Owner of swanky pet hotel charged with selling, exhibiting cats without licence

SINGAPORE — The owner of a luxury pet hotel was charged on Wednesday (July 31) in the State Courts with using its premises as a pet shop.

Estelle Tayler, 36, managing director of The Wagington, faces two charges under the Animals and Birds (Pet Shop and Exhibition) Rules.

If convicted, the Singaporean could be fined up to S$5,000 for each charge.

The Wagington — in the heart of the upmarket Tanglin estate — houses 40 luxury suites for pet dogs and cats in a converted British colonial-era bungalow. 

Between Oct 1 and Nov 13 last year, Tayler allegedly sold three pedigree cats — two British shorthairs and one Ragdoll — there to two customers without a licence, court documents showed.

She is also accused of exhibiting cats early last year without a licence at The Tea Moments in The Purrfection Suites — an extension of The Wagington reserved exclusively for cats. 

Tayler is said to have allowed customers to play with the cats there for S$15 an hour.

The pet hotel, which is at 27B Loewen Road, boasts a 1.2m-deep bone-shaped dog pool. It also provides pet transport services as well as full-time daycare and other activities for dogs.

Tayler, who will contest the charges, is set to return to court on Sept 20 for a pre-trial conference.

On Wednesday, she told District Judge Adam Nakhoda that she wanted to explain “what the charges are all about”. But the judge told her to leave that to the next court hearing.