10-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) In the heart of Singapore, the bustling i12 Katong mall witnessed a heartwarming celebration over the weekend as three furry companions, Mantou, Cookie, and Peanut, marked their birthday. These adorable canine siblings created quite a spectacle, chasing each other with unbridled enthusiasm around an indoor playground. Mantou sported a dashing diaper while Cookie and Peanut took occasional breaks to relieve themselves in the playground’s corners. The resulting chaos was a testament to their sheer joy.
These three charming party animals, known as maltipoos, a delightful crossbreed of Maltese and Poodle, celebrated their special day at Mr. Woofles, a doggy daycare center that boasts a lavish playground for the city’s pooches. Their devoted owners, often affectionately referred to as “pawrents,” went above and beyond, renting the space for a sum of $290 for a two-hour extravaganza.
The canine birthday trio was treated to a delectable two-tiered cake, crafted from watermelon and adorned with juicy blueberries. While they required some assistance to blow out the candles, devouring the cake presented no challenge.
Such canine birthday parties, often referred to as “barkday” parties, have become increasingly elaborate affairs in Singapore. Pet owners, driven by boundless love for their “furkids,” are known to spare no expense. Some pawrents willingly spend over a thousand dollars to ensure their beloved pets experience a birthday celebration like no other.
For Mantou, Cookie, and Peanut, the festivities began a week ahead of their actual birthday, which falls on November 14th, but they seemed content with the early celebration.
Peanut, typically reserved at home, exhibited an uncharacteristic exuberance, according to his owner, insurance manager Yang Cailing. “I think he knows that it is his birthday, and I think he recognizes his brother and sister,” shared Ms. Yang, who is 41 years old.
Six dogs, including two Poodles and a Bichon Frise, along with about 20 people, joined in the barkday celebration. This special occasion also marked the first meeting of Mantou’s “pawrent,” Mr. Ong Yao Min, with Ms. Yang and Ms. Charmaine Poh, Cookie’s owner. The trio had initially connected through a Facebook group dedicated to maltipoo owners, and their friendship blossomed from there. Their journey as pawrents commenced when they crossed paths earlier this year at a pet shop while acquiring their puppies.
Mr. Ong, a civil servant, expressed his motivation for celebrating Mantou’s birthday: “We have been corresponding online, sending each other pictures of our dogs, and I thought their birthday would be the best time to meet up.” Mantou holds a special place in his heart as his first dog, and he wanted to make her birthday memorable and unique. He emphasized, “The memories made are priceless. The party is a way for family and friends to come together; I see Mantou as an extension of the family.”
Samantha Peh, the owner of Mr. Woofles doggy daycare, emphasized the growing “pet-parent culture” in Singapore, where people increasingly regard their dogs as cherished family members. These devoted pawrents desire nothing but the best for their fur-babies on their special days. Event spaces like Ms. Peh’s have witnessed a surge in demand, with the daycare now hosting up to five barkday parties a month, compared to the initial one or two when they first offered the rental space in mid-2022.
Meanwhile, the Wag & Wild dog water park in Jurong has experienced a similar trend. The park offers rentals ranging from $300 to over $1,000 for a 90-minute session, depending on the number of dogs involved. Bookings for private parties have been steadily increasing by about 20% each year since the park’s opening in 2020, according to owner Alex Choy. The park currently hosts between four to eight private parties each month.
Beyond extravagant parties, pawrents are also investing in dog cakes and goodie bags. Pet bakery Petissier, owned by Ms. Zhuo Jiayi, has seen a 20% increase in orders, with about 60 orders per week. The most substantial order received this year included a 4-inch cake and 21 “pupcakes” (cupcakes for dogs), with a total cost of $354.30. These chiffon cakes are filled with delectable options such as poached apples or meat, covered with soy frosting.
In today’s era of social media, many pawrents are inclined to order beautifully customized cakes to showcase on dedicated Instagram accounts for their pets. Similarly, Hoy, a shop offering “pawty packs” filled with dog treats, has reported doubling its orders since the previous year, with prices starting at $3 per bag. The most extensive order received included 100 packs.
Pawrents defended their financial investment in these barkday parties, emphasizing the profound bonds they have formed with their pets. To them, celebrating these milestones is not extravagant but a heartwarming way to acknowledge the importance of their furkids.
Joey Ang, a 20-year-old undergraduate at Singapore Management University, shared her experience of organizing a barkday celebration for Tiffi, her two-year-old Pomsky (a Pomeranian and Husky mix). She had to ensure that all the invited dogs would get along, as not all dogs share the same compatibility. The $600 party, held at the pet event space BarknBake in Joo Chiat, featured a birthday cake, cupcakes, and goodie bags for the canine guests.
On the other hand, Chervonne Ang, at 33, opted for a yacht rental to celebrate her Shetland Sheepdog, Junior’s, second birthday in October. Junior, who adores the beach, spent the day frolicking in the waves at Lazarus Island. The celebration included stand-up paddleboarding and swimming for Junior’s pup friends and their humans. The day concluded with a spa visit and a cake shaped like a green Crocs sandal, inspired by Junior’s fondness for nipping at people’s feet. The celebration cost Ms. Chervonne Ang $1,300.
She concluded, “Junior might not have known it was his birthday, but to me, it was important to celebrate the occasion, as he’s not going to live very long. Towards the end of his life, he might not have enough energy to socialize.”
