A1. The purpose of the new rules is for better management of the dog population, as well as to instil responsible pet ownership and discourage pet abandonment.

A2. A dog that is three months of age and above must be licensed.

A3. All dogs aged three months and above must be licensed. Dog owners may license their dog at a reduced rate of $14 a year if the dog is below 5 months of age. However, the dog has to be sterilised before the expiry date of the licence in order to renew the licence at this rate. The licence fee of $70 will be payable if the dog is not sterilised at the time of renewal of the dog licence.

A4. The dog has to be microchipped with a microchip that conforms to the ISO standards. Tattoos are not acceptable as they fade and are difficult to read.

A5. You may bring your dog to a veterinarian to verify if the microchip number can be read and certified by the veterinarian. Otherwise, you would have to get the dog microchipped with an ISO-compliant microchip.

A6. You can get it done at any veterinary clinic. A certificate from the veterinarian should be obtained as documentary proof. This certificate has to be submitted to AVA for verification when applying for a dog license.

A7. The cost varies and it may range from $40 to $80.

A8. Only newly licensed dogs need to be microchipped. You need not microchip your dog if it has already been licensed but for better identification of your pet, we strongly encourage you to have it microchipped.

A9. A licence that has already expired cannot be renewed. A new licence will have to be obtained and the new requirements on microchipping and the fees will apply. In addition, the owner may be fined for keeping a dog without a valid licence if the licence is not renewed before it expires. AVA would like to remind dog owners to ensure that their dog’s licence is kept current.

A10. A dog licence is not transferable but you may transfer ownership of your dog to another person. You should inform AVA within 28 days if you have ceased to keep the dog. The new owner would then have to obtain a new licence for the dog. This is to simplify the procedure of licensing of dogs as many dog owners overlook the need to complete the transfer of ownership forms. In addition, many of the new owners are unable to obtain the signature of the previous owners to complete the transfer form. This also serves to commit the new owner to his responsibility of ensuring that the dog he owns is licensed.

A11. When your dog is lost you can make a police report and notify the SPCA and AVA with the particulars of the dog, so that your dog can be returned to you if it is found by the authorities. AVA should be notified within 28 days of the loss or death of a dog. You should also request AVA to cancel your dog licence should you be unable to find your dog after sometime.

A12. A dog licence has to be renewed annually if you are still keeping the dog.

A13. The fees are as follows:

A14. You may need to check with the management of your housing estate/condominium if dogs are allowed to be kept in your unit. Some managements or landlords may not approve the keeping of a dog. In a HDB flat, only one small sized dog of an approved breed may be kept. The list of approved breeds allowed in a HDB flat is available on AVA’s website (www.ava.gov.sg). Generally in other premises, up to three dogs are allowed.

Special permission must be obtained from AVA to keep more than three dogs in a premises.

A15. All dogs must be leashed in a public place. If your dog is of a large breed³ like a Rottweiller or Mastiff, it must also be muzzled in a public place.

Owners are also advised to muzzle their dogs in a public place if their dogs are known to be ferocious.

A16. Generally, the maximum fine is $5,000 for an offence. In the case of dogs not muzzled in a public place when the law requires it to be muzzled, a repeat offender may be fined up to $10,000.

A17. The respective owners must obtain licences for the dogs boarded in the farm. If a person keeps more than three dogs in the farm, he would have to pay the licence fee of $175 for the fourth and subsequent dog.

A18. As you originally had more than 300 dogs, the licence fee cannot be reduced when you have less dogs subsequently. However, at the time of renewal of licence, the fee imposed will depend on the number of dogs in the farm at that time.

A19. When you increase the number of dogs in your farm, you should notify AVA within 14 days and apply for a variation of the licence. AVA would consider your application and require you to pay, on a pro-rated scale, the difference in licence fee.

A20. The sterilisation certificate must be produced at the time of obtaining the licence. Any fee paid is non-refundable. You would be eligible for the reduced fee only when you next renew the licence.

A21. AVA will require all dogs for sale at pet shops and dog breeding farms to be licensed at the point of sale. Under this arrangement, the pet shop or farm is responsible to assist the new owner to get a licence for the dog, but the fee would be borne by the owner.

³ Breeds of dogs that are required to be muzzled in a public place include:

i) Breeds specified in Part I of the Second Schedule: Pit Bull, which includes the American Pit Bull Terrier (which is also known as the American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier), American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, and crosses between them and other breeds, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, and their crosses; and

ii) Breeds specified in Part II of the Second Schedule: Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiller, German Shepherd Dog with its related breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd Dog and the East European Shepherd Dog, Mastiffs including the Bull Mastiff, Perro De Presa Canario, Cane Corso and Dogue De Bordeaux, and their crosses.

Issued by Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority