Hundreds Of Unlicensed Pet Boarding Services Operate In Singapore Without Avs Oversight

SINGAPORE: Thousands of pet-boarding services appear to be operating in Singapore based on online advertisements, despite fewer than 100 officially listed operators under the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS)—raising public concerns about regulatory oversight and pet welfare.

A concerned netizen recently highlighted the growing number of unlicensed home-based pet boarding services that appear to be operating with little to no regulatory supervision.

His comments were prompted by a Straits Times article discussing the rise of home-based food businesses.

The netizen noted that rising commercial rental costs may have driven more individuals to turn their homes—especially HDB flats—into informal pet boarding facilities, advertising their services through Facebook or pet-care platforms such as PetBacker.

According to him, many of these operations reportedly house between three and six dogs a day, with the potential to earn between $4,000 and $8,000 per month.

He added that since pet boarding is not allowed as a home-based business by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), such operators are likely unregistered and do not pay Goods and Services Tax (GST).

According to the Housing and Development Board (HDB), small-scale home-based businesses are permitted without prior approval—such as private tuition for up to three students or home baking.

However, the board clearly states that animal-related businesses, including pet grooming and boarding services, are not allowed in HDB flats.

Thousands of Listings, But Barely 100 Licensed

Despite these restrictions, a quick search online reveals a booming informal industry.

A publicly accessible Facebook group titled Singapore Home Boarding Pet Sitting features dozens of listings for home-based boarding of dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals, with varying rates.

As of June 2025, over 1,800 pet boarding services were listed on the commercial platform PetBacker in Singapore.

In contrast, the AVS official registry contains only 72 licensed commercial facilities and seven on farmland—a vast discrepancy that raises questions about enforcement and compliance.

In a January 2025 interview with The Straits Times, Dr Chang Siow Foong, Director-General of the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) under the National Parks Board, emphasised that all commercial pet boarding facilities are required to be licensed to ensure proper hygiene, safety standards, ventilation, and overall animal welfare.

AVS added that the licensing framework is designed to safeguard animal welfare, and strongly encouraged pet owners to use only licensed service providers.

The concerned netizen echoed this view, stating: “Having an AVS licence ensures adequate space, hygiene, safety measures, and proper ventilation for pets.”

These comments suggest that home-based or unlicensed pet boarding facilities may fall short of these essential standards, potentially putting animals at risk.

Tragedy at an Unlicensed Facility

The dangers of unregulated operations were underscored by a tragic case in January 2024.

Miso, a four-year-old Singapore Special, was found unresponsive and later declared dead by a veterinarian while under the care of an unlicensed boarding service in Serangoon Gardens.

The dog’s owners had placed Miso at the facility from 27 December 2023 to 5 January 2024 while on holiday in Taiwan. However, on 2 January, they received a distressing call informing them that their pet had died.

A vet report stated that Miso had no heartbeat and was not breathing upon arrival, and that resuscitation was not possible as rigour mortis had already set in.

The pet owner later revealed that while she initially knew the business was unlicensed and operating from an HDB flat, she assumed it had become legitimate after relocating to a shophouse.

“We trusted that the owner had taken the proper route (in applying for a licence), and that falls on us for not double-checking it,” she said.

In another case in June 2025, a pet owner took to Facebook to share her disappointing experience with a home boarder in Hougang.

Due to family constraints, she had no choice but to leave her long-coated dog in the care of the boarder during her trip.

Despite repeated instructions to brush the dog daily to prevent matting, the pet was returned with severe tangles and matted fur stuck to the skin.

She expressed frustration over the lack of basic care, noting that she had sent the dog for professional grooming the day before boarding and had done a full brush-out prior to drop-off.

Another high-profile case that underscored the risks of unlicensed and poorly managed pet facilities was the saga of Platinum Dogs Club in 2019.

Its owner, Charlotte Liew, was jailed and fined in 2021 after being found guilty of multiple charges, including failure to care for animals, giving false information to authorities, and registering the business under false credentials.

Operating out of a Bukit Panjang residential property without a valid licence, Liew subjected several dogs to neglect and mistreatment, resulting in multiple deaths.

In one instance, she falsely claimed a shetland sheepdog had gone missing—only for it to be revealed later that the dog had died and was cremated under a fake name.

Her actions triggered public outcry and led to a raid by authorities, who found dogs in unsanitary, stifling conditions without water or ventilation.

Enforcement Still Lacking

Although AVS maintains that its officers conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance, the apparent presence of numerous unlicensed pet boarding operators online has raised questions about the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.

In January 2024, AVS group director Jessica Kwok reaffirmed the requirement for licensing and stated that the agency would increase its inspections.

Under Singapore law, operating an unlicensed pet boarding facility is an offence, carrying penalties of up to a S$10,000 fine, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.

Nonetheless, the continued visibility of such services online suggests that challenges in enforcement and compliance may still exist.

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