Alaskan malamute rescued from Toa Payoh HDB flat service yard now looking for foster family

Once kept confined in the cramped service yard of a Toa Payoh HDB unit, an Alaskan malamute named Pita has now been given a second chance at life after authorities stepped in to rescue her from unsafe living conditions.

Ready to foster

With Pita’s ordeal behind her and her now being in safe hands, she is ready to begin the next part of her journey.

Non-profit Chained Dog Awareness in Singapore (CDAS) shared a Facebook post on Oct. 3 that the Alaskan malamute is ready to be fostered.

They described Pita as being “energetic, affectionate, and full of husky spirit”.

However, they do caution that she would be more suited to an all-adult home as it is uncertain if Pita is comfortable around children.

CDAS has encouraged interested fosters to get in touch if anyone is ready to welcome a new furry companion into their lives.

Kept in service yard

Concerns about the dog’s welfare first surfaced in mid-July 2025, when residents began hearing prolonged howling from a 35th-floor HDB unit.

Some neighbours reported seeing the large dog tied up on the narrow service yard, often for long stretches of time, day and night.

On Sep. 1, CDAS shared a video showing the distressed dog clawing at a window, sparking urgent calls for intervention.

That same evening, officers from the National Parks Board's Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) visited the flat.

They confirmed that the dog was being kept in cramped, unsafe conditions and subsequently removed her.

According to NParks, malamutes are not in the list of small dog breeds currently allowed in HDBs.

Top image via CDAS/Facebook