HDB's priority is to preserve a pleasant living environment and good neighbourliness among residents in our high-rise, high-density public-housing estates. It therefore has to consider the different sentiments of residents in setting its policies and rules.

To ensure that the dogs kept by residents are suitable for HDB flats, HDB and AVA had jointly drawn up a list of approved breeds. This list comprises smaller breeds of dogs, which generally require a smaller area for living and exercise and thus are more manageable in an HDB environment. Smaller dogs can also be carried, especially in confined spaces like lifts where owners may need to keep them away from neighbours who are averse to dogs.

Notwithstanding our policy of allowing only one dog of an approved breed for every flat, HDB still receives complaints from residents on dog-related problems. This indicates that not every resident likes dogs and there is a need to retain the rules on the keeping of dogs.

Private residential apartments are governed by their own by-laws and managed by their own management committees. They have their own rules and regulations with regard to the types of animals that can be kept.

We wish to remind the public that it is an offence to abandon a dog. Any person found guilty of this offence can be fined $10,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both.

Tay Boon Sun
Senior Public Relations Officer
for Director
(Corporate Development)
Housing & Development Board

Goh Shih Yong
Assistant Director
Corporate Communications
for Chief Executive Officer
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
Ministry of National Development