The scope of this regulation is the territorial area under the jurisdiction of each municipal corporation. The provisions of this regulation apply to responsible persons, as well as to companion animals in the canton of Talamanca, in compliance with the requirements established in the Law for the Municipal Service for the Care of Companion Animals, Law No. 10,141, related laws, and this regulation.
Concepts / Definitions Zoonotic Diseases: Zoonoses are infectious diseases transmissible naturally from vertebrate animals to humans. (PAHO, 2022) Responsible Ownership: The commitment and responsibility to meet an animal's welfare needs throughout its entire life, involving the investment of time and money that the pet requires, which can be substantial during the animal's life, carefully selecting the pet(s) suitable for one's home, lifestyle, and family members, avoiding impulsive decisions about obtaining pets, prioritizing adoption and, if obtained through purchase, doing so only from responsible and authorized breeders that safeguard the health and welfare of the animals they supply, guaranteeing the satisfaction of their current needs as legally and scientifically updated (including mental stimulation and promotion of positive emotions). Keeping only the type and quantity of pets for which one has the knowledge and resources. Providing preventive veterinary care, diagnosis, and treatment when the animal needs it. Controlling one's pet's reproduction through sterilization; when reproduction is carried out, ensuring that appropriate health tests are performed to reduce the risk of offspring suffering from hereditary diseases. Taking into account the temperament and socialization of the animals being bred and the parents of those offspring. Ensuring that one socializes and educates one's pet to ensure its health and welfare, and that its behavior and one's responsibilities as an owner do not have a negative impact on other people or animals. Making animal welfare the primary consideration, especially when it comes to end-of-life care.
Animal Welfare: The science that studies an animal's expression in relation to its surrounding environment. It is measurable through indicators. Good welfare allows the animal to express its full potential. It must seek to enhance positive, rewarding, and pleasurable states in the animal and maintain negative critical states at a tolerable intensity that allows them to feel motivated to engage in behaviors that allow them to live, and to diminish those affective experiences or negative mental states not necessary for survival. The environment must provide a range of opportunities for animals to experience comfort, interest, security, and a sense of control, allowing social species bonding and affirmation activities, access to preferred resting sites, thermal comfort, clean spaces, environments that promote exploration and food acquisition, variety of food in pleasurable textures and flavors. (It must include measurement of nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and their repercussions on the animal's positive or negative mental state). The goal is for the animal to thrive, to have a good life; it is not limited to its mere survival.
Humane Control of Dog and Cat Populations: Refers to a combination of measures that improve pet care and influence the canine and feline population dynamics to sustainably improve their health and welfare, public health and safety, and the environment, taking into account the related economic benefits and costs.
One Health: An integrated, unifying approach that seeks to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Overpopulation: The size of a population is determined by carrying capacity, that is, the maximum number of members of a given species that a given space can sustain based on resources such as space, food, and others, as well as the tolerance for their permanence. Overload causes disease and mortality in the population.
Public Health: The care and promotion of health applied to the entire population or a specific group of the population.
Veterinary Public Health: All actions directly or indirectly related to animals, their products, and by-products, provided they contribute to the protection, conservation, and improvement of human health, that is, to their physical, moral, and social well-being» (Veterinary Academy of France). Veterinary public health therefore encompasses areas of intervention related to animal health and protection, food safety, and environmental protection.
Spaying/Neutering (Sterilization): It is a surgical and outpatient procedure that seeks to render dogs and cats unable to reproduce. (Ovariohysterectomy in females and orchiectomy in males).
Animal Vaccination: A vaccine is understood as any preparation intended to generate immunity against a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies. It can be, for example, a suspension of killed or attenuated microorganisms, or products or derivatives of microorganisms. Animals require a general objective examination before being vaccinated; this must be performed by a veterinary physician.
Minimum Schedules for Preventive Medicine: The vaccination schedule is an evidence-based recommendation that allows veterinarians to decide how they can prevent communicable diseases in different age groups through the immunization of their patients.
A country's vaccination strategy and programs must respond to a national health plan, based on the concept that prevention is always cost-effective.
Animal Welfare Programs: Programs responsible for dog and cat population control, responsible ownership, zoonosis prevention, vaccination programs, and education related to animal welfare, public health, and the "One Health" concept.
Responsible Breeding:
Responsible breeders must provide their dogs with high-quality care: provide all dogs with quality food, clean water, adequate shelter, exercise, socialization, and professional veterinary care. Keep dogs clean and well-groomed. Breed dogs intended to be pets in a family environment. Prioritize the welfare of the mother (and also the father, when applicable) by developing a breeding plan for each dog based on the dog's age and health, in consultation with their veterinarian. Handle puppies safely every day and socialize them with other dogs and people of appropriate ages. Place or keep dogs that cannot reproduce, dogs that are not suitable for breeding, or dogs that have been returned as pets. Not subject dogs to permanent physical alterations performed solely for aesthetic purposes. Ensure that puppies are weaned gradually and completely before placement. Puppies should not be fully weaned before 8 weeks unless there are medical or behavioral reasons to do so. Place puppies when they reach 10 and 12 weeks of age.
Responsible breeders strive to breed dogs that are more likely to result in happy and healthy pets: They prioritize health and function over appearance, screen for hereditary traits that could negatively affect puppies, and only breed the healthiest, physically sound dogs with stable behavior. They reduce the risk of offspring suffering from a hereditary disorder by not crossing dogs (parent with offspring or sibling with sibling). When placing a puppy or adult dog with a known hereditary problem, they disclose all relevant information to the new family and ensure the dog is spayed or neutered before placement (or that the buyer is contractually obligated to spay or neuter within a designated timeframe, with follow-up to confirm the surgery has been performed).
Responsible breeders are transparent and provide a complete history of the dog: They allow and encourage potential owners to visit the places where dogs are bred and raised, meet the litter and preferably both parents (but at least one), and discuss their breeding and sales practices. They provide accurate and reliable information on health, vaccines, and pedigree. They prepare an adoption/purchase contract in plain language detailing the breeder's responsibilities, the adopter's responsibilities, health guarantees, and the return policy.
Responsible breeders are committed to ensuring that all dogs they breed receive a good home: They use waiting lists or other strategies to assess that quality homes are available for their dogs before breeding them. They are committed to making a good match between owner and dog by sharing the characteristics and needs of the specific dog (and breed, if applicable) and understanding the potential owner's expectations. For this reason, they only sell animals directly to potential owners and not through a third party or intermediary. They are an ongoing resource for new owners and are willing to take back or rehome an animal if necessary for any reason at any time.
Responsible breeders care about the welfare of all dogs, which they demonstrate by: spaying/neutering pets before sale or securing a commitment from the owner to spay or neuter (if health or age prevents alteration at the time of sale) and following up to ensure the surgery is performed. Educating potential buyers and other members of their community about the risks of purchasing dogs from commercial breeders, stores, and websites. Supporting and complying with laws and policies that ensure breeder transparency, quality of care, accountability, and animal welfare. (Keep current CVO registration).
Municipal Service Office for Companion Animals