18-07-2025
Auto-wash for pet dogs sparks outrage among dog-loving netizens
A service for bathing pet canines, billed as a spa for pets, has got dog-loving netizens hot under the collar.
Just4pets_autowash launched its self-service pet-washing service on July 12 in Holland Drive where, instead of getting your pet cleaned, washed and groomed by a human, it gets placed in an auto-wash machine that resembles a washing machine for pets.
The owners insist the machine is safe and prioritises "our furry friends' safety and comfort".
"From gentle wash cycles to pet-friendly shampoos, conditioner and drying, we ensure a stress-free experience for your beloved companion," they said in a post.
But netizens who watched the instructional video on Instagram disagree.
Many said the dog looked visibly distressed, while others questioned how such a contraption could even be allowed here.
The general view was that the enclosed washer with the water, shampoo and noise could traumitise dogs. Some worried about water and shampoo irritating their pets' eyes and ears.
User @mollylunaduo wrote: "A huge NO. Why would I wanna subject my furkids to such treatment? Being tied up in a metal box, scared, stressed, not knowing what's coming, sprayed by jets of shampoo/conditioner and water at intervals and then being dried thereafter.
The user added: "The sounds of all these in an enclosed environment as such is enough to make them panic. It's not about how safe it is and what type of shampoo is used. Tell us, how did you determine that it's 'stress-free' for the pets?"
Another said: "Pets aren't objects - forcing them into a noisy, enclosed machine is stressful, confusing, and completely unnatural. No animal should have to endure that just for human convenience."
One key selling point of the service was that it saved time. But pet owner YuJin Lim, 46, a busy sales and partnerships head and DJ, said he'd never use the machine on his dog.
"No way! Dogs don't like to be caged up - it's traumatising for them. If I need to give my dog a wash, I will give it a proper shower treatment, and definitely not in a cage," said Mr Lim, who adopted a small mixed-breed named Pixie during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Another Instagram commenter, @tehc_in_a_teacuppom, called the service "appallingly stressful" and questioned if it bordered on animal cruelty.
