Managing street dog populations in urban areas is a challenge faced by cities around the world. Singapore, a city-state with dense urban environments, has emerged as a model for effective street dog management through sustained government action, community education, and collaboration with private initiatives. Here, we take a deeper look at Singapore’s approach, offering valuable lessons for other regions hoping to implement humane and sustainable population control.

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The Beginning of Street Dog Population Management in Singapore

1980s - 1990s: Early Efforts by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)

Singapore’s first organized street dog population management efforts began in the late 1980s under the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), which at the time oversaw both agricultural policies and animal management. Early efforts primarily involved population control through culling, as street dogs were seen as a threat to public health and safety. However, AVA soon recognized that this method was unsustainable and led to negative public reactions.

1998: Introduction of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Programs

In 1998, AVA shifted to a more humane approach with the implementation of trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs. Initially, these programs aimed to sterilize as many dogs as possible and then release them back, primarily focusing on minimizing future generations. AVA's pilot TNR program set a target to sterilize 100 dogs per year, with gradual increases over time.

Formation of the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) in 2019

In April 2019, AVA was restructured, leading to the establishment of the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), part of Singapore’s National Parks Board. AVS was founded to centralize animal-related services and better coordinate Singapore’s animal welfare policies, with a particular focus on humane population control, stray management, and animal health. AVS now leads Singapore's street dog management strategy, collaborating with both public and private organizations to achieve its goals.

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What Street Dog Population Management Looks Like Today

Singapore’s approach today combines sterilization, legislation, and community education to manage the street dog population effectively.

1. Government Support for Sterilization Program (TNRM)

AVS runs several critical programs with support from organizations such as the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. In 2018, AVS launched the nationwide Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) program, setting a target of sterilizing up to 70% of Singapore’s stray dog population in 5 years.

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Key elements of Singapore’s TNRM program that have led to their success:

Partnerships:  Singapore’s street dog management efforts rely heavily on partnerships. AVS provides grants and resources to local animal welfare groups (AWGs) to enhance sterilization efforts, support adoption, and educate the public. Some key players include:

• SPCA Singapore: One of Singapore’s oldest animal welfare organizations, SPCA is actively involved in TNRM and public education. They receive financial support from AVS to continue their sterilization drives.
• Causes for Animals (Singapore): Known for their extensive work in community outreach and sterilization, they work closely with AVS in TNRM and rescue efforts.
• Voices for Animals (VFA): This group focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals, including street dogs, and works with AVS on adoption initiatives.
• These organizations receive support in the form of government grants, educational resources, and logistical aid for sterilization programs, helping to maintain Singapore’s progress in street dog management.

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Rehoming: AVS views rehoming a humane way of managing stray dog population. Under the new Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage programme, stray dogs will be humanely caught and sterilized and as many as possible will be rehomed. Those that cannot be rehomed will be released in “suitable locations” to live out their lives.

“Under the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme, AVS aims to manage the stray dog population in Singapore in a sustainable and humane manner. Grounded in science, the programme is a collaboration between AVS, 11 AWGs, veterinarians and the community. After the stray dogs have been caught from public areas, they are brought to vet clinics or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SPCA) clinic where they are sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped. Subsequently, the dogs are rehomed as far as possible through the AWGs” (Source: NParks)

One such adoption scheme is Project ADORE (Project on ADOption and REhoming of dogs). Currently, AVS has six Project ADORE rehoming partners:

• Action for Singapore Dogs
• Causes for Animals (Singapore)
• Exclusively Mongrels
• MercyLight Singapore
• SOSD Singapore
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)

All six are also TNRM partners.

To improve the chances for street dogs trapped through the TNRM programme to find a forever home, AVS also supports canine rehabilitation programs. This helps to set up the street dogs and their adoptive families for successful rehoming.

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AVS operates canine rehabilitation programs aimed at integrating stray dogs into domestic environments. A notable initiative is the Centre for Animal Rehabilitation, established in March 2022. This facility provides a calm and spacious environment where stray dogs undergo behavioral rehabilitation to adapt to life as pets.

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The center features a visitor's lounge designed to mimic a typical home setting, complete with common household items like a vacuum cleaner and television, helping dogs acclimate to domestic environments. Additionally, the center includes activity rooms for obedience training, dog runs, and compartmentalized kennels designed to reduce stress and promote a sense of security among the dogs.These rehabilitation efforts are part of AVS's broader strategy to manage the stray dog population humanely, supporting the nationwide Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) program. By focusing on behavioral rehabilitation, AVS aims to increase the chances of successful rehoming for stray dogs, promoting harmonious coexistence between animals and the community.

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Funding: AVA set aside a budget of S$800,000 (USD $607,544.96) for street dog management. Their costs include:

• Hiring dog trappers: S$300 to S$600
• Sterilization: S$200 to S$300 per animal

Going by a back-of-the-envelope calculation, sterilization costs alone of about 4,900 stray dogs – 70 per cent of the estimated population – would add up to about S$980,000 to S$1.47 million. Since the transition to AVS, detailed financial allocations for street dog management have not been made publicly available, however we would imagine that the AVS funding has increased in order to reach the 80% sterilization level in November 2023.

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5-year outcome of TNRM

‍As of November 2023, the program has sterilized about 80% of the free-roaming dogs, exceeding its initial target.
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2. Education initiatives

Stray feeding: In Singapore, community engagement is strengthened through initiatives that encourage responsible feeding practices among those who regularly feed free-roaming dogs.

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• The Handbook on Feeding Free-Roaming Dogs Responsibly was published to raise awareness about the important role that feeders play in maintaining public health and promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.

Feeders are integral to the TNRM process as they help identify dogs for capture, assisting animal welfare groups (AWGs) with sterilization efforts. Once sterilized, these dogs are reintroduced into the environment, and feeders continue to play a role in monitoring and supporting the well-being of the community dogs. This approach emphasizes the community’s role in responsible management and fosters a cooperative relationship between animal welfare organizations and the public.

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3. Community Engagement and Cultural Attitudes

Over the years, Singaporeans' attitudes towards street dogs and sterilization have evolved positively. Public surveys conducted by AVS in 2020 and 2022 revealed growing support for humane animal management. Key findings from these surveys include:

• Increasing Public Support for Sterilization: 78% of respondents viewed sterilization as humane and essential for population control.
• Adoption Programs: Programs like Project ADORE allow mixed-breed dogs to be adopted in public housing, helping to destigmatize street dogs and encourage adoption.
• Educational Campaigns: AVS and SPCA run campaigns highlighting responsible pet ownership, humane treatment of animals, and the role of sterilization, leading to broader acceptance across all demographics.

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Comparisons to Bangkok’s Approach: Lessons from Two Models

In contrast, Bangkok's street dog management has primarily been driven by private organizations, notably the Soi Dog Foundation. Since 2016, Soi Dog has been actively working in Bangkok, implementing large-scale sterilization and vaccination programs in a campaign to neuter 80% of street dogs in Greater Bangkok.

Challenges Faced in Bangkok

Despite these efforts, challenges remain:

• Government Involvement: The lack of a centralized, government-led strategy has led to fragmented efforts, making it difficult to achieve comprehensive population control.
  • Historically, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has had limited involvement in systematic street dog population control. However, in July 2023, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Soi Dog Foundation and BMA, formalizing a collaborative effort to improve animal welfare in the city.
• Street Dog Population Size
  • Soi Dog’s plan to neuter 80% of street dogs is thought to be the biggest programme of its kind in the world. In Bangkok alone, 250,000 animals have been neutered since the programme started in 2016. In comparison, when Singapore started their TNRM program in 2018, the free-roaming street dog population size is estimated to be at 7,000.
• Resource Limitations: Without substantial and consistent government funding, organizations like Soi Dog rely heavily on donations and grants, which can limit the scale and sustainability of their programs.

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Factors Contributing to Singapore's Success

Several factors make Singapore's model more achievable compared to Bangkok's:

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1. Infrastructure and Resources: Singapore's smaller geographical size and well-developed infrastructure facilitate efficient implementation and monitoring of programs.
2. Government Leadership: Singapore's government has taken a proactive role in animal welfare, implementing nationwide programs and providing consistent funding and support.
3. Legislation and Enforcement: Strict laws and regulations regarding animal welfare and pet ownership are effectively enforced, ensuring compliance and supporting population control measures.
4. Public Education and Engagement: Continuous public education campaigns have fostered a culture of responsible pet ownership and support for humane population control methods.

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Key Takeaways from Singapore’s Model

For other regions, Singapore’s approach provides a blueprint for managing street dog populations humanely and effectively:

1. Government-NGO Collaboration: Funding, resources, and policy support from government agencies can amplify the efforts of animal welfare groups.
2. Public Education: Widespread public understanding and acceptance of sterilization are essential for a sustainable program.
3. Community Engagement: Programs like Project ADORE and resources like the Handbook on Feeding Free-Roaming Dogs Responsibly illustrate the value of integrating street dogs into the community through responsible adoption and awareness efforts.

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Conclusion

Singapore’s journey in managing its street dog population showcases the impact of coordinated efforts between the government, NGOs, and the public. By adopting humane, systematic approaches, cities worldwide can create safer, more compassionate environments for street dogs and their communities. For regions like Bangkok and beyond, Singapore’s success underscores the value of collaboration, public education, and government support in achieving lasting change.

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