A routine grooming session last year left a cat with pus, bleeding nails and cuts – one of several cases highlighted in the wake of heightened concerns following the high-profile death of poodle Buddy in October this year.
Stacey, who declined to give her full name, told Stomp that she discovered “pus, bleeding, and cuts” on her cat Bella after a visit to a grooming salon located in the east. The establishment, founded in 2018, offers cat grooming and sells pet supplies.
“Around 5.11pm, nearly two hours (after grooming began), I received a message from the salon owner stating that there was pus in one of my cat’s nails. Concerned, we took her directly to the vet after picking her up at around 6.30pm,” she explained.
According to Stacey, the vet told her that almost all of Bella’s nails had been trimmed too short, causing them to bleed – something she believes was due to “improper handling or lack of skill”.
In a Facebook post on Nov 25 last year, Stacey also claimed that an earlier session had left Bella with matted fur that had to be shaved off. Still, she decided to give the business another chance as she had been a frequent customer before.
She added that the salon responded “defensively” online when she raised the issue, and did not apologise.
A check with the post showed that the salon gave a detailed response in the comments section, strongly disputing Stacey’s account and pointing out that it had spoken to the veterinary clinic multiple times.
It said the clinic “did not state, mention nor confirm” that Bella’s injuries were caused by “excessive trimming”, and that the vet was unable to determine the cause. Stomp has reached out to the business for comment.
Bella has since recovered, but her ordeal shows why many Singapore pet owners are on edge about grooming safety, especially in the wake of Buddy’s death.
Concerns grow after Buddy’s death
In late October, the death of poodle Buddy, who was sent for a routine grooming session at Pawsome Singapore, sparked renewed concerns over animal welfare and the lack of licensing regulations in pet grooming centres.
Since Buddy’s owner, Tanya Dhillon, made public her accusations against Pawsome Singapore, another pet owner has also come forward, claiming her pug was injured at a boarding facility run by the same company.
According to its website, Pawsome is a pet grooming business founded in 2018.
Pawsome Singapore told Stomp it was “heartbroken” at the “truly sad” incident and confirmed that it is cooperating with local authorities investigating Buddy’s death.
At press time, Pawsome Singapore’s main Instagram page appeared deactivated, while its Facebook page continued posting updates on puppies for sale, including Pomskys and Border Collies. Several posts drew sharp netizen comments demanding answers about Buddy’s death.
Ms Dhillon has since made an open call on her Instagram ahead of a meeting with Member of Parliament Jessica Tan, who oversees the Changi-Simei division of East Coast Group Representation Constituency.
In her post, Ms Dhillon asked other pet owners with similar grooming nightmare stories to step forward to establish a “long-standing pattern of animal harm” and the “gap between harm and justice”.
At press time, at least four comments directed her to Instagram users, ostensibly run by pet owners with negative grooming experiences.
When asked, a spokesperson for animal welfare charity Causes for Animals Singapore (CAS) said that it has “observed a gradual increase in public complaints and feedback relating to pet grooming services in Singapore”.
