Singapore pet owners, businesses call for more regulation after ‘way too many incidents’

SINGAPORE: Pet owners and businesses in Singapore are calling for higher standards and accountability after a slew of reported incidents of animals suffering at the hands of service providers.
But views are split on how this should look exactly, and in particular the extent of government intervention needed.
In late July, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of a corgi that died after falling off a grooming table and being strangled by its leash made the rounds on social media.
The groomer was accused of leaving the dog unattended, with video showing a staff member entering the room more than 30 minutes after the pet fell.
The National Parks Board (NParks) is investigating the incident. 
CNA has asked NParks for statistics on complaints against pet services in recent years.
But at least seven other cases of mistreatment have made headlines in 2024 so far.
Earlier this year, a dog training firm suspended two employees after they were filmed hitting and pushing dogs that were being taken for a walk. 
“There have been way too many incidents,” said business owner Lyn Bong, who has a two-year-old toy poodle.
Her own pooch, Milo, fell off a grooming table and fractured his hind leg after being left unattended.
Licensing is not mandatory for all services across the pet sector.
The Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), an arm of NParks, licenses veterinary centres, pet shops, farms, pet boarders and breeders, which are assessed to have “higher levels of risk” for animal health and welfare, AVS’ Industry Standards and Regulatory group director Jessica Kwok said. 
For services that don’t require licensing, groomers can be certified by private organisations like the Singapore Kennel Club, while AVS has a certified dog trainer Scheme. But these are voluntary.
AVS also has a Code of Animal Welfare detailing best practices for pet management and housekeeping. It suggests minimum standards for breeders, retailers, groomers, boarders, sitters and daycare providers. But failure to comply is not considered an offence.
Instead, authorities rely on the Animals and Birds Act, which penalises abuse or neglect and covers those working with animals in businesses, including pet groomers.
These individuals are expected to “uphold higher standards of animal welfare as they are entrusted with the care of the animals by their clients”, said Ms Kwok.  
Those found guilty of animal cruelty or to have failed in their duty of care while in an animal-related business face a penalty of up to two years’ jail, a fine of S$40,000 (US$30,193) or both. 
Some owners are now calling for more oversight of pet services, with government-led regulation at every stage, starting from before a business is set up and allowed to practice.
“How many of us actually know the person handling our dogs are really, really certified?” asked Ms Mikela Chen, the owner of four-year-old shih tzu Peace.
Other suggestions included mandating a human-to-dog ratio and use of CCTVs; on top of regular inspections and enforcement action.
Protocols for handling disputes would also be helpful, said owners. 
Ms Chen, a business director, said a grooming salon cut off the tips of Peace’s ears and lacerated his snout in 2021. The salon refused to provide CCTV footage and only offered a refund, she added.
Owners CNA spoke to also supported penalties such as a demerit point system or even lifetime disqualification, to stop errant service providers from setting up shop under another name.
“Many groomers just close up and can easily open new ones,” noted Ms Melisa Quek, who has a one-and-a-half year old shih tzu called Enzo. 
Basic animal handling courses could also be mandated, said Ms Christine Bernadette, the fundraising coordinator for welfare group Causes for Animals. “If you are not interested to undergo basic training then one is not suited to work with animals.” 
Temasek Polytechnic, for one, has a pet care and management course which is compulsory for those seeking a pet shop licence. This could be extended to other pet services, said the different parties interviewed by CNA.
Non-profit Action for Singapore Dogs’ president Ricky Yeo noted however that fundamentally, it would not be possible to band all pet services under one structure. “The way to band them is assess the risk factors of the business with regards to the safety and well-being of the pet.”
Singapore Kennel Club president Chua Ming Kok said that while groomers should be certified and registered, this should be taken up by professional bodies and not the government. 
“It will be difficult for them to enforce because they are not the educating body; they are not the testing body, so they do not have the know-how and the skills to create a platform to test groomers and then in the end, license them,” he said.
Proper training, experience and the right attitude are more crucial for raising industry standards, pet businesses and the AVS as well told CNA.

“Businesses in the pet services industry should equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge,” said Ms Kwok.
Apart from staying up to date on animal welfare issues, businesses should acquire the expertise to handle dogs of various sizes and breeds. They are also encouraged to research best practices in pet care and management. 
Mr Bernard Ong, the principal of grooming school Gen Pet Stylist Academy, runs an eight-month course for students. He then advises them to work for other businesses before starting up their own.
Contrary to what some might think, services like pet walking and sitting are not as simple as just having a love for animals, Mr Ong cautioned. 
Basic knowledge of the breed, its behaviour and how to handle them is key: For instance, not everyone is aware that a British bulldog, which has difficulties breathing due to its flat face, should not be walked in the afternoon when it’s hot, said Mr Ong.  
Former dog walker Mark Woo also cited the importance of understanding a dog’s body language and whether it’s reactive by nature.
“The responsibility of the owners would be that they need to do their own due diligence to vet the service providers they engage, be it from a registered, licensed business or an individual from one of the many apps available,” he added.
“It does not mean that a licensed business would necessarily be doing the right things, just as a non-licensed individual would be doing all the wrong ones.” 
Ms Quek, the owner of Enzo, agreed that regulation was not a foolproof solution, though if able to “lessen the risks it will still be an improvement”.
All the bad news of late, however, has put her off taking Enzo to a salon. 
“Since I started learning to groom on YouTube, I probably won’t be going to (a groomer). If I need to, I probably will sit at the groomer and watch,” she said. “My son is too precious to me.”