SINGAPORE – Fire hoses once used to help keep flames at bay have found a second lease of life as dog toys, thanks to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
In March, the SCDF donated dog toys made from old fire hoses, which are durable and versatile, to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
In a Facebook post on March 15, the SCDF said: “After years of keeping flames at bay, hoses which have reached the end of their operational lifespan are decommissioned and will now be sparking joy in the lives of our furry, four-legged pals.”
It added that it will continue to embrace sustainability efforts in its work and explore new ways to “contribute to an eco-friendly, paw-some future”.
SPCA’s executive director Aarthi Sankar said that the fire hose toys offered the shelter dogs the opportunity to “broaden... (their) spectrum of experiences” through new textures, smells, and even sounds the toys make when they hit the ground.
She said: “Some (dogs) were initially unsure of their new toys as they were quite different from what they were used to. The more inquisitive ones leapt into action, grabbing a toy between their teeth and shaking it side-to-side.
“Either way, it was valuable exposure since we are always looking to broaden our dogs’ spectrum of experiences and enrichment.”
Netizens praised the upcycling initiative and urged the SCDF to sell the toys as part of a fund-raiser.
One wrote on Facebook: “Very creative and well done. Glad SCDF is friendly (towards animals).”
Another wrote: “Do consider selling (the toys) to raise funds for animal shelters. I would love to get some.”
This is not the first time the SCDF has recycled its old firefighting hoses.
In 2023, the SCDF donated more than 30 decommissioned firefighting hoses to the National Parks Board (NParks) and S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa.
Ten hoses were used by NParks to build a 60m-long fence in Coney Island Park, while 20 hoses were turned into “enrichment devices” for marine animals.
An animal care specialist at S.E.A. Aquarium said they may be used to make puzzle feeders that will encourage animals to forage, or floating mats.
