Our Adoption Process

Their lives do matter.

At SOSD, we believe every rescued dog deserves a safe, loving, and permanent home.

 
A thorough adoption process helps ensure that adopters are ready for the long-term commitment of dog ownership. Dogs, especially rescues, require patience, care, and stability. Through careful screening, we help prevent impulse adoptions, which often lead to dogs being returned or abandoned again.
 
Our process also ensures that adopters understand the responsibilities of pet ownership, including training, medical care, and lifestyle adjustments.

Yes, it’s important for us to understand why you are adopting. Puppies may be cuddly and adorable (yes, we at SOSD go gaga over doe-eyed puppies too!), but it cannot be the primary reason for adopting, as people tend to get bored of them when they grow out of their cute stage. Adopters should have a genuine love for the dog and a commitment to ensure the dogs’ continued well-being, and this will entail time, effort and expense.

As the age-old adage goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” A dog might not be a child, but the unwavering support required from your household remains the same. Thus, we would need to speak to the entire household to be sure that everybody is agreeable to committing to adopt a new family member. It is also a great way for us to get to know the potential family that the dog will be spending its lifetime with and answer any queries they may have. We’d also like to talk to the main caretaker of the dog, and get to know him/her.

Finding a dog whose energy levels match your lifestyle is beneficial for all involved. For example, an adopter who is mostly out of the house or who is very busy will not be suited for a dog that requires a lot of daily exercise and stimulation, and may be better paired with an older or more sedentary dog.

A common misconception is that dogs can only live in landed properties. That couldn't be further from the truth! With proper care, dogs can live happily in apartments too. As long as their daily needs—like appropriate toileting options and enriching activities—are met, they’ll do just fine in high-rise homes.

Different dogs have different temperaments, energy levels, and handling needs. Some dogs may be fearful of sudden movements or loud noises, which are common in homes with young children. Others may be too energetic or strong for elderly individuals to manage safely. Knowing the household dynamics helps us match each dog with the most suitable home, ensuring a safer and more positive experience for both the dog and the family.

Like us humans, dogs need their regular vaccines and access to quality healthcare, in the event that they fall ill. Veterinary care in Singapore does not tend to be cheap. Thus, it will be prudent to do some research and get an idea of the financial commitment required to provide adequate care for the dog you intend to adopt. We may sound like strict headmasters and mistresses (we are in reality really friendly!), but it all stems from our passion, love and sense of responsibility for our furkids. As such, we want to ensure that our dogs go to homes in which they will be loved and cherished. It is the very least we can do for them — because their lives do matter.

Some things we look out for !

The Process

Our Adoption Process

Before you decide on a lifetime of bliss together with your potential dog, here’s what to expect:

Begin by filling out these two forms: 

  • Adopter Sign Up Form
    To provide us with the information we need to assess if we have suitable dogs for you, and to assign a Rehoming Volunteer to you.
  • Pre-Adoption Briefing
    To help you understand more about the type of dogs available for adoption, and what adopting a dog from SOSD entails. Please allocate 1 hour for this!

A Rehoming Volunteer will contact you to learn more about you, answer any queries you have and guide you through the adoption process.

A house visit will be scheduled with your Rehoming Volunteer, to make recommendations on dog-proofing your home, as well as to ensure everyone in the family is agreeable to adopting. 

If/when there are available dogs that suit your profile and lifestyle, interactions with the dog(s) will be arranged through your Rehoming Volunteer.

Meet your favourite dog 1-2 more times to further assess suitability and understand the level of long-term commitment required.

Your Rehoming Volunteer will provide a list of items to buy. Use this time to dog-proof your home and arrange for a trainer during the Homestay period, if required! You will be provided with an Essential kit, which includes collars, a leash and a tracker, to be fitted on your dog.

The Homestay period is at least one week, with a $150 Homestay fee.

Patience and empathy are key to helping your dog settle in smoothly. Bringing a new dog home from shelter often comes with uncertainties. Reach out to your Rehoming Volunteer promptly for help and advice if you face any issues!

If you're adopting under Project ADORE, you'll need to attend at least one training session with an SOSD-recommended trainer before finalising the adoption. For those living in private housing and adopting a dog under 2 years old, training is also required either during homestay period or within one month of adoption. 

Sign the Adoption Agreement and pay an Adoption fee of $250.

Adopters will need to follow up with:

  • AVS Licence
  • Continued flea, tick and heartworm preventative medications
  • Completion of Project ADORE training certification for HDB adopters
  • Sterilization, if not yet completed, will be covered by SOSD with a provided sterilization voucher

Thank you for adopting with SOSD and giving our dogs a loving forever home!

Keep Up with Our Updates

Get in touch with us to learn more about what we are doing to assist stray dogs in Singapore.

Keep Up with Our Updates

Get in touch with us to learn more about what we are doing to assist stray dogs in Singapore.
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