New auto pet wash service in Buona Vista draws flak; NParks tells operator to stop its use

SINGAPORE - A new service in Buona Vista allowing dogs to be washed automatically in a machine has quickly drawn flak online, with concerns over how the experience could be traumatic and dangerous for animals.

The National Parks Board (NParks) in a statement late on July 19 said that it has informed the operator, Just4Pets, to stop the use of the machine from July 18 while it evaluates its safety on animals.

Just4Pets, which is a local pet grooming salon chain, had said on July 18 that its machine is safe and called the washing process “calming and stress-free”.

The machine is available at its 24-hour Just4Pets AutoWash outlet, which opened on July 12 in Holland Drive.

To use the machine, owners select their dog’s size and then secure the animal to leashes in the wash chamber. The wash cycle begins automatically after the machine’s gate and door are shut.

The animal undergoes two rounds of rinsing and shampooing, one round of conditioning, followed by a final rinse and blow-dry.

The process lasts 45, 55 and 65 minutes for small, medium-sized and large dogs respectively, and can be stopped at any time via an emergency button. It costs $30 to $50 depending on the animal’s size.

Several videos on Just4Pets AutoWash’s Instagram page showing how the service works as well as its safety features soon went viral.

However, comments on the posts have largely been negative. 

One social media user likened the process to a person being “shoved in a washing machine” against their will, while another raised the “high risk” of animals panicking and inevitably inhaling water and soap.

A few highlighted that there were no videos showing how dogs were being rinsed.

In one of the videos, a woman is seen entering the wash chamber. However, it is unclear how long she was inside for.

“This only shows it seems suitable for you and your staff to use instead of dogs,” one user said.

Ms Jessica Kwok, NParks’ group director of enforcement and investigation, said that the agency has received feedback on the service and is looking into the matter. This is the first time that it has received feedback on such services.

“The Animal and Veterinary Service is concerned that the machine poses some safety and welfare concerns to animals,” she added.

‘Perfectly dog-appropriate’

Ms Belinda Goh, director of Just4Pets AutoWash, said the service was born out of a demand from pet owners for more accessible and flexible grooming options.

“We regularly receive feedback from pawrents that it is difficult to secure a grooming appointment, especially on short notice, after working hours and weekends,” she said.

Just4Pets operates four grooming outlets across Singapore, and sees more than 300 appointments weekly.

Ms Goh added that the service also aims to support pet ownership for older individuals who may find bathing their dogs challenging due to age or limited mobility.

To develop the automatic wash system, Ms Goh said that she partnered a company with more than four years’ industry experience in offering such services.

She added that “hundreds of trials and extensive testing” were done to ensure that the system is “robustly safe, highly user-friendly and perfectly dog-appropriate”.

Some of the machine’s safety measures include a wash chamber with smooth surfaces and no moving parts to minimise risk of injury.

The water temperature, air pressure and noise levels are also “precisely regulated within pet-friendly ranges”, she said, adding that staff are on site from 10am to 9pm daily to guide first-time users.

Since its launch, an average of five dogs a day have used the service.

Experts say caution needed

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it was not consulted on the design or implementation of the auto pet wash service.

It urged pet owners to exercise utmost caution when deciding to use such services.

“Such services seem like a convenient option but may not be in the best interests of animal welfare,” said SPCA’s executive director Walter Leong, adding that the process could frighten pets due to unfamiliar sights and noises in a small, enclosed space.

“Unlike a human groomer who can adjust their actions based on the pet’s reactions, the washer is unable to perform similar monitoring functions,” he said.

“It also cannot control the shampoo or water jets to ensure that the cleansing agents do not enter the pet’s eyes and nose, causing irritation and anxiety.”

Raising the case of a

corgi that hung by its neck from a short leash and died

after falling off a grooming table in July 2024, he added that a pet could also be strangled or injured if it were to slip or lose control over its legs. This is especially if the machine’s leashes were not designed safely.

Instead, Mr Leong recommended pet owners to entrust their animals’ care to a reliable pet groomer or salon.

Owners should also ensure they are aware of grooming processes at salons, which could potentially also adopt the use of these auto pet washers, he said.

Dr Wendy Chee of Vet Central said that automatic washing or grooming machines are still relatively uncharted territory for many in the pet care industry, including veterinarians.

“While we trust that manufacturers have thoughtfully considered key design elements like noise levels, water pressure, dryer force and temperature control to ensure animal comfort, there are limitations inherent to any automated system,” she said.

Each animal has its own threshold for stress, she added, and machines cannot easily interpret these body language or emotional cues.

“In scenarios where something goes wrong, intervention timing is critical, and automation may not offer the immediacy that a groomer’s hands-on presence can provide,” she said.

Despite its touted convenience and accessibility, she stressed that such services should not replace the judgment, experience and empathy that come from direct human care.

“Thoughtful education and caution are essential as this technology continues to develop,” she added.