Pets in Bolivia

Bolivian law treats animals as living beings entitled to protection from violence, mistreatment and cruelty. Owners assume responsibility for custody, food, shelter, timely professional veterinary care, reproduction control, public-health risks and damage caused to third parties. Abandonment, unnecessary suffering, cruel transport and prolonged agony are prohibited. Municipal autonomous governments may impose sanctions, and offences can lead to imprisonment, fines or community work under Ley 700 and Código Penal articles 350 bis; biocide carries 2 to 5 years of imprisonment and 30 to 180 day-fines, with aggravation when more than one animal dies. Animal-protection bills reported in 2026 remained legislative proposals rather than current law. Adoption may be available through a municipal Centro Municipal de Zoonosis (CEMZOO), municipal campaigns or animal-protection organisations. Requirements, availability, follow-up, fees and sterilisation arrangements differ locally. An El Alto example requests identity documents, proof of residence, a location sketch and a telephone number, with a same-day process reported. Before taking an animal, check its health, rabies vaccination, deworming, sterilisation status and the care, space and costs you can provide. Private acquisition and routine care are mainly organised informally, and no single national register, licence or service for all pets was identified in the reviewed official sources. Rabies vaccination for dogs and cats is provided permanently and free of charge through public health establishments and CEMZOO, with an annual national campaign coordinated by departmental health services, known as SEDES, and municipalities. Suspected rabies should be reported to a CEMZOO or health authority. A bite requires an urgent human-health response. Parasite control, nutrition, reproduction and other routine veterinary care remain variable and generally private. Dogs listed as dangerous under Ley 553 include American Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Dogo de Burdeos, Fila Brasileiro, Rottweiler and Tosa Inu, including crosses and hybrids. Keeping one requires police authorisation, municipal registration and a licence, an adult holder with cédula de identidad and REJAP, veterinary certificates for health, rabies vaccination and sterilisation, adequate space and civil-liability insurance. The dog must carry an official collar and microchip; the licence is valid for two years. In public, the holder may take one dog at a time and must use a muzzle, a non-extensible leash and carry the licence. Municipalities may add breeds or identification methods. Attack training, fights, betting and profit-oriented breeding are prohibited. Dogs and cats moved within Bolivia or abroad require a COMVETBOL zoosanitary certificate issued through a clinic, consulting practice or hospital registered with SENASAG, the national agricultural and food-safety service. The certificate covers rabies and other vaccinations, deworming and clinical status, and airlines and land carriers must request it. Resolution Administrativa 228/2025 states that the last rabies vaccination must be at least 30 days and no more than one year old at travel, with vaccination or campaign proof endorsed; CAN rules may require a minimum 14-day interval, so confirm the applicable rule with SENASAG, the carrier and the destination before booking. For export, SENASAG issues the Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) after Form 01, the original COMVETBOL certificate issued no more than 10 days before departure, the rabies certificate and vaccine sticker showing lot, expiry and brand. Destination rules may require a minimum age of three months, an EU rabies-antibody titre or other documents. Fees follow Ley 830; processing may take up to 48 hours after complete documents, or 24 hours online, and the CZE follows the destination's validity period and one shipment. For import, each animal needs an official zoosanitary export certificate checked at entry; documents must be in Spanish or translated, and a European pet passport may substitute for the origin certificate where accepted. Wildlife or exotic animals and CITES cases require the environmental authority and belong to a separate nature-related procedure. Abandonment has no standard national surrender pathway identified in the reviewed sources. Functional options include CEMZOO, municipal rescue and adoption campaigns, and animal-protection organisations, but acceptance, waiting periods, fees, sterilisation and follow-up differ. Rabies rules also provide for capture, isolation, observation and, under the applicable protocol, return, adoption or euthanasia. Verify the current municipal procedure instead of assuming that another municipality's practice applies.