Costa Rica has put into effect a new regulatory framework for the breeding and sale of dogs and cats, a major change for an industry that has long operated with large informal gaps. The rules, contained in Executive Decree 45344-MAG, officially took effect on June 12 and apply to establishments that breed or sell dogs and cats across the country. The regulation gives the National Animal Health Service, known as SENASA, a clearer role in supervising breeders, veterinary clinics and commercial sales involving companion animals.
The goal is to bring order to a market where informal breeding, uncontrolled reproduction and sales through unauthorized channels have contributed to animal welfare problems and street animal overpopulation. The decree does not ban the sale of dogs and cats, but it makes clear that breeding and commercialization must now meet formal health, welfare and documentation requirements.
Under the new rules, breeders must have a Certificado Veterinario de Operación, or CVO, issued by SENASA. The certificate is now a basic requirement for anyone operating a family or commercial breeding establishment, as well as veterinary clinics that sell dogs or cats.
The regulation separates breeders into different categories. Family breeders are limited to no more than two reproductive females or six adult animals. Commercial breeders are divided into small, medium and large categories, depending on the number of reproductive females and adult animals on site.
Veterinary oversight is now mandatory. Family breeders and small commercial breeders must have access to a veterinarian for preventive and required care. Medium and large breeders must have a permanent veterinary adviser. Veterinarians are responsible for medical records, preventive care, reproductive programs, vaccination and deworming protocols, and reporting violations or suspected zoonotic diseases to SENASA.
The new framework also changes what buyers should expect when purchasing a dog or cat. Sellers must provide vaccination and deworming records, basic care information, and the CVO number of the establishment. Buyers must be adults, and the regulation states that purchases should only be made through authorized breeders or veterinary clinics.
One of the most visible changes is the restriction on pet sales outside authorized establishments. The decree prohibits the breeding and sale of dogs and cats in places that are not SENASA-authorized breeders or veterinary clinics. It also prohibits sales in public places or private spaces open to the public. Recent local coverage has noted that this effectively ends the sale of dogs and cats through pet shops unless the establishment meets the authorized categories under the regulation.
The rules also set a minimum age for sales. Dogs and cats may not be sold or received for sale before they are more than eight weeks old. Each animal must have an individual clinical file signed by a veterinarian, including estimated age, vaccination and deworming protocol, health status and the CVO number of the breeding establishment.
The decree includes minimum welfare standards for housing, feeding, hygiene and socialization. Animals must have access to water 24 hours a day, proper ventilation, lighting, daily food unless a veterinarian indicates otherwise, space for exercise and areas that allow natural behavior. Housing areas must meet minimum space requirements based on the size and weight of the animal.
Commercial breeders also face added infrastructure rules. Floors, walls and roofs must allow easy cleaning and disinfection. Establishments must keep updated layout plans of animal housing areas and have a quarantine area for new or sick animals.
The regulation also puts limits on reproduction. Females may reproduce only once per year. Breeding is banned for females older than six years and males older than seven years. The rules also prohibit breeding animals with certain hereditary, congenital or serious health conditions, as well as animals with aggressive, fearful or unstable behavior that could affect safe handling or the welfare of offspring.
Several common cosmetic procedures are now prohibited unless medically justified. These include tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, and vocal cord surgery meant to reduce barking or other animal sounds. Other invasive procedures such as decorative tattoos, piercings or cutting whiskers are also prohibited unless they have a valid medical purpose.
SENASA inspectors may visit regulated establishments, review records and issue sanitary measures when violations are found. The agency can order corrections, suspend activities or seize animals in cases where animal welfare is at risk. Owners of noncompliant establishments may be required to cover the costs of care, feeding, veterinary attention and handling for seized animals.
The decree also requires breeder associations and breed clubs to keep updated records of affiliated breeders, report active establishments to SENASA each year and notify authorities of possible violations related to animal health, public health or welfare.
The broader effect could be felt well beyond breeders. Costa Rica has a large pet population, with official figures cited in the decree estimating more than 1.7 million dogs and more than 775,000 cats in the country. The same figures show that just over half of dogs and about 70 percent of cats are sterilized.
That matters because uncontrolled breeding remains one of the drivers of abandonment and street animal populations. Puppies and kittens born without planning are more likely to enter informal sales channels, be given away without veterinary care, or end up abandoned when owners cannot take responsibility for them.
For animal welfare groups, responsible owners and veterinarians, the new rules give Costa Rica a stronger legal basis to act against irresponsible breeding. For buyers, they also create a clearer test: a dog or cat offered for sale should come from an authorized breeder or veterinary clinic, with medical records, vaccination information and traceable documentation.
The challenge now moves from paper to enforcement. Costa Rica has no shortage of informal sales through social media, word of mouth and roadside transactions. The success of the regulation will depend on inspections, public reporting and the willingness of buyers to avoid unauthorized sellers.
Still, the change is significant. Costa Rica is no longer treating dog and cat breeding as a loose commercial activity. It is now a regulated sector tied to animal welfare, public health and the country’s long-running problem of abandoned animals.
