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Vernetta Lopez is really furious.

The 52-year-old former jock, who left the Gold 905 in May, recently aired her views on Instagram about the tragic death of Pointy, a female stray dog that was found dead in Bidadari Park after hoardings were put up near her usual hideout.

Community feeders found Pointy’s body drenched in rain. They suspect that after the barriers were installed, Pointy, who is blind, was confused and unable to return to her usual spot, they stated in an IG post.

Hoardings were put up by NParks following complaints from members of the public about the strays in the area, and were meant to serve as a "visual barrier" between the dogs and visitors, according to a CNA report. 

Community feeders who have been caring for Pointy and other strays in the Bidadari area for about eight years said they have been engaging with NParks since February this year about the hoardings and suggesting where to best place them.  

Vernetta questioned how many complaints were actually filed before NParks and contractors pressed ahead with the hoardings at Bidadari.

“How many complaints came in? Please don’t be one of those groups or companies, right, that after a complaint, and suddenly everything has to change,” the ex-DJ said.

After a contractor had started work, the stray feeders found that the bottom struts were built too low, making it hard for dogs, especially a blind dog like Pointy, to pass through.

Feeders said NParks offered to conduct a post-mortem, though they declined as they felt it was intrusive and distressing to subject Pointy to a post-mortem.

Vernetta also pointed out that the Bidadari dogs have been neutered, highlighting the work community feeders have done all these years. “[Volunteering and feeding the dogs] is a tough job, so help them out!” she said.

According to an IG post by the community feeders, Pointy, along with other strays in the Bidadari were once captured and released under the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) scheme.

Vernetta, who has owned cats all her life and has a rescue cat named Ziggy, called for bigger solutions and suggested animal sanctuaries.

“Have a designated area [for a dog or cat sanctuary],” she said. “Dare I say the old Turf Club? Dare I say the old Kranji Turf Club? Any of these spaces, and open field. Just come together and do it. We still have a lot of space to build BTOs, and all that,” said Vernetta.

In an interview with 8days.sg, Vernetta admitted that her Instagram rant may have been premature and that “we all cannot afford to be when it comes to animals”.

“I don’t want to hate on NParks. They’ve done excellent work with our stray dogs over the years, and the IG post was purely about one situation, not their overall work,” she clarified.

She also urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions, stressing the importance of understanding the full story, and that she is currently speaking to NParks on this.

“There are nuances to a very sensitive thing, which I’m happy to say, many Singaporeans feel for. But some may not see that ‘loving’ them may end up harming them,” said Vernetta, referring to animal welfare groups who have been working the ground.

On her proposed take on animal sanctuaries, Vernetta also admitted that there are many things to consider.

“But that doesn’t mean we can’t try,” she said.

Photos: vernettalopez/IG, the.doggie.mommy/IG