Property News: HDB Residents Can Now Adopt Bigger Dogs

More dogs can now be rehomed in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats thanks to a revised government scheme – Project Adore.

The National Parks Board’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) announced in a media release on Sunday (1 March) that under Project Adore, the height limit for local mixed-breed dogs to be rehomed has been increased. Their weight will no longer be a criterion too.

What is Project Adore?

Project ADORE (ADOption and REhoming of dogs) was started in April 2012, as a pilot by the Ministry of National Development (MND), Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), and HDB. These agencies wanted to assess the acceptance of mixed-breed dogs in HDB estates if proper safeguards were in place. With the transfer of AVA’s animal-related functions to the National Parks Board (NParks) on 1 April 2019, Project ADORE is now under the purview of NParks.

Since 2012, 1,335 mixed-breed dogs have been rehomed under the scheme. The good progress in the past eight years led to the criteria review. With these changes, we can expect approximately 20% more dogs, or 50 dogs, to be adopted. This programme will be assessed in a two-year pilot managed by AVS and supported by the HDB, in partnership with animal welfare groups.

How to qualify as an adopter?

Potential adopters are allowed to keep only one dog per flat. They have to abide by stringent ownership conditions, such as:

• Sterilising the dog
• Routine vaccinations
• Obedience training courses at the point of adoption
• Microchipping of the adopted dog
• Sign a Code of Responsible Behaviour (CORB) which includes requirements to ensure that their dogs do not cause a nuisance to the neighbours

New owners must also apply for a dog licence for the adopted dog.

Can I buy from shops?

Dogs cannot be bought from shops or breeders. They must come from one of five participating welfare groups:

• The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
• Action for Singapore Dogs
• Save Our Street Dogs
• Exclusively Mongrels
• Causes for Animals Singapore (CAS)
  Stray dogs are taken to vet clinics or the SPCA’s clinic to be sterilised, vaccinated and microchipped before being rehomed through the animal welfare groups. AVS also said that it would extend its pilot scheme to allow the public to adopt retired sniffer dogs under Project Adore for another two years.

Thinking of bringing your dog out for some fun? Here’s a guide to dog-friendly places.

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