India Needs Pet Grooming Standards—Singapore’s Parliment Signal Should Not Be Ignored

By Jessica John

Internationally Certified Pet Groomer & Stylist (Certifications: Malaysia, South Korea

& India) | Grooming Mentor & Educator | Founder, Petswag Grooming Academy

Mumbai, India | Updated: 15 January 2026

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Pet grooming is often marketed as “spa time” for pets. In practice, it is far closer to a

professional animal-care service: handling, tools, heat, restraint, hygiene control, and

behaviour management—all happening in real time, on a living being that cannot consent.

That is why what happened in Singapore this week is worth India’s attention.

What Singapore’s Parliament Discussion Signalled

On 14 January 2026, Singapore media reporting covering parliamentary proceedings stated

that the Singapore government is studying tighter regulations and clearer standards for

the pet grooming industry, following reported complaints and cases alleging harm to pets during grooming over recent years. The discussion included the possibility of requiring

CCTV recordings in grooming environments as part of accountability and investigation

processes.

Whether Singapore’s final framework becomes a full licensing regime or a structured set of

enforceable guidelines, the direction is clear: grooming is being treated as an animal- welfare linked service, not merely a retail add-on.

India should not wait to reach the same point through crisis.

India’s Grooming Boom Has Outpaced Safety Basics

India’s pet grooming industry is expanding rapidly—salons, home-service grooming, mobile

grooming, franchise formats, and increasingly aggressive discounting. Demand is real, and

many professionals operate responsibly.

However, the system around the industry remains thin. In most Indian cities, it is still possible

for anyone to open a grooming salon without demonstrating:

• structured training and assessed skill

• safe handling competence

• basic sanitation protocols

• emergency readiness and escalation pathways

• minimum equipment and infrastructure standards

When standards are absent, the market becomes a mix of excellent professionals and unsafe

operators—often indistinguishable to a pet parent until something goes wrong.This is not just a business issue. It is an animal welfare issue.

The Real Risk: Untrained Hands + Speed-First Business Models

Most grooming incidents are not mysterious. They are operational failures, commonly linked

to:

• improper restraint and handling during fear, stress, or aggression

• incorrect clipper work causing cuts or clipper burn

• unsafe mat removal that becomes painful and traumatic

• risky drying practices leading to heat stress or respiratory distress

• poor table safety, slipping hazards, and falls

• lack of pre-groom risk screening for senior pets or medically sensitive breeds

• absence of documentation, incident protocols, and transparent communication

When grooming becomes a volume game—“finish faster, book more”—welfare becomes

optional. Pets pay the cost.

What India Needs: Minimum Standards That Raise the Floor

India does not need excessive regulation. India needs baseline standards that protect pets,

guide pet parents, and professionalise the industry.

A practical national framework can be designed in phases and implemented through state and

municipal adoption. The goal should be simple: make safe grooming the default.

1) Groomer Competency: Training + Assessment

• minimum training hours that cover handling, hygiene, coat science, tool safety, and

welfare

• competency assessment before offering paid services independently

• continuing education for advanced grooming and difficult cases

2) Salon Safety Standards: Infrastructure That Prevents Harm

• hygiene, ventilation, and non-slip flooring requirements

• safe restraint policies and equipment

• defined disinfection routines and tool maintenance standards

• safe dryer and clipper usage norms

3) Welfare SOPs: Everyday Rules That Prevent Emergencies

• structured intake and risk screening (age, temperament, health red flags)

• humane handling protocols and “stop rules” for unsafe situations

• limits on prolonged restraint and unsafe techniques

• standard incident response and referral pathways

4) Accountability + Transparency

Singapore’s CCTV discussion is relevant because it introduces traceability. India can adopt

transparency with clear boundaries:

• CCTV in handling zones with privacy safeguards

• record-keeping: intake notes, consent forms, grooming logs, incident logs

• a clear complaint redressal and investigation mechanism

• periodic checks for registered facilities

Who Should Lead This in India?

Pet grooming intersects animal welfare, consumer protection, veterinary public health, and

local trade licensing. A workable approach could involve:

• a national “model guideline” that states can adopt

• integration with municipal licensing for salons

• recognised training pathways through credible academies and assessed curricula

• collaboration with veterinarians and animal welfare stakeholders

• clear definitions of what counts as “professional grooming services” vs informal

services

The goal is not to restrict entrepreneurship. The goal is to ensure that entrepreneurship does not operate at the cost of animal safety.

A Direct Appeal to Indian Authorities

India already regulates many pet-linked activities—breeding, transport, veterinary medicines,

and animal welfare obligations. Grooming deserves the same seriousness because grooming

can directly impact:

• skin integrity

• heat regulation

• respiratory stability

• stress load and behavioural fallout

• overall welfare outcomes

Standards will protect:

• pets, from avoidable harm

• pet parents, through transparency and reliable expectations

• ethical groomers, by separating professionals from unsafe operators

• the industry, by building long-term trust

The Standard India Can No Longer Avoid

The grooming industry in India is growing faster than the systems that should protect it. That

gap will not stay invisible. It will surface through incidents, loss of consumer trust, and

reputational damage to responsible professionals.

A minimum national framework—training standards, safety norms, welfare SOPs, and accountability—will not slow growth. It will clean up the category, reward ethical operators, and create a safer ecosystem for pets and pet parents.

India does not need to wait for a crisis to set standards.

India needs to set standards to prevent one.

Disclaimer

This article is written for public awareness, professional education, and industry advocacy. It reflects the author’s experience as a grooming educator and practitioner and is intended to support higher safety and welfare standards in the pet grooming ecosystem.

• The Singapore reference is based on publicly reported coverage of parliamentary discussion and should be read as an ongoing policy consideration, not as confirmation of final regulations already enacted.

• This article does not accuse any individual groomer, salon, or brand of wrongdoing. It addresses system-level gaps and the need for minimum standards to protect pets and

consumers.

• Pet parents should independently evaluate grooming facilities, ask for safety protocols, and consult a qualified veterinarian for medical concerns or emergencies.