Essential Animal Information for Pet Owners in Portugal

Who to call for animal information, where to go and how the law affects you and your pet - or any other animal that enters your life in Lisbon.

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

Vaccinations and legal requirements
Portuguese animal associations
Taking pet animals public transport
The rules for dangerous dog breeds
The specific laws regarding owning a ferret in Portugal

Vaccinations and Legal Requirements

All dogs in Portugal born after 1 July 2008 must be microchipped and registered with at least one of two national databases, the SIRA or the SICAF. The chip information must also be registered within 30 days of implantation with the local Junta de Freguesia (division of the town hall). Only a veterinarian can perform the implantation. The microchip is approximately the size of a grain of rice and is injected through a syringe on the left side of the animal's neck. The chip contains identifying information and is read by special chip readers. In the event an animal is found, authorities (vets, police, animal welfare organisations) can read the chip to find contact information to reunite the animal with the owner. Cats are not required to be microchipped.

All dogs over three months of age in Portugal must be vaccinated against rabies; a booster shot must be administered yearly. Cats must also be vaccinated against rabies.

All animals taken into public areas must wear a collar with identifying information.

People resident in an apartment building may only have up to four animals, 3 of which may be dogs.

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
Website
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

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 well behaved and the pet does not cause a danger or risk to other passengers.

Animals on trains

Dogs may travel onboard trains in Portugal, though the following rules apply:

Assistance guide dogs may travel free
A dog may travel for free if it is in a carrier bag/crate and carried as hand baggage
Dogs not carried in a bag or crate must be muzzled and leashed and a ticket must be purchased for it
An animal must not disturb other passengers
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:

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

Dangerous dog breeds include:

Fila Brasileiro
Dogo Argentino
Tosa Inu
Rottweiller
American Staffordshire Terrier
Pit Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Further information from the Attorney General, District of Lisbon website: 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 no 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