People commonly acquire dogs and cats directly, privately, informally or through an NGO. LPA Dakar provides rescue, temporary foster care, adoption, medical help and sterilization, and uses a voluntary Charte du Parfait Adoptant. Central Animal Sénégal offers a private registration and microchip system, refuge services, adoption support, lost-and-found assistance and access to certified breeders, but it is not verified as a state authority. Senegal has no evidenced national acquisition permit, general minimum age rule or compulsory nationwide pet registration in the reviewed sources. The Service de l'Elevage and the Direction or Service des Services vétérinaires are the main public veterinary bodies. Local authorities, including the maire or municipal administrator, may also act in animal-control matters. A vétérinaire agréé is an approved veterinarian. Under Article 138 of Décret 2002-1094, dogs, cats and domestic monkeys require rabies vaccination. The owner pays for the vaccination and records all relevant animal details in the carnet de vaccination. Rabies is reportable. During an outbreak, an administrative order may require a dog to be confined for at least two months and may prohibit moving or handing it over. After a suspected bite, the animal may be observed at the holder's premises for 15 days under veterinary supervision and must not be sold or transferred. Anyone exposed to a suspected rabid animal should seek medical attention immediately. Owners are expected to control and keep animals safely enough to reduce the risk of bites and property damage. The Penal Code can sanction failing to restrain or inciting a dog when it attacks or chases passers-by. Negligently killing or injuring another person's animal and unnecessary mauvais traitements against domesticated or tamed animals can also be punishable. A court may place an animal with a recognized or officially proclaimed animal-welfare organization. Senegal does not have an evidenced comprehensive, standalone national code covering all pet-owner duties and animal-welfare matters. Veterinary care is unevenly distributed. Dakar is the clearest service center, with EISMV facilities including Clinique Fann and Clinique Pikine. CHVD Pikine provides consultations, surgery, imaging, laboratory services, hospitalization and 24-hour emergency care. Research associated with EISMV placed 43 of 117 veterinary practices in Dakar, which indicates a possible regional access gap. Outside Dakar, availability, medicine supply, transport and prices are not reliably documented nationwide, so private fees and appointment availability should be checked directly. There are no reliable national price lists for purchasing, vaccination, treatment, sterilization or adoption. Importing a dog or cat requires prior autorisation d'importation from the Veterinary Services or the ministry currently responsible for Agriculture and Livestock, a health certificate or certificat zoo-sanitaire from the country of origin, and valid rabies proof in the vaccination booklet. The AIBD veterinary service identifies these three documents as core requirements. A published United States-to-Senegal checklist states that the permit is valid for three months, the health certificate must be issued no more than 21 days before travel, and a first rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before travel. Airlines and transit countries can impose additional rules. Exporting an animal from Senegal requires official veterinary control and a certificat zoo-sanitaire before boarding under Décret 2002-1094, with separate rules depending on the species and destination. There is no evidenced national surrender procedure for unwanted pets. Humane options include contacting LPA or another NGO for foster care, rescue, sterilization or adoption, or using Central Animal Sénégal's private refuge and adoption services. A municipal fourrière is a public capture and holding facility for stray animals, not the same as a modern animal shelter. Under the accessible tariff in Décret 86-275, holding and feeding cost 2,000 FCFA per animal per day, plus 2,000 FCFA for transport or handling; return before the eighth day requires full payment, while an unclaimed animal from the eighth day may be sold at auction. Décret 2007-1049 changed the fourrière framework, so current municipal application and fees should be verified locally. In this context, an errant animal means one without a collar showing its name and address or one that is not accompanied. Abandonment increases the risk of capture, costs and disease. A lost animal should wear a collar with the owner's name and address. The owner should contact nearby veterinarians, the relevant local authority, animal-welfare organizations and Central Animal Sénégal. Registration, microchipping, sterilization, parasite treatment and additional vaccinations are available through some veterinarians or NGOs, but no nationwide standard prices or uniform service level are published. NAC care is still developing and is documented mainly in Dakar, so species-specific veterinary availability should be confirmed before acquisition.
Pets in Senegal
Keeping pets in Senegal relies on a fragmented mix of private veterinarians, local authorities, animal-welfare organizations and informal arrangements rather than a nationwide pet system. Dogs and cats are the most commonly covered animals, while care for NAC, meaning non-traditional companion animals, remains developing and is concentrated mainly in Dakar. Rabies vaccination, safe control of animals, veterinary access and travel documents create the main legal and practical responsibilities.
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