SINGAPORE: A pet grooming salon located in Serangoon recently expressed its concern online when a rude man raised a middle finger at the staff when denied entry, reminding the public that the business is not a ‘petting zoo’.
A video circulating online showed how a young girl tried to open the glass door of the pet grooming shop, Fluffy Furries, and seemingly wanted to play with the dogs with her father beside her. “She began pushing the door forcefully while her father stood by and did nothing to intervene or ask us to open it.”
However, when the staff shook their heads and indicated that they could not come in, the man raised his middle finger at the salon’s staff before walking away.
On social media, Fluffy Furries expressed their sentiments about the incident and said, “We take your pet’s safety and hygiene very seriously. If your intention is to come in and pet the dogs, then I’m sorry, we can’t allow that. Please go to the petting zoo or pet cafe instead.”
Ideally, a pet grooming service is for pet owners to clean and style their pets, while a petting zoo is a place where anyone from the public can interact with the animals.
The pet grooming salon also called out the rude man who pointed a middle finger, and remarked that “such behaviour is uncalled for and will not be tolerated”.
Netizens shared their thoughts and opinions in the comments section. One commenter stated: “You (Fluffy Furries) all handled this well! That guy has no idea how to behave like an adult.” Another comment stated that some people are just mad.
One more netizen concluded that the next time around, the child will also point back at the father and stated that he showed negative role modelling.
More netizens remarked that the behaviour of the man is not acceptable and is self-entitled.
“The usual suspects think that the whole universe revolves around them,” another comment said.
In Singapore, pointing a middle finger is highly offensive. Anyone with the intention of offending someone’s modesty by speaking any word, making a sound or gesture or showing any object that is offensive, or invading the person’s privacy, will face consequences including imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine.
