Before acquiring a dog or cat, check its origin, vaccination record, identification, health status and the possibility of returning or safely rehoming it. The identified national framework does not establish a general breeder or sales register or a nationwide holding licence for ordinary private dogs and cats. Municipalities, private providers and animal welfare organisations may offer different services, but no national adoption, registration or surrender procedure is established. Owners should provide food, water, shelter, veterinary treatment and secure housing. Section 290 of the Muluki Criminal Code 2074 prohibits beating, torturing, overloading, forcing sick or injured animals to work, giving harmful substances and other cruel treatment. Publicly abandoning one's own sick or old animal is also prohibited. The stated sanction is up to three months' imprisonment, a fine of up to NRs 5,000, or both, with a three-month complaint or limitation period. Nepal Veterinary Council registration identifies qualified veterinarians, and practising veterinary medicine without registration is prohibited. The Central Referral Veterinary Hospital provides state referral care in Kathmandu Valley. Department of Livestock Services offices, veterinary offices and private practices are functional alternatives, but access outside Kathmandu should be confirmed locally. For rabies prevention, the official schedule for dogs and cats starts with a first dose from three months of age, a second dose one month later and a booster every year. The animal should be healthy on the vaccination day. This schedule is an official product or programme recommendation and does not by itself establish a general nationwide owner duty. Municipal programmes are a separate part of pet care. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City Dog/Cat Sterilization, Vaccination and Recording Procedure 2080 combines sterilization, vaccination and recording for dogs and cats. Madhya Nepal Municipality and Panchkhal Municipality also document local sterilization or stray-dog programmes. Their geographic reach, fees, appointments, capacity and eligibility are not uniform. The Nepali terms कुकुर, बिरालो, बन्ध्याकरण, भ्याक्सिनेसन and अभिलेखन mean dog, cat, sterilization, vaccination and recording. Wild, protected or exotic species do not fall under the ordinary rules for domesticated pets. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act treats wild species separately, and permits or CITES documentation may apply. A wild or exotic animal should therefore not be acquired as an ordinary household pet without checking the applicable wildlife authorities. Importing a dog or cat is governed by the Animal Health and Livestock Services Act 2055. The animal must enter through an Animal Quarantine Check Post, and the importer bears the costs of food, water, safety, quarantine and any ordered vaccination. Entry can be refused when the animal comes from an outbreak area, lacks a disease-free or soundness certificate, is infected or travels in contaminated transport. Authorities may order return, removal or destruction, and an uncollected animal may be seized, auctioned, removed or destroyed. The dog or cat certificate records the owner, species, age or date of birth, sex, breed, colour, markings, tattoo or permanent identification, origin, travel during the previous two years, rabies vaccination, serology and clinical examination. A health or sanitary certificate is valid for 10 days. Quarantine duration depends on the disease risk and case rather than a fixed period for every pet; after completion, collection is allowed for up to three days. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol and Consular Handbook 2024, whose import guidance concerns diplomatic and consular contexts, refers to an international health certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival, vaccination records, a microchip, breed information, country quarantine papers and an invoice or proof of keeping. At Tribhuvan International Airport, the Animal Quarantine Office in Kathmandu should be informed at least 72 hours before arrival. Returning an animal requires the entry documents again. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal's AIP states that a Department of Livestock Services recommendation letter is not required for a pet dog or cat, but health and vaccination records remain relevant and airline and destination-country requirements must be checked separately. There is no nationally established official surrender or shelter standard identified for Nepal. Local stray-dog sterilization and vaccination programmes and local welfare or NGO services can provide functional alternatives, but none guarantees acceptance. No reliable nationwide standard fee was established for keeping, vaccination, sterilization, adoption or surrender. Confirm current prices, appointments, capacity and required documents with the relevant municipality, ward, Department of Livestock Services office, Animal Quarantine Office or registered veterinarian.
Pets in Nepal
Keeping a dog or cat in Nepal involves daily care, veterinary treatment, vaccination and safe handling, while municipalities may add their own programs. Nepal has no single nationwide public procedure for buying, registering, adopting or surrendering an ordinary private pet in the identified national framework, so services, fees and capacity vary locally. Importing or exporting an animal requires health documents, quarantine coordination and compliance with airline and destination-country rules.
Tip
Treat pet ownership in Nepal as a locally managed responsibility rather than a single national service package. Choose a dog or cat only when you can verify its health records, arrange registered veterinary support and provide reliable daily care. For imported, wild or exotic animals, pause acquisition until documents, permits, quarantine conditions and a fallback plan are confirmed.