Every year, about 10 to 15 canines serving in the Singapore Armed Forces’ Military Working Dog Unit retire from old age or health problems. This year’s doggos have protected military bases and personnel for over 40 dog years of their lives, and now they’re being released from duty.
They may not be cute little puppies anymore, but according to their dog handlers, they’re still lively and act “just like 4-year-old kids”.
On social media, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen explained, “you might have seen them conducting bomb sweeps for National Day parades and open houses or at sentry gates in camps.”
He went on to assure the public that the dogs are “disciplined and well-trained and would have undergone regular checks by the in-house vet including vaccinations annually and heartworm prevention programmes.”
So if you’d like to welcome a retired canine soldier into your family, you can call the Military Working Dog Unit at 6424-6623 during weekday working hours to arrange for a visit to see the dogs and select one, as well as to assess if your home is suitable for the animal. The adoption drive will end on June 15.
