SINGAPORE - Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has weighed in on the saga involving alleged animal abuse at pet boarding facility Platinium Dogs Club.

Mr Shanmugam noted on his Facebook page on Saturday (Jan 5) that several serious allegations had been made against the facility and that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the police have been actively investigating.

"Singaporeans can rest assured: there will be thorough investigations and there will be due process. Anyone who has engaged in illegal acts will face the consequences," he said.

He also said that police are investigating the allegations that some people had acted wrongly in response and taken the law into their own hands.

In a joint statement on Saturday afternoon, the police and AVA said that their investigations "will be thorough and fair".

"The public is advised not to take matters into their own hands or engage in any actions that may violate the law or cause harm to themselves and others," they said in the statement and added that people should refrain from speculation, and let the investigations take their course.

On Dec 29 and 31, the pet boarding house in Bukit Panjang was raided by the authorities following complaints that pets in its care were allegedly mistreated.

AVA later took temporary custody of animals found on the premises.

On Wednesday, a group of angry dog owners demanding information on a missing dog gathered outside the gates of the pet boarding house in Bukit Panjang.

The group's leader, a woman in her 30s who gave her name as Ms Mao, claimed she and her friends were trying to ask the owner of the premises about the whereabouts of her 7½-year-old shetland sheepdog.

According to Ms Mao, the owner did not respond.

Police officers arrived on the scene soon after and urged them to step away from the house's gates so that the woman and her male companion could exit in their car.

But, Ms Mao said, just as they were backing away, the car reversed suddenly and hit one of her friends.

The police said in the joint statement that despite police officers advising the group to give way for their safety as the occupants of the premises attempted to leave, a 40-year-old man in the group remained in the path of the car as it slowly reversed.

The man later alleged that there was contact and pain in his knees and was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for outpatient treatment.

Police said that the 33-year-old driver, and the group of seven women and four men were assisting with investigations.