A pet owner, possessor or caregiver must provide suitable space, light, ventilation, hygiene, species- and breed-appropriate movement, protection from weather, sufficient food and water, and necessary medication. Keeping an animal unattended for a prolonged period is not permitted. Owners must also prevent dangerous behavior, maintain identification and sanitation, and follow applicable sterilization or castration requirements. Preventive medical care must come from a veterinarian registered and authorized by SENACSA, Paraguay's official animal-health service. Professional registration is valid annually and can be renewed without a fee until 31 March. Dogs and cats receive the first rabies dose from three months of age, a second dose 30 days later and a third dose seven months after the first; annual vaccination follows. PNCZ-CAN coordinates rabies and zoonosis control. Free services are documented locally, including dog and cat rabies vaccination in San Lorenzo and vaccination, deworming and sterilization campaigns in Asunción. These municipal services do not establish a nationwide entitlement. Adoption is available through the official DNDSyBA ADOPTA service and registered animal-protection organizations. Buying, breeding, selling or sheltering animals as a business requires an authorized Centro de Animales, and DNDSyBA maintains a public register of authorized facilities. Such facilities keep animal data, health records and buyer records. Private prices for veterinary care, food, sterilization, identification, transport and laboratory services are not nationally standardized in a reliable public table. Lost animals must be reported to DNDSyBA, the Policía Nacional or the Ministerio Público. Abandoning an animal or allowing it to roam unattended in public is prohibited, and cruelty, illegal breeding, sale, transport and abandonment may lead to sanctions. Complaints can be submitted through denuncias.paraguay.gov.py under Resolution 132/2024. DNDSyBA can coordinate rescue, seizure, temporary placement and adoption. RENAPE and the national refuge census form part of the formal shelter infrastructure, while Asunción's Unidad de Zoonosis handles local cases involving abandoned animals and street-dog or street-cat overpopulation. Travel requires destination-specific preparation. SENACSA issues the Certificado Veterinario Internacional (CVI) and checks documents and health conditions for entry into Paraguay. For departure, the SENACSA digital process requires user activation and a clinical examination no more than 10 days before the CVI. The rabies vaccination must be more than three months and no more than one year old. A first rabies vaccination creates a 21-day waiting period. Travel to the European Union additionally requires an ISO-compliant microchip, a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 UI/ml, blood collection 30 days after vaccination and a further three-month waiting period. Other destinations may impose different conditions. Up to five accompanying animals fall under the international companion-animal rule; six or more are treated as a commercial consignment. Transport containers and vehicles must protect animals from excessive heat and cold, provide ventilation and security, and suit the animal's size and needs. Assistance dogs have access to public and private places open to the public and to transport under Law 6057/2018. The exact requirements for a nationwide pet register, uniform identification practice, fees and the complete implementing regulation are not fully clear from the available official information, so current requirements should be checked with DNDSyBA or SENACSA.
Pets in Paraguay
Pet keeping in Paraguay, commonly described as tenencia responsable, covers the acquisition, care, health, travel and relinquishment of companion animals, especially dogs and cats. Law 7513/2025 treats animals as sentient beings and requires suitable housing, food, water, preventive veterinary care, current vaccinations and protection from abandonment or uncontrolled roaming. National rules apply across Paraguay, while vaccination campaigns, rescue services and practical access vary by municipality.
Tip
Treat keeping a pet in Paraguay as a continuing care and cost commitment, not only as an acquisition decision. Secure suitable daily care, a registered veterinarian, current vaccinations and protection against escape or abandonment before taking responsibility. Use local free services as additional support, not as a guaranteed nationwide service, and complete travel or provider checks before making a binding commitment.