1st October Marks Start of Compulsory Dog Registration

Dog owners in Mauritius are now legally required to register their pets, following a Cabinet decision to enact sections of the Animal Welfare Act. The new mandatory registration scheme, which aims to improve canine population control and reduce animal cruelty, will come into effect on 1st October 2025.

New Measure to Promote Owner Responsibility

The ministerial body has agreed to proclaim Article 31 (1) and (3) of the Animal Welfare Act, which specifically addresses the registration of dogs across the island nation.

This major legislative step is designed to strengthen control over the country’s dog population.

Aims and Benefits of the Scheme

The registration system will be overseen by the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW) and is intended to achieve several key objectives:

• Better Canine Population Control: The measure will allow the Society to manage the dog population more effectively and sustainably.
• Reduced Animal Cruelty: By making ownership traceable, the new law promotes greater owner responsibility and is expected to lead to a reduction in cruelty towards animals.
• Limiting Health Risks: A secondary benefit is the mitigation of health risks associated with stray dogs.

The mandatory registration begins on 1st October 2025.

Source: Le Mauricien