Are your pets really safe? Stomper raises concerns over unlicensed animal boarding in HDB flats
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Unlicensed home-based pet boarding services may be more common than most people realise, despite regulations that prohibit such operations in HDB flats.
Stomper Ming was inspired to raise awareness about the issue after he read an article by The Straits Times about home-based food businesses.
The Stomper claims that rising commercial property rents have "caused a surge of home-based pet boarding businesses."
"Their social media pages show that they board anywhere between three to six dogs every-day, potentially generating a revenue of $4,000 to $8,000 per month, and most of them potentially don't pay Goods and Services Tax (GST) since Urban Redevelopment Agency (URA) doesn't allow pet boarding as a home-based business."
According to the Housing Board (HDB), animal-related businesses, including pet grooming and boarding services, are prohibited in HDB flats.
Dr Chang Siow Foong, director-general of Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) under the National Parks Board told The Straits Times in January 2025 that all commercial pet boarding facilities must be licensed.
Ming cited petbacker.com, a website where pet boarders can list their services. The site displays 1,800 pet boarding services available in Singapore, but according to AVS's list of pet boarding facilities, there are only 72.
Following the death of a dog at an unlicensed boarding service in 2024, AVS advised pet owners to ensure they leave their pets at licensed facilities.
Stomper Ming agreed with this advisory: "Having an AVS license ensures adequate space, hygiene, safety measures, and proper ventilation for pets."
AVS group director Jessica Kwok told The Straits Times in January 2024 that AVS officers conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with licensing conditions.
Operating an unlicensed pet boarding facility is a punishable offence. Offenders found guilty can face a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.
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