Essential Animal Information for Pet Owners in Portugal

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Essential Animal Information for Pet Owners in Portugal

Below is information relevant to the pet cat or dog owner in Lisbon with details on:

• Portuguese animal associations 
• taking pet animals public transport
• the rules for dangerous dog breeds 
• the specific laws to do with owning a ferret in Portugal

Portuguese Animal Associations

Most of the organisations listed below are Portuguese-speaking only. There is no guarantee that English will be spoken. 

The Portuguese League for Animal Rights (Liga Portuguesa dos Direitos do Animal, LPDA) provides information about adopting abandoned animals, the law regarding animal rights in Portugal and pet health.

• Liga Portuguesa dos Direitos do Animal, LPDA
  At: Rua das Vinhas nº18, 4760-661 Vila Nova de Famalicão
  Tel: 252 310 361
  Website

The Society for the Protection of Animals (Sociedade Protectora dos Animais, SPA) is a private charity which works to protect the interests of animals.

• Sociedade Protectora dos Animais, SPA
  At: Rua de S. Paulo 55, 2º Dto, 1200-426 Lisbon
  Tel: 213 423 851
  Fax: 213 424 086
  Website
• For a list of 24 hour emergency vet services: Click here (in Portuguese)

VetSet is a bilingual English/Portuguese-speaking animal hospital and consultancy clinic which provides a full medical service for animals, from surgery and vaccinations to grooming and orthopaedic treatments. It also shelters lost and found pets and has animals ready for adoption.

• Vetset
  Clínica Veterinária Palmela (Veterinary Clinic)
  At: Av. da Liberdade, lote 4 loja 3, 2950-201 Palmela
  Tel: 212 330 197
  Fax: 212 330 197
  Open: Monday to Friday 11:00-13:00 and 15:00-20:30, Saturday 10:30-18:30
• Consultório Veterinário Setúbal (Veterinary Consultancy)
  At: Praceta José Régio nº 4,  Bairro Urbisado, 2900-168 Setúbal
  Tel: 265 552 496
  Fax: 265 552 496
  Open: Monday to Friday 16:30-20:30, Saturday 10:30-13:30
• Emergencies - Tel: 937 307 526
  Website

The Associação de Protecção aos Cães Abandonados (APCA) is an animal refuge which is run entirely through charitable donations. There is a section for lost and found animals and advice and procedures for those wanting to adopt a pet from the refuge. All adopted dogs are entitled to 12 obedience lessons from the Academia do Cão dog training school.

• Associação de Protecção aos Cães Abandonados
  At: Canil de São Pedro de Sintra, Apartado 91 (Portela), 2710 Sintra
  e-mail
  Website
• Visit the Kennels
  At: Rua do Canil 8, São Pedro de Sintra
  Open: Monday to Friday 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00
• Academia do Cão (website in Portuguese)

Public Transport

Domestic animals are allowed to travel on public transport as long as they are suitably looked after and behaved and the pet does not cause a danger or risk to other passengers.

Animals on trains

There are regulations for animals travelling on trains in Portugal.

• Assistance guide dogs may travel free
• Animals weighing less than 5 Kg may travel for free
• Half-price ticket is needed for animals weighing more than 5 Kg
• An animal must not cause inconvenience to the other passengers and must be in a carrier, or muzzled and on a lead
• Animals are not allowed on the seats

Dangerous Dogs

Some breeds have been identified by the Portuguese authorities as potentially dangerous. This relates to their size and jaw strength and a natural inclination to be aggressive. To ensure public safety, legislation was introduced in 2003 (Decree 312/2003) to reduce the risk these animals may pose.

For the purposes of this law, potentially dangerous dogs are:

1. Those which have bitten, attacked or injured a person
2. Those which have seriously injured or killed another animal
3. Those of specific breeds (or cross-bred with one of the specified breeds)

Dangerous dog breeds include:

• Fila brasileiro
• Dogue argentino
• Pit bull terrier
• Rottweiller
• American Staffordshire terrier
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Tosa inu
• Further information from the Attorney General, District of Lisbon website: Click here (in Portuguese)
• For more detailed information about the decree: Click here (in Portuguese) 

Responsibilities of the owner of a dangerous dog

The keeper of the dog must hold a licence, which is issued by the Junta de Freguesia in the local district. To apply for the licence the person responsible for the dog (not necessarily the owner) must:

• be at least 18 years of age
• confirm the housing of the animal, the security implemented and the historical aggressiveness of the dog
• have a clean criminal record
• have civil liability insurance

The licence must be transferred if the keeper moves house and can be requested by the authorities at any time.

The licensee is responsible for:

• maintaining the security of the dog and preventing its escape
• placing a sign at the entrance to the property clearly stating that there is a potentially dangerous dog on the premises
• never leaving the dog alone in a public place
• always keeping the dog on a lead and harness in public; the lead must be no more than one metre in length from the collar to the handler
• attending socialisation training with a DGV certified trainer (this is required to get civil liability insurance)
• The Rotweiller Clube de Portugal has further information: Click here (in Portuguese) 

Owning a Ferret in Portugal

Ferrets may not be kept as domestic pets in Portugal except for use when hunting and then a licence is required. Portugal banned the importation of domestic ferrets to avoid cross breeding with indigenous ferrets in the wild. However this ruling essentially contradicts EU rules. A person wishing to take a ferret to Portugal should consult the Portuguese Director General of Veterinary Services for the latest information.

• Direcção-Geral de Veterinária, DGV
  At: Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas Artes 2, 1249-105 Lisbon
  Tel: 213 239 500
  Fax: 213 463 518
  e-mail
  Website 

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Threats to Pets and Animals in Portugal
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Pet Travel and Moving with Animals to Portugal