Importation of dogs or cats

(1) Any person who fails to produce an import permit for a domestic dog or cat, but produces supporting documents such as a health certificate or proof of rabies vaccination shall be allowed to import such domestic dog or cat upon paying an administrative fine to the Authority of one hundred dollars (BZ$100.00) per domestic dog or cat. (2) Any person who produces an import permit but fails to produce any supporting documents in respect of a domestic dog or cat intended to be imported into Belize, shall be allowed to import such domestic dog or cat on the condition that the domestic dog or cat remains in house quarantine and upon paying to the Authority an administrative fine of one hundred dollars (BZ $100.00) per domestic dog or cat. (3) The Authority may, in its sole discretion, allow the importation of a domestic dog or cat where no import permit or 26 supporting documents in respect of such domestic dog or cat are presented, provided that an administrative fine of two hundred dollars is paid to the Authority per domestic dog or cat. (4) Failure to pay the fines stipulated in subregulation (1), (2) and (3) shall result in the confiscation of the domestic dog or cat by the Authority. (5) Any domestic dog or cat confiscated under subregulation (4) shall be placed under the care of the Animal Health Department and housed there for one day, and if the owner or importer does not remove such domestic dog or cat from Belize it shall be euthanized by an authorized officer of the Authority. (6) The owner or importer of any domestic dog or cat euthanized under subregulation (5) above shall be liable for any expenses incurred in carrying out such procedure.