About ASD

Where is ASD located?
To keep our overheads low, ASD does not have an office, but we do have an ASD Canine Rehoming Centre (ACRC) in The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah. As of January 1, 2025, we have over 100 dogs under our care. These dogs are spread between at our 5 kennel units in Sungei Tengah as well as with foster families located in different parts of Singapore.

How do I visit ASD? 
All visits to ASD are strictly by prior appointment only. 

• If you are planning to adopt a dog, your Adoption Counselor will be responsible for scheduling your visits. Please ensure you have submitted a non-obligatory adoption application form.
• If you are an existing sponsor, please email the sponsorship team to schedule an appointment to visit your sponsored dog.
• If you are keen on a corporate volunteering activity at our kennels, please reach out to the volunteering team.

Adopting from ASD

How can we view the dogs for adoption?
Interested adopters should browse through our website and select the dogs they are interested in and fill up an Adoption Application Form. Shortlisted adopters will be contacted within 2 weeks of their application submission for a follow up chat. Meeting dogs is only possible with a prior appointment, and will be scheduled by your Adoption Counselor.     

What is the procedure for adoption?
Our adoption procedure is fully explained in the "Adoption Procedure" section under "Adopt" (top yellow bar) on our website.

What are the conditions for adoption?
All adopters must sign an adoption agreement which serves to protect the dog against malnutrition and abuse. Vaccination and sterilisation is mandatory and at the adopter's expense unless the dog has already undergone such procedures.

What is a bonding session?
A bonding session is an interaction session between the adopter and the adoptee and takes place at our kennels or at the foster family's home. This is to gauge the chemistry between the potential adopter and adoptee. 

Are there any charges for adopting a dog?
There is a token adoption fee to defray the costs of rescue and initial medical treatment. Our adoption fees w.e.f. 15 January 2024 are $400 for local breed dogs and $600 for pedigrees.  

Can you help pick up a stray that I saw recently?
We are a small group of volunteers and do not have the resources to answer to every call. As space resources are limited, once they are full, we cannot take in anymore unless some of the dogs are adopted. Our mode of operation is more of a collaborative one, where the rescuer has to help us hold the dog temporarily, then we can start the rehoming process.

How do I surrender my dog to ASD?

Our philosophy has always been ‘A Dog for Life’ and we advocate a philosophy of responsible pet ownership for the duration of your dog’s life. We would like to stress the point that it is a very traumatic experience for a dog to be separated from its owners after a period of time, and it may cause the dog to alter its personality. Almost all problems have potential solutions. We do not qualify reasons like ‘No time’, ‘Moving house’, ‘Having a baby’, ‘Financial woes’, ‘Dog too old’, ‘Maid is leaving’ or similar premises as genuine. 

• If your dog was adopted from ASD, please email us at info@asdsingapore.com and we will do our best to help you come up with solutions to overcome the problem.
• If your dog is not from ASD, please contact the other animal welfare groups (AWGs). Your first point of contact should always be the organisation or independent rescuer you adopted your dog from.

Do note that very often we are constrained by kennel space and cannot just take in your dog 'now', because you have decided your dog is now an inconvenience rather than a member of your family. Please note that depending on the situation and the condition of your dog, we might ask you to make a donation towards your dog's welfare and rehabilitation as we rely completely on donations for every mouth that is fed under our care. Do not abandon your dog, as he has become domesticated and will lose the instinct to forage. Abandonment is also a crime punishable by law with 1 year jail and $10,000 fine. Remember your dog is just like a child and should be treated as part of the family. Please only give up your dog if you are also giving up your child at the same time. 

Dogs and Babies

How can families prepare a dog for a new arrival?

Preparing a dog for a baby requires careful planning because the introduction of a baby brings not only new sights and sounds but also disruptions to routine. The goal is to acclimate your dog to these changes gradually so that by the time the baby arrives, your dog already feels comfortable with the new normal.

• Routine Adjustments: If you know that your dog’s walking or feeding schedule will change after the baby arrives, start making those adjustments in advance. For instance, if you plan to feed the dog earlier or later than usual, make that change now rather than after the baby comes home. This helps avoid associating the baby with negative changes in routine.
• Familiarising with Baby Items: Baby equipment, such as cribs, strollers, and high chairs, can be overwhelming for a dog that’s never seen them before. Start setting these items up in advance, allowing your dog to investigate at their own pace. You can introduce positive reinforcement when your dog interacts calmly with these objects.
• Sound Desensitisation: Baby sounds, especially crying, can be alarming for dogs. Start playing recordings of baby sounds at a low volume while your dog engages in calm activities. Gradually increase the volume over time to help desensitise them.
• Controlled Physical Interactions: Encourage your dog to become more tolerant of unpredictable touches, nudges, or movements by gently touching different parts of their body (e.g., ears, tail, paws). Pair this with positive reinforcement so they associate these touches with something positive.
• Training ‘Go to Place’ and Other Commands: Reinforce basic commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘leave it.’ Teaching your dog to go to a specific place (e.g., a mat or bed) when asked gives them a safe, predictable place to go when things get hectic around the baby.
• Reduce Reliance on Physical Closeness: If your dog is very clingy, help them become more comfortable being away from you. Gradually teach your dog that it’s okay to relax in a different room or self-soothe.

How do you recommend introducing a dog to a newborn?

Introducing a dog to a newborn should be done carefully, ensuring that the dog feels safe and the baby is protected. The goal is to make the baby a neutral, positive presence for the dog, rather than a source of anxiety or competition.

• Initial Homecoming: When you return home with the baby, make sure the dog is calm before any introductions happen. One effective way is to have one parent or another person enter first, greeting the dog and allowing them to settle.
• Scent Introduction: Before introducing the dog to the baby, give them something with the baby’s scent, such as a blanket or a piece of clothing. Allow the dog to sniff the item and reward them for calm behaviour.
• Baby’s Presence: When you’re ready to introduce the baby, have the dog on a lead or, if the dog is calm and trustworthy, they can be off-lead but under control. Let the dog approach at their own pace and reward calm behaviour. Never force the dog to come closer if they seem unsure or hesitant.
• Supervision and Boundaries: The dog should never have unsupervised access to the baby. Even if the dog appears calm, always have an adult present when the baby and dog are in the same space.
• Reinforce Calm Behaviour: Continue rewarding relaxed behaviour around the baby. If your dog becomes overly excited or anxious, redirect them to a safe space with a toy or a treat.

What are some early signs that a dog might be stressed or anxious around a newborn?

Understanding canine body language is critical when monitoring how your dog feels around a newborn. Stress and anxiety can manifest in various subtle and overt ways.

Subtle Signals:

• Lip licking (when not related to food), yawning, and slow blinking.
• Whale eye (whites of their eyes visible).
• Panting or drooling (in non-hot conditions).
• Full-body shaking (similar to when a dog gets wet).

More Obvious Signs:

• Pacing or restlessness.
• Avoidance behaviours (leaving the room).
• Displacement activities (scratching, excessive grooming).
• Growling or barking (a sign that they feel uncomfortable).

How do you handle a dog that shows possessiveness or jealousy towards a baby?

Possessiveness and jealousy in dogs often stem from insecurity or a sense that their resources—attention, space, or affection—are threatened.

• Reinforce Boundaries: If the dog starts guarding spaces, toys, or people around the baby, reinforce boundaries early. Teach your dog that it’s okay to be near the baby but also make it clear that certain spaces (like the baby’s play area) are off-limits.
• Positive Reinforcement: Reward the dog for calm behaviour around the baby. If the dog is lying down calmly while you’re interacting with the baby, give them praise, a treat, or a chew toy.
• Training and Redirection: Teach cues like “leave it” and “go to bed.” These should be practised regularly so the dog responds even when excited or anxious.
• Attention Management: Ensure your dog still gets quality attention, walks, and playtime from you. A consistent schedule that includes time for the dog can prevent feelings of neglect or competition.

Donations and Contributions

How can I be sure that my contribution will directly benefit the animals?
ASD’s financial accounts are audited yearly by a Certified Public Accountant and sent to the IRAS and ROS (Registry of Societies) for auditing as well. Society members get a copy of the annual report which details the financial operations of ASD for that year. The financial report also gives a breakdown of the expenses, and it can be seen that the majority of the expenses are spent on medical, boarding, transport which directly benefit the animals and costs like salaries, administrative expenses are kept to a minimum

Do the ASD Committee get paid?
No, the ASD Committee of 10 members do not get paid. The regular pool of volunteers who help out at events and the centre also do not get paid. The administrative chores of running the society are distributed amongst the committee members who handle the duties on a fully volunteer basis

Who are the people in ASD who are paid?
At the moment, only the caretakers of the kennels at The Animal Lodge are paid a salary as the amount of work required to look after the dogs requires full time personnel.