SEOUL — As more pet owners look for reliable care during vacations or business trips, home-based "pet sitting" has surged in popularity as an alternative to traditional pet hotels. However, when things go wrong—such as pet injuries, escapes, or communicable diseases—unregistered operators often leave owners with little recourse or protection.

To address these risks, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a focused crackdown on illegal, unregistered pet-sitting services operating within residential spaces, heavily targeting online booking platforms and advertisements.

The Legal Boundary: Is Home Pet-Sitting Illegal?

Pet-sitting involves caring for someone else’s pet for a set period. While looking after a friend or family member's pet on a temporary favor basis is completely legal, repeatedly boarding multiple pets in private homes or apartments for monetary compensation requires formal registration as an Animal Consignment Management Business with local district offices.

Seoul’s Judicial Police Bureau emphasized that private residences are not exempt from this legal obligation.

Why Unregistered Pet-Sitting is Risky

Unlike licensed facilities—which must meet strict legal standards regarding CCTV installation, fire safety, and sanitation—unregistered home sitters operate outside regulatory oversight.

Risks multiply when multiple pets are housed together without proper professional management. These include:

Animal fights or bite injuries
Spread of infectious diseases
Pets escaping or getting lost
Noise complaints and neighborhood conflicts in multi-family apartments
Severe disputes over medical bills and liability if a pet is injured or dies while in care

Penalties and Regulatory Exceptions

Authorities are actively reviewing online ads and citizen tips to identify illegal operations. Operating an unregistered animal consignment business is a criminal offense under the Animal Protection Act, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison or fines up to 10 million won.

However, authorities note that some platforms operate legally under government regulatory sandbox exemptions. Pet owners are advised to verify whether a specific platform holds a valid special exception rather than assuming all app-based services are illegal.

5 Safety Tips for Pet Owners Before Booking Care

Experts urge owners to look beyond low prices and glowing online reviews when choosing a pet sitter:

Verify Registration: Ask for the provider's registration details and check them with the local district office.
Inspect the Environment: Look at cleanliness, ventilation, resting areas, and how different pets are separated.
Establish an Emergency Plan: Know which veterinary clinic will be used in an emergency and how you will be contacted.
Keep Written Records: Document feeding schedules, walking routines, medication requirements, and service terms via text messages or formal contracts.
Check Insurance and Liability: Confirm what compensation policies are in place if an accident occurs.

Reporting Illegal Operations

Citizens who suspect illegal pet-sitting or have experienced damages can report them via the Seoul Smart Complaint Reporting app or the city's Civil Rights Infringement Crime Reporting Center. Providing concrete evidence—such as platform chats, transaction histories, and location details—helps facilitate investigations.

As Seoul expands its oversight, the city aims to transform the booming pet-care market into a safer, more trustworthy environment where pet safety and accountability come first.

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