Dogs, cats, tropical fish, parakeets, lovebirds, parrots and canaries are among the most favored pets on the island. Pet shops thrive in most communities. Most animals sold by pet shops are imported, principally from the United States of America.
Puerto Rico's tropical climate, and the absence of many predatory species, provide an adequate environment for the reproduction of imported animal species which escape or are freed by their owners. As a result, some non-native species now live in the wild: monkeys, parrots, parakeets, caimans and garden snakes among others. The environmental threat to native species is real and imminent.
Legislation regarding pets is not as sophisticated yet in Puerto Rico
as it is in many locations in the United States. Some
municipalities require that you vaccinate your pets and pay a
license for them. Your pet's veterinarian is a good source of
information on the subject. The text of Puerto Rico's Public Law 67 for the protection of animals is posted in Spanish here.
It is illegal to keep as pets any endangered species. Your
veterinarian or respectable pet shop may provide additional
information on this subject.
Click here to view a partial list of animal shelters throughout Puerto Rico.
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Although a Puerto Rican law requires each municipal government to provide and manage a humane animal shelter, only about six municipalities actually comply with the law.
If stray cats and dogs or other animals are a problem in your
neighborhood, call your Municipality's Department of Environmental
Control (División de Control Ambiental Municipal is one of
many similar names for this dependency).
If you cannot find the information you need, and we will try to help you find it.
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