Pets in Solomon Islands

No comprehensive national companion-animal welfare, shelter or rehoming system has been verified for Solomon Islands. A formal breeder, pet-shop or adoption pathway is also not documented nationwide. Dogs and cats commonly change hands through private, community or occasional rescue arrangements, so the animal's health, ownership history, vaccination record and ability to receive future care should be checked before transfer. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock's Livestock Production and Veterinary Services Department, known as MAL-LVSD, handles animal-health regulation, surveillance and extension work in the nine provinces. Biosecurity Solomon Islands, or BSI, controls the import and export of living animals, permits, inspections and quarantine. Honiara City Council, or HCC, applies municipal dog rules in Honiara; those rules do not automatically apply throughout the country. Anyone bringing a living animal into Solomon Islands needs a BSI Import Permit before the animal leaves its country of origin. Each permit covers one species from one country and is valid for four months. BSI states that processing can take up to 10 working days or longer. The arrival must be reported at least 48 hours beforehand and no later than one working day before shipment. The animal needs a secure transport container meeting applicable OIE and IATA standards, an official Animal Health Certificate and a statutory declaration covering its identity, freedom from infectious or contagious disease and absence of contact with diseased animals during the previous 30 days. BSI may inspect, sample, test, hold, quarantine or treat an animal. Non-compliant animals can be re-exported or destroyed at the owner's expense. Import requirements depend on the species and origin. For dogs from Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, the researched conditions include desexing, at least 16 weeks of age at export, six months in the exporting country, 30 days without symptoms, specified vaccinations at least 30 days and no more than 12 months before export, praziquantel and a broad-spectrum worm treatment within three days, two tick treatments seven days apart with the final treatment within three days, and a clinical examination within three days. A female dog may be no more than six weeks pregnant. These conditions cannot automatically be applied to every origin country or species. Commercially processed and labelled pet food from Australia or New Zealand is permit-free under the researched rule; other animal products are generally permit-controlled. The published BSI fee schedule under the Biosecurity Regulations 2015 lists SI$325 for a non-commercial live-animal single-entry permit, SI$1,120 for a commercial permit and SI$225 for a dog or cat inspection, with SI$60 for each additional animal belonging to the same owner. A non-commercial non-compliance charge is listed as SI$500 plus the permit fee. Quarantine, transport, veterinary treatment and other compliance costs are additional, and the fee schedule should be checked for updates before booking. In Honiara, an owner must register a dog with HCC, pay the stated annual dog fee of SI$50 and use the HCC identification tug or disc. The dog must not be allowed to roam freely. Under the Honiara ordinance, an unregistered dog or a dog without the required identification that is not claimed within two days can be treated as a stray dog and disposed of by HCC. A registered and tagged dog can also be impounded for up to two days before disposal if it is not claimed. Listed penalties can reach 5,000 penalty units or three months' imprisonment, or both, for certain breaches; other offences carry lower stated penalties. These municipal rules concern Honiara and do not establish a nationwide dog code. Honiara Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, or HVCS, is the only veterinary clinic identified in the available WOAH assessment. It provides basic treatment, injury care, surgery, desexing and advice, but professional capacity, equipment, prices and appointment access are limited. MAL-LVSD extension services formally cover nine provinces, although transport and resources make availability uneven. Occasional outreach may offer basic examinations; one documented 2022 campaign provided free dog and cat checks for two days by advance booking in 20-minute appointments and did not provide major surgery. No nationwide routine vaccination or parasite-control schedule for household pets has been published. Rabies had not been reported in the available research, but gaps in surveillance and reporting do not prove that there is no risk. Practical care includes secure housing, sufficient food and water, treatment for illness or injury, prevention of roaming and consideration of desexing. A nationwide public surrender or adoption process has not been verified. HCC's dog pound is documented as an impoundment and disposal service rather than a confirmed shelter or rehoming service. When an owner can no longer keep an animal, possible alternatives include a carefully assessed private or community handover, contacting HVCS, or seeking help from a temporary welfare or desexing campaign. Availability and capacity must be confirmed locally. HCC lists dead-animal fees of SI$54 for a dog or cat, SI$108 for another small animal and SI$215 for a large animal; a national cremation or disposal standard has not been established in the available evidence. For travel out of Solomon Islands, the destination country's rules come first. The MAL Chief Veterinary Officer can issue an Animal Health Certificate when the destination requirements are met, and BSI may conduct export inspection and certification. Airlines and carriers impose additional conditions. Native or wildlife species can trigger separate controls under the Wildlife Protection and Management (Amendment) Act 2017. Its household-pet exemption is limited by conditions including at least two years of ownership, at least three years of residence in Solomon Islands, permanent departure, no more than two animals and written approval from the Director; ordinary dogs and cats are not automatically subject to that exemption.