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Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS)

Project ADORE

About the Project on ADOption and REhoming of dogs (Project ADORE)

Last updated 17 December 2025
A photograph of a black and white Singapore Special dog on a harness looking at the camera

Project ADORE

Project on ADOption and REhoming of dogs (Project ADORE) is a scheme for rehoming mid-sized, local mixed-breed dogs (also known as Singapore Specials) in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.  

It is led by AVS and supported by HDB and the following AVS Animal Welfare Group (AWG) rehoming partners: 

  • Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) 

  • Causes for Animals (CAS) 

  • Exclusively Mongrels (EM) 

  • Mercylight Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Limited (MARS) 

  • SOSD Singapore 

  • Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) 

Project ADORE was first piloted by the Ministry of National Development (MND) in April 2012 and became a permanent scheme in May 2014 for local mixed-breed dogs. 

In March 2020, AVS launched a two-year pilot expansion of Project ADORE, where the height limit was increased from 50cm to 55cm and the weight restriction of 15kg was removed This has since been officially formalised in 2022. 

Requirements 

Under Project ADORE, you will be allowed to own a local mixed-breed dog, up to 55cm in height in HDB flats. Only one dog is allowed in each residential unit. 

Adopters will be required to comply with the Code of Responsible Behaviour, which includes requirements to ensure their dogs do not cause nuisances to neighbours. All dogs under Project ADORE must be licensed, microchipped, vaccinated and sterilised. 

The adopters must also complete a mandatory obedience training programme with their dogs, by an AVS-Accredited Certified Dog Trainer or an ADORE dog trainer.  

Approach one of our ADORE AWG partners to adopt a local mixed-breed dog: 

K-9 Scheme 

In June 2017, Project ADORE was expanded to allow for the rehoming of retired K-9 sniffer dogs to K-9 dog handlers in HDB flats, under a one-year pilot. This pilot expansion was co-led by the MND, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), with the support of HDB, then AVA (now AVS) and AWG partners under Project ADORE. 

The scheme was well-received and made permanent in August 2018. Thereafter, it was expanded to also allow the public to adopt the retired sniffer dogs, widening the pool of potential adopters for retired sniffer dogs beyond K9 officers. This pilot scheme was officially formalised in 2022.  

The four allowed sniffer dog breeds are: 

  • Labrador 

  • English Springer 

  • Cocker Spaniel 

  • Pointer 

Keep a lookout for adoption drives organised by the following K-9 units to adopt a retired sniffer dog: 

  • Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Working Dog Unit (MWDU) 

  • Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) K-9 Unit 

  • Singapore Police Force (SPF) K-9 Unit 

An update on rehoming outcomes under Project ADORE was released in an infographic.

Download it here:

TNRM Programme for Free-roaming Dogs Update Infographic [PDF, 618.7KB]