CHECK if the pet groomer you're considering belongs to an association.

This is the advice of Dr Wong Hon Mun, a deputy director at AVA.

Check the credentials of the pet groomer and see if the groomer belongs to an established grooming association, like the International Professional Groomers Inc, National Dog Groomers Association of America, or the British Dog Groomers' Association.

Said Dr Wong: "Membership of such associations require individual pet groomers to comply with and maintain good standards of proficiency and professionalism."

A non-profit organisation called Dog Groomer Association was set up in Singapore last month.

Professional dog groomer Bernard Ong, 33, is a founding member of the association.

He said it aims to set an industry standard and ensure dog groomers have training and knowledge.

The association currently has 50 registered members. The membership fee is $60 for a year.

Applicants need to go through a theory and practical test before they are approved as members.

"Grooming is not as simple as shaving dogs," said Mr Ong.

"Animals are sensitive, volatile and they cannot talk.

"We must learn how to understand them," he said.

"There are so many different breeds of dogs which require different handling, and every dog has a different temperament.

"The clients entrust you with their dogs, who are like their babies. You must live up to their trust."

He too feels groomers should be licensed before they are allowed to offer their service.

"Pet grooming is a profitable business, that's why we have so many people jumping on the bandwagon," he said.

"Licensing or regulation can help keep out those who are not properly qualified or trained."

Mr Ong himself was trained and certified in Taiwan and has 12 years of experience as a pet groomer.

Miss Deirdre Moss, the executive officer of the SPCA, said it would be ideal if the pet grooming industry could be regulated.

However, she acknowledged the difficulty of certification and qualification.

She added that anybody can call themselves a dog groomer. But, some learn by trial and error at the expense of animals.

To avoid sending their pets to unqualified groomers, Miss Moss cautioned pet owners against simply responding to advertisements.

She advised pet owners to look to their vets for referrals to reputable groomers, and to stay with the pet during its first visit to observe how the groomer handles the pet.

Dr Wong also said it is good to check with groomers if they have a regular vet and if they have the means to take the pet there quickly.

This is to ensure that the pet can get medical attention fast should an accident happen while grooming.

Dr Wong pointed out that it is not wise to base one's choice of pet groomer solely on the fee charged, as that is not a guarantee that the groomer will do a good job.

This article was first published in The New Paper