Singapore has tightened welfare standards for commercial pet groomers and dog trainers. The change follows 54 investigations into salon-related animal injuries and fatalities over the past three years.
The Animal and Veterinary Service, part of the National Parks Board, released the revised operational codes to enforce continuous oversight across retail pet services.
Mandatory Supervision Rules for Salons
Under the revised grooming code, staff must maintain constant physical supervision over any animal that is tethered or kept in group holding pens. Salons must also monitor animals with specific medical or behavioural care needs more closely.
Operators face expanded compliance obligations spanning animal handling techniques, staff competency, incident reporting, client communication, and record-keeping. Regulators confirmed that while these codes establish baseline standards, non-compliance will directly inform penalties during statutory animal cruelty and welfare investigations.
First Formal Code for Commercial Dog Trainers
Alongside salon regulations, authorities introduced the city-state’s first dedicated Code of Animal Welfare for dog trainers. The framework mandates minimum professional competency thresholds. It also requires trainers to adopt the least intrusive, minimally aversive approach.
Training standards now prioritise positive reinforcement over physical correction methods. This formalises guidance issued in July 2025, when authorities cautioned commercial handlers against using electronic shock devices and prong collars.
Operational Impact and Sector Liability
For pet care businesses in Singapore, the new rules translate directly into higher staff-to-animal ratios and increased overheads. Smaller groomers operating on tight margins must adjust booking schedules to prevent unattended animals on tables or in wash stations.
Insurance underwriters and retail landlords housing pet service tenants will likely adjust risk assessments in line with the published standards. Facilities that fail to document handling procedures or maintain adequate staff cover risk direct regulatory sanctions and reputational damage in a crowded urban market.
Enforcement Precedents and Ongoing Reviews
Tighter enforcement follows several fatal incidents at commercial premises. In July 2024, a salon owner received a S$10,000 fine after an unattended corgi fell from a grooming table and died from leash suspension.
In October 2025, a standard poodle died after staff left the animal unattended for approximately 90 minutes at a Tanjong Katong Road facility. Regulators are currently reviewing the broader 2017 Code of Animal Welfare for pet owners. That review is gathering public and industry feedback across housing, healthcare, and nutrition requirements.
Legal proceedings against the former director involved in the Tanjong Katong Road case resume in court on October 21.
