From Jan 2010, pet shop owners are required to attend a compulsory pet care and management course.

Shop owners will learn about regulatory requirements, animal care and management, occupational health and safety, and business ethics and management.

The course will be conducted by Temasek Polytechnic and is supported by the Pet Enterprises and Traders Association and the Workforce Development Agency.

Training for the different pet retail sectors will be phased in, starting with those which sell dogs, cats and small mammals like rabbits and hamsters, Madam Ho Geok Ho, member of Parliament for the West Coast constituency announced on Sunday.

This new regulation comes on the heels of a call for increased regulation of pet grooming shops in Singapore.

A few months back, a Maltese terrier had died during routine grooming. A post-mortem on his dog located bleeding in the head, possibly from being struck.

Seven complaints of pets dying during grooming sessions were reported in the past year, the SPCA told The New Paper.

Under the Animals and Birds Act, any person found guilty of committing an act of animal cruelty can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to 12 months, or both.