Dog at Tampines hawker centre despite ‘no pets allowed’ sign

No-pets rule is difficult to enforce, says Stomper

Anonymous expressed concern over public health and food safety, particularly in crowded, communal settings such as hawker centres.

“Diners worry about flying furs or stray hairs near their food,” he said.

“It not only makes people uncomfortable, but is also racially insensitive.

“The rules explicitly ban pets, but owners do not bother because they know it is difficult to enforce.”

Anonymous noted that this was not the first time he had seen a dog at the hawker centre.

“I saw a big dog there on May 15,” he recounted.

Anonymous’ sentiments echo those of another Stomper, who spotted a dog beneath a ‘No Pets’ sign at a Hougang Avenue 5 coffee shop.

In the Aug 12 article, the Stomper questioned whether Singapore’s no-pets rule at food establishments is strictly enforced.

“I think it’s a small window into how Singapore actually functions day to day: a country famous for its precision and enforcement, but which also runs, quietly, on a huge amount of discretionary tolerance,” said the Stomper.

According to the Singapore Food Agency, pets are not allowed at hawker centres and Outdoor Refreshment Areas (ORAs) islandwide because they are communal spaces, unlike ORAs of privately managed food businesses.

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