Pet Adoption in Singapore: Legal Considerations & Procedure

As Singapore’s household pet ownership numbers continue rising, you too might be keen on adopting a pet to bring home. This article will explain the procedure and legalities associated with adopting a pet in Singapore, covering:

• Are You Fit to be a Pet Owner?
• Legal Considerations Prior to Adopting Pets
• Procedure to Adopt a Pet in Singapore
• Licensing Your Dog
• What Happens If I’m No Longer Able to Keep My Pet?

Are You Fit to be a Pet Owner?

Prior to adopting a pet, take a look at the checklist by the National Parks Board (NParks) to determine whether you will be a suitable pet owner.

As per the checklist, a “no” answer to any of the following questions would be reason to believe that you may not be an ideal pet owner:

• Does my family agree to having a pet?
• Are we committed to looking after it for life?
• Can we afford to pay for its veterinary bills, food, and grooming?
• Do we have enough time to care for it?
• Do we have enough space at home for a pet?
• Do we know how to care for our pet properly?

Conversely, if you answer “yes” to every one of these questions, you are more likely to be equipped to be a good pet owner. You can then proceed to look into the type of pets you’re able to keep and the pet adoption process.

Legal Considerations Prior to Adopting Pets

Everyone has a different preference when it comes to their choice of pet. However, you must ensure that your desired species or breed is one that you can legally own in Singapore.

This is because while a wide range of animals from dogs to gerbils and even turtles can be sold as pets in Singapore, as listed on this NParks webpage, not all breeds of these animals can be kept as pets.

With the exception of the red-eared slider, Malayan box turtle and green tree frog, most undomesticated species such as birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians and non-human primates cannot be kept as pets in Singapore.

Pets allowed in Housing Development Board (HDB) flats and private properties vary as well. Some of these rules are stated below, while our other article on legal and illegal pets in Singapore covers this matter in more detail.

Pets allowed and not allowed in HDB flats

Most small breed animals, such as small dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs, are allowed in HDB flats. However, poultry, such as chickens, are not.

Keeping of pet dogs in HDB flats

Not all breeds of dogs are allowed as pets in HDB flats. At any one time, you can only have 1 dog in your flat, and it must be from one of the HDB-approved small dog breeds such as pugs, miniature poodles, Shih Tzus and silky terriers. You will need permission from HDB to keep more than 1 dog in your flat.

Larger dogs from the scheduled list of breeds cannot be kept in HDB flats.

Keeping of pet cats in HDB flats

Before 1 September 2024, it was illegal to keep pet cats in HDB flats. However, the rules have changed and up to two cats can be kept as pets in an HDB flat at any one time, together with one dog from among the approved breeds mentioned above.   

Owners with more cats than these limits will be nevertheless allowed to keep all their pre-existing pet cats if they license the cats within the transition period and are able to ensure that the cats’ health and welfare are taken care of.

The transition period is from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026. During this period, one-time licences with lifetime validity will only be issued for sterilised cats. Where a pre-existing cat is unsterilised, its licence will only last for the rest of the transition period and have to be renewed thereafter.

Keeping of pet chickens in HDB flats

In Singapore, the keeping of chickens in HDB flats is not allowed. The HDB deems poultry to be “not suitable” as indoor pets as they could cause an inconvenience to neighbours as they roam about.

Pets allowed in private property 

Keeping of pet dogs in private property

In private properties, you are allowed to keep up to 3 pet cats, or 3 pet dogs, or a combination of dogs and cats totalling 3 animals, in one premises. Whatever the combination, at most 1 dog can be from the list of scheduled breeds of bigger dogs.

Keeping of pet chickens in private property

Although pet chickens are not allowed in HDB flats, private property owners (including condominium unit owners) may keep up to 10 chickens on their property.

Procedure to Adopt a Pet in Singapore

Adopting a pet is an opportunity to give an animal a home where it is loved and cared for. The process involves multiple steps to ensure that you can provide the right environment for your pet.

Since each pet adoption agency has its own procedures, the following list gives a general outline of the stages you will go through in the adoption process:

1. Contact the pet adoption agency to inquire about its procedure.
2. Meet the pets for adoption to pick your preferred match.
3. Have an interview and home visit from the pet adoption agency’s adoption counsellor to ensure that you are prepared to take care of a pet, and that your home is safe and well-equipped to house the pet.
4. Depending on the pet adoption agency, the adoption counsellor may bring the pet to your house for a homestay to determine whether your household is a good fit for the pet.
5. If the adoption counsellor deems that your house is suitable for the pet, and you are certain that the pet is suitable for you and your family, you will be asked to sign an adoption form to legally keep your new pet.

Fees and documents required in the adoption process are largely dependent on the pet adoption agency. Adoption fees can range from not applicable to $350 depending on the agency approached.

We also have a separate article on dog adoption in Singapore if you are thinking of adopting a dog.

Licensing Your Cat or Dog

All pet cats and dogs must be licensed to facilitate the tracing of their owners. When cats or dogs are sold or adopted, the ownership of the pet licence is transferred to the new owner, who must renew the licence before its expiration.

Failure to obtain a cat/dog licence can result in a maximum fine of $5,000.

Owners can obtain a licence for their cats or dogs by applying through the Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) with their SingPass. However, first-time cat or dog licence applicants must complete a Pet Ownership Course before applying for a licence.

When applying for the licence via the e-service, you must have the following prepared:

• Relevant documents, such as a photo of your cat or dog and a sterilisation certificate
• Proof that your cat or dog has been microchipped; and
• The appropriate licence fee.

Note: There are no licence fees applicable for cats until 31 August 2026.

*A 10% rebate is extended to licensees who make payment via GIRO, online, or via AXS. Prices quoted exclude the 10% rebate.

**You will be able to apply for a one-time licence for sterilised dogs that is valid throughout the life of the dog. Three-year licences for non-sterilised dogs will automatically be changed to a one-time licence when you update the dog’s sterilisation status. 

^Dog has to be a sterilised, obedience-trained mongrel adopted from our animal welfare rehoming partner.

*A 10% rebate is extended to licensees who make payment via GIRO, online, or via AXS. Prices quoted exclude the 10% rebate.

**You will be able to apply for a one-time licence for sterilised cats/dogs that is valid throughout the life of the cat/dog. Three-year licences for non-sterilised cats/dogs will automatically be changed to a one-time licence when you update the dog’s sterilisation status.

^Cat has to be sterilised and adopted from NPark’s animal welfare rehoming partner. Dog has to be a sterilised, obedience-trained local mixed breed adopted from NParks’ animal welfare rehoming partner. 

What Happens If I’m No Longer Able to Keep My Pet? 

Despite your initial conviction that you will be able to care for your adopted pet, sometimes a situation may arise where you are no longer able to do so. For example, if your pet incurs behavioural or health conditions and you find it hard to manage. In these cases, owners often contemplate surrendering, abandoning or selling their pets.

Surrendering your pet 

Owners may decide to surrender their pets to animal shelters. However, before surrendering your pet to a shelter or non-profit organisation, consider finding a foster family that is willing to adopt and provide a new home for your pet.

Foster families can be sought out by asking family and friends if they are keen to take over the responsibility of your pet or through advertising in newspapers and on social media platforms. For instance, the SPCA allows one to post a rehoming advertising notice on their website for a period of 1 month.

Rehoming your pet before surrendering it to a shelter gives the animal a chance to possibly go to a new home that can meet its needs better. By surrendering your pet, you transfer the responsibility of your pet to the shelter which then houses the animal and decides on further courses of action.

Pets that cannot be rehomed, or rehabilitated due to extreme illness or temperament, may be subjected to euthanasia if the shelter deems necessary.

Abandoning your pet 

Abandoning your pet is seen as a failure to adequately supervise and take reasonable care of an animal. Abandoned pets that are found by the authorities are sent to shelters where they are taken care of as investigations are conducted.

NParks’ Animal & Veterinary Service investigates all cases of pet abandonment by trying to trace the owner, interviewing possible suspects and witnesses and reviewing veterinary reports.

As a result of this investigation, owners that are found guilty of abandoning their pets can be penalised as follows:

• On the first conviction: Fined up to $40,000 and/or imprisoned for a term up to 2 years
• On subsequent convictions: Fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for a term up to 3 years

Selling your pet

In addition, if the abandoned pets are not reclaimed by their owners, they may be subjected to the same fate as pets that have been surrendered to shelters – rehabilitation and rehoming, and if deemed necessary, euthanasia.

If you no longer wish to take care of your pet and are considering selling it, do note that you are not allowed to do so unless you have a pet shop licence. If convicted, you can be fined up to $5,000 or jailed up to 6 months.

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Animals are sentient beings that deserve to be respected and cared for. Before adopting a pet, be sure to educate yourself on all matters related to owning and caring for the animal. You may refer to resources such as the Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) booklet or infographic by NParks.

Owning a pet means being responsible for the well-being and safety of the animal, so be sure to be prepared for this responsibility by doing extensive research and preparation.