Fire hoses once used to help put out fires have found a second life as dog toys, thanks to the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF).
In March, 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 fire prevention, hoses that have reached the end of their operational lifespan are no longer decommissioned and will now ignite joy in lives of our four-legged furry friends. .”
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”.
The Straits Times has contacted the SPCA for comment.
Netizens praised the upcycling initiative and urged SCDF to sell the toys as part of the fund-raiser.
One wrote on Facebook: “Very creative and well done. Glad SCDF is friendly (to animals).”
Another wrote: “Consider selling (the toys) to raise funds for animal shelters. I’d love to get some.”
This is not the first time SCDF has recycled old fire hoses.
In 2023, SCDF donated more than 30 decommissioned firefighting hoses to the National Parks Board (NParks) and SEA Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa.
Ten hoses were used by NParks to build a 60m-long fence at Coney Island Park, while 20 hoses were turned into “enrichment devices” for marine animals.
An animal care specialist at the SEA Aquarium said they can be used to make puzzle feeders that will encourage animals to find food, or floating mats.
