Imported pets to be quarantined

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)