Pets in Benin

Before acquiring an animal, its health, origin and vaccination status should be verifiable. For dogs and cats, the vaccination booklet (carnet de vaccination) is one of the key documents. A national registration system for adoptions or breeders has not been documented. Acquisitions, private handovers or rescue placements therefore often take place through local contacts; health information should be checked by an authorized private veterinarian. The professional organization (ONMVB) maintains a public list of authorized private veterinarians. No complete nationwide overview of public shelters, animal holding facilities or general fees was found. Legal responsibilities and the specific reliability of a private handover should therefore be checked in each case. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Élevage et de la Pêche), known as MAEP, directs animal-health policy. The Directorate of Livestock (Direction de l'Élevage), or DE, coordinates surveillance, prophylaxis, veterinary controls, veterinary medicines and international certificates. Competent bodies at département and municipal level implement the rules locally. In rural areas, veterinary professionals without university degrees provide a significant share of care, while access to quality-assured veterinary services may be more difficult. A 2019 report records 43,025 animals vaccinated against rabies out of 70,000 planned vaccinations, corresponding to 61.46 percent. This figure describes a historical measure and not a current nationwide vaccination rate. The pastoral code (Code pastoral), Law No. 2018-20 (Loi 2018-20), prohibits uncontrolled roaming (divagation) by domesticated animals nationwide. The keeper must keep the animal under control and prevent harm to people, other animals or the environment. Article 49 provides for liability for damage under general law. In the pastoral regulatory context, Article 46 gives age limits of 14 years within a village area and 18 years outside it; its direct application to ordinary dogs and cats has not been clarified separately and should be confirmed with the competent authority in disputes. Rabies is notifiable in all animal species. During an outbreak, mayors or prefects may place dogs and cats in a defined zone under quarantine for up to three months. In public transport, dogs and cats should carry a current vaccination record; dogs must be kept on a leash and wear a muzzle. The regulatory text provides for the immediate killing of stray dogs, cats and monkeys; identified animals are taken to an animal holding facility (fourrière) and may be killed after three months if no claimant comes forward. After a bite or suspected rabies, the animal should, where possible, be captured and observed by a veterinarian for 15 days. During this procedure, the keeper may not sell or kill it. After a bite, the wound must be washed with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, and immediate medical assessment for rabies post-exposure treatment is required; observation of the animal should be coordinated with the veterinarian and authorities. For the import or export of a dog, cat or other covered animal, the manual CatIS animal health certification service (CatIS) requires a written application to the Director of Livestock (Directeur de l'Élevage). For import, this includes a health certificate from the country of origin; for export, proof of previous healthcare; the animal must be presented. The documented fee is 10,000 West African CFA francs (FCFA) per dog, cat, monkey or wild animal, and the processing time is 48 hours. The application is processed at the Animal Health Service (Service Santé Animale) in Cotonou-Akpakpa from Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 12:30 and 14:00 to 17:30. For the import of dogs and cats, the French travel information additionally states that a rabies vaccination with proof must have been administered more than one month and less than one year earlier. The destination country may impose additional requirements; a Beninese CatIS certificate does not replace those rules. Wild animals are not covered by the ordinary rules for dogs and cats. Under Law No. 2002-16 (Loi 2002-16) and Decree No. 2011-394 (Décret 2011-394), keeping captive wild animals requires an examination by an authorized veterinarian and quarantine. For Category B, a maximum of three animals and a fee-based keeping permit valid for 18 months are provided for; Category C may include a maximum of five animals as pets under the conditions stated there. Non-native species require a ministerial exemption and a feasibility study. Selling, breeding or transiting wild species requires separate permits. The decision on the keeping permit is stated to take 15 days; fees may be set in a separate decree. No reliable nationwide fee schedule exists for routine veterinary visits, vaccinations, food, transport or private handover. Actual costs therefore depend on the animal species, health condition, location, provider and transport route. The procedural information stated here reflects the research status as of September 5, 2026, and should be reconfirmed with the competent body before travel, import, export or an official dispute.