PAW PRINTS
fur-bulous hangouts
Check out our latest lineup of new products. Plus, we delve into the local pet cafe scene to find the reasons behind their trickling numbers.
One thing that sparks our envy when we travel abroad: the sight of dog owners with furkids in tow. “In France and Switzerland, pets are allowed into malls and restaurants— no questions asked,” observes Shannon
Loh, paw-rent of a Golden Retriever. “In Singapore, there’re only a handful of petfriendly cafes and not many restaurants allow dogs, even in the outdoor area.” It’s a sentiment that’s echoed by many dog owners. Hence, we dig a little deeper to find out the challenges behind making Singapore’s F&B scene more pet-friendly.
In order for an F&B establishment to legitimately accommodate furkids (both indoors and/or outdoors), the National Environment Agency (NEA) requires eateries to apply for a Food Shop (Pets Allowed) Licence, which costs $195 a year. “The application process was not easy as we had to make sure all our food handlers underwent a basic hygiene course. Additionally, our kitchen design needed to adhere to NEA regulations,” shares a representative from the Les Amis group, which owns pet-friendly Casa Verde at Singapore Botanic Gardens.
The aforementioned regulations include the separation of human and pet food preparation/storage areas, as well as utensils and crockery. These cafes are also not allowed to house resident pets. At the end of every workday, the entire cafe has to be wiped down and disinfected.
One regulation that’s met with much contention and often flouted by paw-rents is the leashing of dogs within these cafes. “Many pet owners are unaware that the NEA requires dogs to be leashed at all times, even in licensed pet-friendly cafes, so we’ve had difficulty complying with this rule without offending customers,” says Dave Lim, director of Sun Ray Cafe. This rule, admittedly, is a killjoy for paw-rents who patronise pet-friendly cafes with the aim of socialising their pups.
Deterred by the red tape, a number of
F&B establishments confess that they don’t have the licence but still allow animals in their al fresco area. “While we are happy to accommodate pet owners and their pooches in the outdoor area during off-peak hours, the stringent criteria required to attain the licence isn’t worth the hassle,” shares the owner of an eatery that welcomes pets in their al fresco area but doesn’t have the Food Shop (Pets Allowed) Licence.
While most pet owners we spoke to wish that local authorities would loosen the rules, there is a caveat. “Dogs I’ve seen overseas are generally well-behaved. I believe if pawrents make more effort to teach their furkids manners, we might possibly see a future where pets are welcome in most restaurants here,” says Shannon.