Bigger Dogs: Now Allowed in HDB Flats 

SINGAPORE: There has been a revision in dog size criteria for those living in HDB flats. You can now own bigger dogs ‒ provided they are local mixed-breed canines that are up for adoption.

According to the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), this type of dogs can now be up to 55cm tall, with no weight limit. Previously, only dogs under 50cm and up to 15kg could be re-homed to HDB flats. Effected on 1 March 2020, the programme is led by AVS and supported by the HDB, in partnership with Project Adore Animal Welfare Group (AWG).

Under the new ruling, some 20 percent more local mixed-breed dogs can be rehomed to HDB flats each year. As of end 2019, some 1,335 local mixed-breed dogs have been rehomed under the scheme.

Project Adore (ADOption and REhoming of dogs) was started in 2012. AVS has five re-homing partners – SPCA, Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), SOSD, Exclusively Mongrels (EM) and Causes for Animals (CAS). They are also working with AVS in its Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme.

With the TNRM programme, AVS hopes to manage the stray dog population sustainably and humanely. The present expansion of criteria for re-homing dogs will allow more mixed-breed dogs to be rehomed. 

Ms Sun Xue Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development said: “Together with our AWG partners, we had launched Project Adore to allow local mixed-breed dogs to be rehomed in HDB flats. Our AWG partners ensured that stringent adoption conditions are met. Residents have thus far been receptive to the presence of these rehomed dogs in their neighbourhoods."

"Given the good progress in the past eight years, we have now reviewed the criteria for Project Adore to allow more dogs to be re-homed. We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that proper safeguards are in place, and that responsible pet ownership is practised.”