The Directorate of Livestock and Veterinary Services (Direction de l’Élevage et des Services Vétérinaires (DESV)) within the Ministry of Agriculture performs central veterinary duties. The Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI)) is involved when pets enter the country; for animals that are picked up, the Djibouti District pound (fourrière du District de Djibouti) is the formal holding system. There is no documented nationwide pet register, general national licensing requirement, verified identification or microchipping requirement, or current national rule on abandoning pets. Before buying, privately taking over or breeding an animal, a veterinary examination, valid vaccination records and a health record (carnet de santé) are advisable. The Djibouti Veterinary Clinic (Clinique vétérinaire de Djibouti) treats dogs and cats in particular, issues health certificates and supports diagnosis, medication, zoonosis control and health certification. No reliable information on prices or opening hours is available; outside Djibouti City, no dedicated pet care is documented. Animals moving unsupervised in public areas or on someone else’s land may be taken to a pound. According to the available older information, dogs without an identifiable affiliation are held for three days, and dogs wearing an owner’s collar for six days. In 1985, published fees were 2,000 FD for intake plus 500 FD per day for dogs, and 1,000 FD for intake plus 200 FD per day for cats and small animals. The current validity of these amounts has not been confirmed; release takes place following an administrative order and against payment of fees. No verified foster, adoption or reunification route exists. The wildlife refuge (DECAN) is not a shelter for pets. If rabies is suspected, immediate veterinary and medical assessment is required. An older legal source from 1984 mentions immediate killing of the animal in cases of suspected rabies; the current application of this rule has not been confirmed. The clinic records bite cases involving domestic and wild carnivores. Wild animals and protected species are not substitutes for pets: trade, import, export and keeping them may be subject to protection or permit rules. Anyone entering Djibouti with a pet should declare the animal in detail to customs and present valid vaccination records and the health record. Publicly accessible information does not sufficiently establish a special import permit, quarantine period, microchipping requirement, rabies titre or fees. Before travelling, DESV and DGDDI should confirm the documents currently required and the specific procedure. Reliable nationwide statistics on pets, ongoing ownership costs and regional differences are not available.
Pets in Djibouti
Pets such as dogs and cats are mostly acquired and kept informally in Djibouti. The veterinary administration and customs are primarily responsible for care, health documentation and entry procedures. Stray animals, bite injuries and rabies prevention are particularly relevant in and around Djibouti.
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