HDB Owners Can Now Adopt Bigger Stray Dogs From Project ADORE

Have you always wanted to adopt a dog?

But realised that you don’t live in that big of an HDB flat that allows you to keep bigger dogs?

Well, be sad no more, because now, you can keep bigger dogs in your home. Legally.

You Can Now Adopt Bigger Stray Dogs & Keep Them In Your HDB Flats

According to a media release by the National Parks Board’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), the height limit for local mixed-breed dogs to be rehomed under the Project ADORE (adoption and rehoming of dogs) scheme has been increased to 55cm from the previous 50cm, and the initial 15kg weight limit for these dogs has been removed.

It might not sound like much but remember, dogs walk on four legs. Meaning an increase of 5cm in height actually means a much bigger dog.

A Trial Programme

This will be a two-year pilot programme headed by AVS and it will be supported by the HDB along with animal welfare groups. Those who wish to adopt under Project ADORE will have to meet the ownership requirements as well as comply with a code of responsible behaviour under AVS.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and National Development Ms Sun Xue Ling said, “Given the good progress in the past eight years, we have now reviewed the criteria for Project ADORE to allow more dogs to be rehomed. We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that proper safeguards are in place, and that responsible pet ownership is practised.”

Note: Do only adopt if you’re willing to take on the responsibilities of being a pet owner. Remember, your pet may not be your everything, but to your pet, you are their everything. 

Also, don’t spoil it for the rest of us lah.

What Is Project ADORE?

In case you have no idea what Project ADORE is, let me explain.

This scheme was introduced in 2012 in the hopes of rehoming mid-sized mixed-breed dogs in HDB flats so as to decrease the number of stray dogs on the streets.

It is a successful scheme as up till the end of 2019, more than 1,300 local mixed-breed dogs have been rehomed.

Every year, around 250 local mixed-breed dogs get new owners and find new homes under Project ADORE. With the revisions to the size criteria, at least 50 more dogs can be rehomed each year.

Furthermore, the size revisions will also enable more mixed-breed dogs under the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage programme to find new homes.

AVS has also mentioned that its pilot scheme will be extended so that the public can adopt retired sniffer dogs under Project ADORE for two more years. This is due to the fact that there were no retired sniffer dogs available for public adoption during the original one-year pilot.

Overall, it is definitely a wonderful thing that AVS decided to do this. So if you have always wanted to give a big doggo a home, here’s your chance to do so!