Which authorities are responsible for pets and veterinary matters in Djibouti?

The Directorate of Livestock and Veterinary Services (DESV) is primarily responsible for veterinary matters, and the Djibouti Veterinary Clinic treats dogs and cats in particular. The Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (DGDDI) is also involved when animals enter the country.

Which documents should a pet have to enter Djibouti?

The animal should be declared in detail to customs and present valid vaccination records and a health record. There is no publicly confirmed rule on quarantine, microchipping, rabies titres or a special import permit; DESV and DGDDI should confirm the requirements before travel.

What happens to a picked-up dog or cat in Djibouti?

An unsupervised animal may be taken to the Djibouti District pound. According to older published information, dogs without an owner’s collar are held for three days and dogs with an owner’s collar for six days; the fees and current validity of these periods should be checked with the responsible authority.

Where can a pet be given up for adoption or foster care in Djibouti?

No verified foster, adoption or reunification route for pets is documented in Djibouti. The wildlife refuge is for wild animals and is not a shelter for dogs, cats or other private pets.

What should someone do after possible rabies exposure involving a pet in Djibouti?

After a bite or another suspected exposure, immediate veterinary and medical assessment should be obtained. The current application of an older legal rule from 1984 that mentions immediate killing in cases of suspected rabies has not been confirmed.

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.

Tip

If you want to take over or keep a pet in Djibouti, first establish the animal’s health status and secure its vaccination records, and clarify responsibilities before committing money, travel or the handover. Not all procedures for entry and picked-up animals are publicly clear, so do not rely on verbal assurances or old fee information. In the event of a bite or suspected rabies, immediate veterinary and medical assessment is essential.

byAmina&Ahmed

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.