Dog adoption in Singapore: The rules for dogs in HDB flats

With the popularity of pets and an increasing awareness of animal rights, why aren’t more dogs getting adopted?

Animal welfare groups tell Yahoo Singapore one of the biggest deterrents is the rules governing the breed, size and weight of dogs that can be kept in HDB flats, where more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans reside.

Currently, only 62 toy breeds of dogs – or their crosses –  are allowed in flats, including Yorkshire terriers, dachshunds and Pomeranians. Only one dog, standing at 40cm at the shoulders and weighing 10kg or less, is allowed per flat.

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Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) executive director Corinne Fong, calls the current rules “archaic” and in need of review. She notes, “The size of the dog belies the fact that even small dogs bark and can make a din, bite, or cause dis-amenities if the owner is not prepared to train the dog.”

But since June 2011, animal welfare groups have collaborated with authorities on a scheme that allows HDB flat dwellers to adopt larger dogs. Under the auspices of Project ADORE (Adoption and Rehoming of Dogs), residents can adopt a mixed breed dog up to 50cm in height, and as heavy as 15kg.

Among other conditions, adopters must undergo a screening process, and agree to take the dog for basic obedience training. The dogs must also come from any of three participating groups: SPCA, Save Our Singapore Dogs (SOSD) and Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD).

SOSD has a particularly stringent adopter vetting process, including email and phone screenings, home visits and an initial home stay with the dog before the adoption is formalised. SOSD president Siew Tuck Wah says this effectively weeds out adopters who are not ready. He notes, “We would rather this, because we want the dog to have a good home. And we also don’t want the dog to be returned to the shelter, because that’s very detrimental to the dog’s health.”

As of July 2015, some 227 dogs have been re-homed under Project ADORE, which is managed by three agencies – the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Housing Development Board (HDB). Project ADORE, which began life as a pilot programme, became a permanent scheme in 2014.

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But groups like SOSD are calling on authorities to extend the parameters of Project ADORE. Siew says that if the size limit was increased by 10cm to 60cm, it would allow three times more rescued dogs into HDB flats. He adds, “Because most (rescue) dogs fall within the 50 to 60cm range… it’s going to help adoption rates increase tremendously. And that will help to solve the overcrowding and stray problems.”

But meeting the height and weight requirements is not all - the dogs’ temperament, as well as their ability to be trained, must also be assessed.

In response to queries from Yahoo Singapore, an MND spokesman says the weight and size limits for the dogs were set in consultation with animal welfare groups. The Ministry plans to include more groups in ADORE, “gradually and incrementally”, in order to ensure the scheme’s acceptance by residents and the public.

She added, “We are currently reviewing the conditions of adoption and will consider the public feedback that we have received on ADORE. Any policy adjustments will have to be done sensitively so that we can continue to be an inclusive society, and ensure the long term success of the programme.”