Where to adopt · what to expect
Dog Shelters in Singapore
If adoption is your path, these are the established shelters and rescues to start with. Most of their dogs are older or Singapore Specials, and many are wonderful.
Where can you adopt a dog in Singapore?
Singapore’s main dog shelters and rescues include the SPCA, Action for Singapore Dogs, SOSD, Causes for Animals and Exclusively Mongrels. Most of their dogs are older dogs or Singapore Specials rather than puppies, and adoption usually involves an interview and home visit.
Shelters and rescues to know
SPCA Singapore
Singapore’s best-known animal welfare charity, at 50 Sungei Tengah Road. Receives up to 200 animals a month; adoption is by appointment only, with booking slots opening 7 days ahead. Runs a 24/7 emergency rescue hotline (6287 5355 ext 9).
Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD)
A dedicated dog rescue with roughly 70+ dogs listed for adoption at any time, both HDB-eligible and larger dogs. Adoption package $400–$600, covering sterilisation, vaccination and microchipping.
SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs)
A volunteer-run rescue for Singapore’s street dogs, with regular adoption drives and a shelter at Sungei Tengah. Its HDB adoptions run through Project ADORE criteria.
Causes for Animals (Singapore)
A charity at The Animal Lodge running rescue, rehoming and sterilisation programmes for community animals.
Animal Lovers League
A no-kill shelter at The Animal Lodge (Block Q) housing hundreds of dogs and cats, adopting out by appointment.
Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter (OSCAS)
A registered charity caring for around a hundred Singapore Specials, with an adoption gallery online.
Exclusively Mongrels
A rescue focused specifically on rehoming local mongrels, or Singapore Specials.
Check each organisation’s own website for current adoptable dogs and their adoption process. For HDB households, read about the Project ADORE scheme.
A local quirk worth knowing: most of Singapore's shelter world clusters on one road. The Animal Lodge at 59 Sungei Tengah Road houses many rescues under one roof, SPCA sits at number 50, and our own parent farm operates from the same Sungei Tengah farm cluster. If you visit one shelter, you can realistically visit three in an afternoon, by appointment.
The official roster of rescue groups is AVS's list of partner Animal Welfare Groups; if a "shelter" you found online is not on it and is not a registered charity, check carefully before paying anyone an adoption fee. Shelters also welcome volunteers and fosterers, which is the honest way to help if you are not ready to adopt.
Adoption questions, answered
Can you adopt a puppy from a Singapore shelter?
Occasionally, but it is uncommon. Most shelter dogs in Singapore are older dogs, Singapore Specials or special-needs dogs. If you specifically want a young puppy of a known breed, buying from a licensed source is usually the realistic path.
What does shelter adoption cost in Singapore?
Adoption fees typically range from around $200 to $500, generally covering sterilisation, vaccination and microchipping. Shelters also usually run a home visit and adoption interview to make sure the match is right.
Can I adopt a shelter dog into an HDB flat?
Local mixed-breed dogs up to 15kg and 55cm can be adopted into HDB flats under the Project ADORE scheme, subject to sterilisation, microchipping and other conditions. Larger dogs are only allowed in private housing.
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Adopt or buy? Read the guide