Pets in Mozambique

Pets in Mozambique are usually companion animals such as dogs and cats kept in a household. A responsible owner checks the animal's health history, vaccination record, parasite treatment, identification details and possible sterilisation before taking it over. Adoption and rescue are often organised privately or through local organisations rather than through one national placement system. Associação de Defesa dos Animais (AdA) works in Maputo and Matola with neglected or abused dogs and cats, including rescue, rehabilitation and adoption. Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) operates in Ilha de Moçambique and Nampula with clinical care, rabies vaccination, sterilisation, deworming and adoption services; nationwide coverage is not established. The Direcção Nacional de Veterinária (DNV) coordinates national veterinary health, disease control, certification and animal-welfare functions. Provincial and district livestock services, known as DPP and SDP, can handle local veterinary and movement controls. Municipalities and Conselhos Municipais may regulate licences, public movement, stray animals and local canil or gatil facilities. A canil or gatil is a municipal or rescue facility for dogs or cats, but Mozambique has no documented nationwide shelter requirement or uniform shelter network. Local rules therefore differ and should be checked with the relevant municipality. Dogs and cats older than three months must receive rabies vaccination under the national veterinary and campaign framework. The owner should keep the vaccination record and follow the veterinarian's booster schedule. Safe housing, daily control, hygiene and identification are part of responsible keeping. Municipal rules may additionally require a leash, muzzle, removal of faeces and liability for bites or other damage. Maputo's Resolução 25/AM/2010 requires a municipal licence for keeping and circulating dogs and cats, a collar and metal plate showing the licence number, and accompaniment in public areas. The resolution lists an annual licence fee of 200 MZN including the plate, but the current tariff and enforcement should be confirmed with the Município de Maputo because older rules may have been supplemented or overtaken in practice. Nampula and other municipalities may have their own posturas covering licences, capture, return, adoption and fees. No general national maximum number of pets has been reliably documented. Importing a pet requires planning before purchase or booking. Under Article 21 of Decreto 26/2009, the owner needs a licence from the veterinary authority and an International Veterinary Health Certificate before entry. The application can require the species, age, sex, breed, origin, entry point, transport, destination, travel plan and purpose. The licence is valid for up to 60 days. Article 27 makes quarantine for imported animals mandatory. Disease concerns can lead to refusal of entry, quarantine or destruction at the owner's cost and possibly without compensation. Airlines and transit or departure countries impose separate requirements. Movement between locations inside Mozambique can also require veterinary clearance or other controls depending on the journey and disease risk; the DNV, DPP or SDP should confirm the applicable procedure before travel. State veterinary fees exist, but a current public national fee table is not securely available: the MAAP portal still links an older DM 9/2007 schedule, while LexLink records DM 6/2022 as an update or replacement. Private prices vary by provider. Market examples are approximately 250 MZN for deworming, 250 to 500 MZN for flea or tick treatment and 1,750 to 2,200 MZN for Bravecto. Consultation, vaccination, surgery, transport, import, quarantine, food and housing cost extra. Veterinary access is uneven, with more documented private and NGO services in Maputo, Matola and Ilha de Moçambique than in many other areas. An owner should never abandon an animal. For a planned transfer, document the change of keeper and contact a veterinarian, the municipality or a rescue organisation. For an injured, sick or stray animal, the local veterinary service or municipal canil service may be available, but no standard national surrender process or guaranteed shelter place has been established. A bite requires immediate containment of the animal and notification of the veterinary or health authority. Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and obtain urgent medical advice about post-exposure treatment; detailed human medical care belongs to the health topic. Wild fauna follows separate nature and wildlife rules and should not be treated as an ordinary pet pathway.