Dogs and cats

(1) No canine animal or feline animal shall be imported into Belize except such canine animal or feline animal is imported directly from one of the territories specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations. (2) No canine animal or feline animal so imported shall be landed unless there is produced a certificate signed by a qualified State or Government Veterinary Surgeon of the Department or Ministry of Agriculture of that State or country. Such certificate shall state that– (a) such canine animal or feline animal is in good health and free from symptoms of infectious and contagious diseases; and (b) there has been no rabies among unquarantined canine animals or other animals in the country or, in the case of the U.S.A., any State from which such canine animal or feline animal was exported during the six months immediately preceding the exportation of such canine animal or feline animal; or (c) the animal has been vaccinated against Rabies with an approved vaccine not less than one month or more than six months immediately prior to the date of exportation of the animal. (3) No canine animal or feline animal so imported shall be landed if, during the period of transportation, it has been in contact with any other canine animal or feline animal other than a canine animal or feline animal– (a) in respect of which the certificate referred to in subregulation (2) of this regulation has been given; or (b) which has been released from quarantine in the exporting territory as being in good health and free from any infections and contagious diseases. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulations (1), (2) and (3) of this regulation, the Minister may, subject to such conditions and restrictions as he may think fit, permit the importation of any canine animal or feline animal from any port or place, other than those territories specified in the Second Schedule to these Regulations, Second Schedule. 530 provided that permission is obtained at least two months prior to the date of the proposed importation. (5) Cats and dogs that are landed in contravention of these Regulations shall be seized by an Inspector and detained, destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the Minister may direct, without liability to the State for such detention, destruction or disposal. (6) Any person importing or causing to be imported or assisting in the importation of any cat, or dog in contravention of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence and on summary conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months. (7) In this regulation, unless the context otherwise requires“canine animal” means a dog and includes all other animals of the canine tribe whether wild or domesticated, and hyena; “feline animal” means a cat and all other animals of the feline tribe whether wild or domesticated.