Imported pets to be quarantined

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Pets brought into Indonesia will now have to wait for two weeks to six months in quarantine before going home to their owners.

Dogs, cats and other pets will be housed in the brand new Animal Quarantine Center near the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Body Syukur Iwantoro told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the new kennels had been launched in May.

"The quarantine procedure is based on Ministerial Decree No. 1096/1999 on bringing dogs, cats, primates and other animals into Indonesia, as well as Regulation No. 82/2000 on animal quarantine," he said.

The reason for the quarantine is to make sure that any pet being brought into the country is healthy and not carrying any disease, such as rabies, pseudo rabies and leptospirosis, which could threaten the lives of other animals as well as humans.

All pets entering Indonesia must comes from rabies-free areas: Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Cocos Island, Cyprus, Denmark, Fiji, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan or the United Kingdom.

All pets are required to have legal identification and health reports issued by a veterinarian from the country of origin. However, pregnant and lactating pets are prohibited from entering Indonesia.

"The facility was built on half a hectare of land and consists of a laboratory, offices and kennels," said Mukhtar Baraniah, head of animal quarantine for the Agricultural Quarantine Body.

Separately, Head of the Animal Quarantine Center at Soekarno- Hatta Lukas Tonga, recommended that each pet owner telephone 021- 550-7931 at least two days before the arrival of their pet.

"With prior notice we would arrange a place for the pet at the shelter," Lukas said.

He said that cats and dogs were housed separately in two buildings, and small canines were separated from larger dogs.

"We don't want the smaller dogs to suffer stress, so we separate them from the bigger canines," veterinarian Teuku Ali Imron told The Jakarta Post at the kennels.

Teuku further explained that the staff at the air-conditioned facility were trained in animal care and hygiene.

Visitors are required to take off their shoes and put on slippers before entering the quarantine area.

Lukas said that nutritious food and vitamins, as well as health examinations would be provided for the pets during their stay.

"The approximate cost for two weeks' stay under normal conditions, in the absence of a disease, is Rp 560,000," said Lukas, who is a veterinarian. (004)