Celeb Pawrents: Actor-singer Glenn Yong's pomeranian Rio brings the family closer

Straits Times

12 hours ago

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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 Yong.
Glenn Yong chose Rio for his unique merle colouring, with black-and-white patches that make the dog look like he 'comes from outer space'.
PHOTO: GLENN YONG
The actor says Rio never fails to follow him around the home.
But when he was away for two months in Malaysia for work recently, the pup quickly switched allegiance to Yong's mother.
'My mum became the main caregiver and took over the feeding and looking after of Rio, so he naturally started following her more,' says Yong. 'She tends to spoil him by giving him treats all the time. I have to remind her that he needs to earn his treats by following basic commands – such as sit, high-five and roll – or he'll become a spoiled brat.'
As Rio is still young and just received his final vaccination, Yong plans to keep him indoors for now.
'He's still at the stage where he wants to bite and nibble on everything, so I think it's not very safe to take him out at this point,' Yong says.
The home-grown celebrity made his acting debut in Channel 8 drama series The Good Fight (2019) before landing his breakout role in idol drama Live Your Dreams (2021).
He was recently in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week to attend the Louis Vuitton and Kenzo shows.
He was also involved in the publicity events for his new Malaysian romcom Step Dave. He plays a carefree 24-year-old bartender whose life is turned upside down when he falls for a sexy 39-year-old mother of three.
Having Rio at home brings the whole family together, says Yong.
'My parents have retired, and my brother and I are working, so it's good to have someone in the house to keep my parents company,' says the bachelor.
The family used to have a shih tzu named Prinze, who died in his old age more than a decade ago. Yong says his mother was affected by the loss and it took her a long time to get over it.
'Dogs are companions. They feel your emotions and become part of the family,' he adds . 'Having a dog is a commitment, but it brings so much joy.
'We spend more time together in the living room and everyone looks forward to coming home to play with him.'