Q1. Why are these retired Military Working Dogs put up for adoption?
These dogs have spent their years serving with the SAF, typically retiring at the age of 10. We hope that they can also experience life outside the military, and be adopted into suitable families who can take good care of them. Rest assured that even if these dogs are not adopted, the SAF will continue to care for them for their remaining years.
Q2. Am I eligible to adopt a Military Working Dog?
Only those residing in Singapore are eligible to adopt a Military Working Dog.
HDB households can adopt non-Scheduled dogs (Labrador Retriever for this adoption drive) under Project ADORE, which was expanded previously to allow for the rehoming of retired sniffer dogs in HDB flats. More details on Project ADORE can be found under Q3, or at http://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-work/engaging-our-communities/project-adore.
For Scheduled dogs (German Shepherd & Malinois for this adoption drive), only non-HDB households can adopt them. The complete list of Scheduled dogs can be found here: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/ABA1965-R1?DocDate=20170131#Sc2.
Q3. What are the requirements of Project ADORE?
- Owners can only keep 1 registered dog per HDB household.
- Owners must sign a declaration that they will observe the Code of Responsible Behaviour (CORB, see Appendix A of https://spca.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/adore.pdf - currently unavailable)
- Owners must check that their immediate neighbours are agreeable to them having the dog.
- Owners must ensure that the dog is sterilised, vaccinated and microchipped.
- Owners have to enrol their dogs for compulsory basic obedience training courses by trainers accredited by Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS, restructured from the then-AVA or Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore).
- Owners must apply for an AVS license and make sure that the dog is HDB-approved.
For more details, visit http://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-work/engaging-our-communities/project-adore.
Q4. What are the ages and breeds of the Military Working Dogs put up for adoption?
Working Dogs are typically between 7 to 11 years old when they are put up for adoption. The breeds include German Shepherd (Alsatian), Belgian Shepherd (Malinois) and Labrador Retriever.
Q5. What are the procedures to adopt a Military Working Dog?
Interested adopters can fill up the application form below during the adoption programme period from 27 Sep to 22 Oct 2021. Eligible applicants will be given an appointment slot to visit the Military Working Dogs. Upon confirming the applicant's interest to proceed with the adoption, the Adoption Team will arrange for a visit to assess the suitability of the applicant's home.
Successful applicants will be provided with familiarisation training. A post-adoption visit will be conducted after 1 month to ascertain if the Military Working Dog is coping well in the new environment.
Q6. Are there any subsidies for adopters after successful adoption?
The Military Working Dog Unit does not provide any subsidies or free medical care. Adopters will be informed about the existing health and medical conditions of the dogs prior to adoption. For enquiries or assistance, adopters can email the Adoption Team at enquire_MWDadoption@defence.gov.sg.
Q7. What are the related costs for adopting a Military Working Dog?
S/N |
Types of Cost |
Payee |
1 |
License Fee | AVS |
2 |
Banker's Guarantee (minimum of $2,000) (for Scheduled dogs only) | Bank of choice |
3 |
Insurance for at least S$100,000 coverage against injury to persons and damage to property (for Scheduled dogs only). | Insurance company |
4 |
Basic obedience training courses by AVS-accredited trainers for the adopter and the dog | Dog trainer of choice |
For more details, visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/owning-a-pet/licensing-a-pet/dog-licensing.
Q8. How are the adopters shortlisted?
The Adoption Team will review all applications and assess them based on these criteria:
- The applicant's proficiency in handling dogs
- The applicant's family support for dogs
- The applicant's financial ability to maintain the dog's upkeep
- The suitability of the applicant's home for the dog
- The applicant's willingness to commit time to take care of the dog