Retired sniffer dogs can now be adopted by those living in HDB flats
A pilot programme that allowed dog handlers from the uniformed services to adopt retired sniffer dogs has now been extended to those living in HDB flats.
In a joint statement on Monday (13 August) from the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), the ministries said that the scheme, named Project ADORE, would be expanded to members of the public staying in HDB flats on a one-year pilot basis.
“This is to widen the pool of potential adopters beyond K-9 and (Military Working Dog Unit) officers,” said the statement.
Potential adopters will be subject to the same conditions in place for Project ADORE, which include being screened prior to adopting the animals and measures to prevent abandonment of the dogs through microchipping.
Project ADORE began in 2012 as a scheme to allow flat dwellers to adopt non-HDB approved dogs. The statement noted that the scheme has been “well-received” so far.
“Observations have shown that residents have been receptive to the presence of larger dog breeds in their neighbourhoods as long as the owners behaved responsibly and if there were proper channels in place for dispute mediation,” said the statement.
In June last year, the scheme was expanded on a trial basis to allow dog handlers from the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force K-9 units, and the Singapore Armed Forces Military Working Dog Unit (MWDU) to re-home retired sniffer dogs in HDB flats.
Thus far, a total of 14 sniffer dogs have been re-homed under this scheme.
The pilot expansion of Project ADORE to the public is co-led with the support of HDB, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Animal Welfare Group partners under Project ADORE.
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