) to 15 months of probation after performing an amputation on his pet mouse and illegally selling wild animals online.

Singaporean Jensen Neo faced 13 charges, with most of them under the Wildlife Act.

Cut off his pet mouse’s leg instead of seeking vet care

According to court documents, Neo’s pet mouse suffered an injury to its right front leg on 9 July 2022.

Believing the limb had become necrotic, he amputated it himself rather than seeking veterinary care.

Neo only applied an anaesthetic cream to the mouse’s leg, failing to provide general anaesthesia or pain relief.

He is not a qualified veterinarian and has no professional surgical training.

Sold palm civet cub in Telegram group

On 26 Jan 2024, Neo found a common palm civet cub near his residence and kept it as a pet.

A month later, on 22 Feb 2024, he advertised it for sale in a Telegram group, offering the cub for S$500.

It was heard that he found the amount reasonable, given that ordinary pets such as cats and dogs generally sell for four times that price.