From June 2017, as part of a pilot scheme, dog handlers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) K-9 units and the Singapore Armed Forces' Military Working Dog Unit (MWDU), who live in public housing, will be allowed to adopt their retired service dogs.

This was announced in a joint statement on Tuesday, May 9, by the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

Previously, as the dogs' sizes and breeds do not meet existing HDB regulations, dog handlers living in public housing flats were unable to adopt the retired service dogs.

According to Channel News Asia, this adoption scheme is currently only opened to dog handlers from the SPF, the K-9 units and MWDU.

This is under a one-year pilot expansion of Project ADORE, launched in 2012 to assess the acceptance of mixed-breed dogs in HDB estates.

The sniffer dog breeds include Labradors, English Springers, Cocker Spaniels and Pointers.

MND will review the pilot expansion after a year and assess whether to extend it to other types of service dogs.

HDB-dwelling dog handlers from the K-9 units and MWDU are now eligible to adopt as they had expressed interest in adopting the service dogs after the animals were retired from service. Previously, dogs could only be re-homed in private properties.

"They train and work with their dogs on a daily basis, have developed close bonds with them and are experienced in managing these well-trained dogs. These dogs have also contributed to Singapore’s safety and security while on active duty," the authorities said.

Project ADORE has in place conditions that include the screening of potential adopters and measures to prevent abandonment of the dogs through microchipping.

All adopters will be required to comply with the ownership conditions and Code of Responsible Behaviour as set out by MND.

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