Project Collar: Fun with Pets!

Written by: Zeng Yuhang Eugene (4O3, 2026)

At Hwa Chong, Sabbatical Weeks in Terms 1 and 2 offer a welcome shift from the usual pace of school life, providing students with platforms to immerse themselves in hands-on, interest-driven experiences both in and beyond campus.

This year, I was honoured to initiate the Project Collar: Fun with Pets! Sabbatical course, alongside four other core team members of Project Collar 8.0. The course was conducted during the Term 2 Sabbatical Week, from 18 to 22 May 2026, and was attended by 20 upper secondary students. The programme aimed to help students learn more about pet care through hands-on interaction with dogs and cats. 

Day 1 kicked off with a brief introduction to the sabbatical, followed by participation in the “A New Purpose” programme organised by PurelyAdoptions, a non-profit organisation in Singapore that rescues abandoned cats and dogs. The programme focuses on the rehabilitation and advocacy of ex-breeder dogs in Singapore, giving students the chance to interact with them first-hand. The dogs were initially shy and cautious in the unfamiliar environment, but they gradually warmed up to us. 

Days 2 and 5 involved walking dogs from Xavian & Pack. On Day 2, we worked primarily with popular breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Shiba Inus, while Day 5 focused on walking Singapore Special dogs. I remember some dogs pulling our participants during the walk, which made the experience both challenging and engaging. We were also amazed to learn how dogs interact and bond with one another. The dogs were smarter than we thought, and they were quick to pick up commands like “sit”. These sessions provided valuable insights into canine behaviour and deepened our understanding of dog handling.

Day 3 was more relaxed, with participants given time to innovate a cat toy product as well as create two infographics, one based on an assigned theme related to pet care and the other to promote their cat toy product. Through this process, participants gained valuable insights into proper pet care practices, which helped them handle pets better in the subsequent sessions on Days 4 and 5.

On Day 4, we headed to a cat café, which is also a home for rescued cats. There, we were able to interact with the cats throughout the programme. The cats were sensitive to strangers, and I found that many of them were resistant to touches and pats. Participants brought along the cat toys they had previously designed, and it was rewarding to see the cats gradually engage with and enjoy them. I was fortunate to learn that these cats all came from different backgrounds. One in particular stood out to me. She was 22 years old, which is equivalent to about 104 human years. She suffers from many diseases, yet is still able to move around the café like any other cat. I found her resilience really impressive and inspiring.

Overall, the programme was really informative and allowed me to better understand proper pet care practices while giving me opportunities to interact with dogs and cats. It was a 10/10 experience for me!