In recent years it has become trendy for dog owners to patronise privately operated pet swimming pools, taking their canine babies to cool off in water and wear themselves out. However, disputes over fees and safety issues have arisen in these venues, or even incidents where dogs have become unwell or even died during swimming. In view that there are over 200,000 dogs in Hong Kong, the Consumer Council surveyed the service details of 12 swimming pools for pets and found much room for improvement in the industry’s operation, including the lack of transparency in fees and charges information, with some service providers providing price lists or quotations only upon the consumer’s enquiry. None of the service providers offered comprehensive information on the pool depth, water temperature, and frequency of pool cleaning on their website or social media platform, with some refusing to provide the relevant information even after the Council’s written requests, making it impossible for consumers to gauge the hygiene condition of the pools. In addition, most service providers did not disclose the qualifications of the pet caregivers accompanying pets in-water and fun pool staff, such as whether they possessed a Pet First Aid Certificate. The Council believes that there is dire need for the industry to improve information transparency, to strengthen disclosure proactively so that consumers can make informed and appropriate choices for their dogs.
In March and April this year, the Council surveyed the service content of 12 service providers of swimming facilities tailored for dogs, including 7 indoor heated pools and 5 outdoor fun pools. The indoor heated pools claimed to have controlled water temperature suitable for all seasons, with pet caregivers providing close supervision in the water in a 1-to-1 or 1-to-2 ratio, which would be more suitable for first-time swimmers, older dogs or those hoping to train their muscles or joints. The outdoor fun pools were mainly self-serviced, allowing multiple dogs to swim freely together, suitable for more experienced and sociable dogs. The Council gathered information from the pools’ websites, social media platforms and their customer services, and requested the relevant service providers to verify and provide supplementary information. 4 of them did not respond before publication or point-blank refused, and 3 others only gave brief responses, reflecting unsatisfactory information transparency in the industry.
Qualification of Pet Caregivers, Pool Specifications and
Management Information Not Transparent
Dog owners’ primary concern is the safety of their pets, so it is reasonable to expect service providers to fulfil their responsibility in providing safety measures at pet swimming pools, such as arranging for onsite pet first aiders to ensure that dogs are rescued immediately in case of emergencies, such as excessive struggling or drowning. In this regard, indoor heated pools with pet caregivers had comparatively better arrangements than outdoor fun pools. Of the 5 outdoor fun pools, only 1 indicated that there would be staff on duty in water and by the poolside during opening hours, while the remaining 4 did not provide relevant information. All fun pools did not provide crucial information about their staff, such as their qualifications, whether they possessed a Pet First Aid Certificate, and the number of staff on duty. Among the 7 heated pools, 5 clearly indicated that caregivers had obtained Pet First Aid Certificates, while the remaining 2 did not reply. The Council believes that even though there are currently no recognised qualifications for pet swimming pool workers, service providers should ensure that their caregivers are equipped with professional expertise, and provide information on relevant qualifications for reference to enhance consumer confidence.
Besides, swimming pool specifications and water quality are fundamental and vital information as they could affect the safety and health of dogs. However, upon review of the service providers’ websites or social media platforms, none had disclosed comprehensive information on the size of their swimming pools, water depth, and the maximum number of dogs allowed, with most providing only written descriptions of the water quality and filtration system without specific operational information such as frequency of water change and cleaning methods, etc. Even when the Council inquired in writing, over half (7) did not respond or refused to supplement information. Without relevant information, consumers have no way to judge the hygiene and usage conditions of the swimming pools to assess if the service should be engaged.
Over Half Indoor Heated Pools Did Not Disclose Complete Price Lists
Apart from the safety and specifications of pools, many dog owners would like to know the fees before deciding to take their canine babies for a swim. Of the 7 indoor heated pools, only 3 laid out full price and service lists on their official online platforms, while the remaining 4 required consumers to initiate contact with their staff about fees, of which 2 provided a full price list after enquiry, and the other 2 would ask consumers to first submit information on the dog’s breed, weight, age, vaccination records, etc. before responding with a quotation. The swimming time for each single session at these venues was usually 30 to 45 minutes, accompanied by a pet caregiver in the water, while the fee was generally based on the weight and breed of the dog. For example, for a 9kg Shiba Inu accompanied by a caregiver in the water, swimming fees for indoor heated pools on weekends ranged from $380 to $560 across the service providers, 5 of which included rinsing and blow-drying services by specialists in their fees, while the service provider with the lowest fee charged an additional $60 to $100 rinsing fee. The second highest-priced service provider only provided a self-service wash and dry area for dog owners to groom their dogs personally. Provision of pet shampoo also varied among service providers. Veterinarians remind pet owners that pool water may contain allergens or pathogens, so dogs should be cleansed with dog shampoo after swimming to remove chlorine or other harmful residues from their bodies. It is also important to use a hair dryer on the dog after bathing to prevent catching a cold and getting sick.
Some Outdoor Fun Pools Operate a Membership System
But Swims are Charged Extra
For outdoor fun pools, the charge per visit is generally lower than indoor heated pools, but of the 5 surveyed outdoor fun pools, 3 ran a membership system from a one-time $50 registration fee to $380 for a half-year membership for 1 dog, plus an additional fee of $90 to $150 per swim, among which 1 service provider even charged members additional admission fee for each visit. Consumers should also be aware that service providers would charge an extra $20 or $30 for rental of life jackets, and some required a $100 deposit at the same time.
All fun pools in this survey required no reservation, allowing greater flexibility in timing, with each session ranging from 45 to 90 minutes. However, consumers should pay attention to self-service details, for example, 2 fun pools required dog owners to finish washing their pets within the swim session time. 3 of the 5 service providers allowed owners to accompany their dogs in the water, but only 1 indicated provision of shower facilities for pet owners. Consumers who plan to go into the water with their dogs should take heed of whether the facilities provided meet their needs and what needs to be brought along when choosing a fun pool.
Exemption Clauses Must be Fair and Reasonable
Service Providers Should Not Shirk Responsibilities
Most (10) swimming pools for pets provided relevant terms and conditions for consumers’ reference, either on their website, in a conspicuous place onsite, or before using the service. 2 indoor heated pools and 2 outdoor fun pools required consumers to sign either terms of service, consent forms, or waivers for confirmation. Generally, all service providers required dog owners to be always present onsite to supervise and bear their own responsibility and risks. Over half (7) of the service providers’ terms and conditions or relevant documents contained exemption clauses stating that the service provider would not be liable if the dog became unwell, was injured, or died during the use of the pool, with 1 stating a maximum compensation of $1,500. Disappointingly, another service provider neither disclosed nor responded to the Council’s request to obtain the exemption clauses, leaving the message on read. Furthermore, only 3 service providers with laid-out terms and conditions responded to the Council that third party liability insurance for the venue was purchased. The Council points out that if a service provider, through negligence, causes physical discomfort, injury, or death of a dog, even if a consumer has read or signed exemption clauses, the operator would still be responsible for proving the exemption clause fair and reasonable, otherwise it cannot be used to nullify or reduce legal liability.
The Council recommends service providers to provide the full text of the terms and conditions of their exemption clauses, so that consumers can thoroughly understand and assess the liability and risks involved before visiting. Service providers should also take the initiative to explain and ensure that consumers understand the content of the clauses. Apart from being responsible for ensuring reasonable safety for consumers and dogs while using their facilities and services, service providers also have the responsibility to purchase third party liability insurance with adequate coverage for the swimming pools, so as to provide more comprehensive protection for service users.
For the safety of their pets, owners should first understand whether their dog is in a suitable condition for swimming, refrain from feeding at least 4 hours before swimming to avoid discomfort, and allow time for the dog to walk as warm-up and to defecate. Brachycephalic (i.e. short-nosed) breeds (e.g. Pugs, Shih Tzus) have narrower airways, which make them more susceptible to choking by water. Also, swimming might be too strenuous for chronically ill or older dogs, whereas dogs with more severe mobility or spinal issues may have more difficulty balancing in water, resulting in a higher risk of choking by water.
Choosing the right swimming pool for your pet is also very important. Dog owners can follow these tips:
- Choose a pool where the dog owner or caregivers can accompany the dog into the water to ease the dog’s anxiety at their first ever dip, and to keep constant watch on the dog’s reaction and condition;
- Pay attention to the availability of life jackets for rent, as dogs unfamiliar with swimming should wear life jackets to boost buoyancy. Also ensure that the life jacket is of the right size and does not obstruct the dog’s movements;
- Choose a pool with a shallow end for dogs with little swimming experience, so that they have a safe space to rest and reduce the risk of drowning due to fatigue;
- Pay attention to the water quality and cleaning frequency of swimming pools, as service providers’ failure to properly manage pool water could increase the risks of waterborne infections;
- Dog owners should evaluate whether pool space and relevant facilities are adequate, and whether too many dogs are sharing the pool at the same time, to avoid increased chances of collision and risks of infectious diseases.
Download the article (Chinese only): https://ccchoice.org/560dogswimming
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