Requirements for Animal Residential Quarantine: An old law being newly enforced since the end of 2006:
When people come through the Panamanian Border or Customs at Tocumen with a pet, an option everybody takes is to request in-home quarantine for the pet. This is documented in Spanish on the forms you complete. The quarantine period is a minimum of 30 days, but can be 40 days to six weeks or whatever time the Government stipulates according to the type of animal, conditions, etc.

When you sign the paperwork at Tocumen for in-home quarantine, you are agreeing to abide by the following stipulations:

- You are responsible for keeping your pet confined to residential (in-home) quarantine and not allow that pet contact with any Panamanian animal during the entire period. You are not supposed to walk the animal on the streets, or allow it to leave the property at any time.

- You agree to receive "surprise inspections" by official inspectors who will check to see if the pet is healthy and where it is supposed to be. The Quarantine Department keeps a list of all pets on in-home quarantine.

The following are now being enforced as of the end of 2006
- If you brought your pet to Panama at the end of 2006 or later, and you have not received an in-home inspection, your animal is not officially off-quarantine at the end of the quarantine period. You must take your pet to the Department of Zoonosis Offices in David so that they can officially inspect its condition of health and fill out the paperwork to remove it from quarantine (see contacts below). Some pets brought in before late 2006 might be on the inspection list, but generally this enforcement is being applied to those brought in after that time.

- If you move during the quarantine period, you must notify the MIDA (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario) Quarantine Department at the Customs Office at Tocumen and obtain permission to move the pet to a different location, or notify them you have moved. Normally the permission will be granted. You can probably also get this permission from the contacts below in David, or they will tell you who to call at Tocumen.

- If the pet becomes ill or dies during the quarantine period you must report this to:
Jefe de Cuarentena Agropecuaria, MIDA Tocumen, [Chief of Agropecuary Quarantine, MIDA, Tocumen]. Again, you can probably call the contacts in David to report this.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI
Dr. Guillermo Chen Camaño, Cell: 6-651-2639 Tel: 774-5183 or 775-4749
Jefe del Departamento de Zoonosis, MINSA Ministerio de Salud de Chiriquí
Tel: 774-7410 or 774-7411
OFFICES LOCATION: Antiguo Hospital José Domingo de Obaldía, MINSA, David

Does anyone know where the Zoonosis Office is in David?

It says the old Obaldia hospital. I guess this is different than the new women and children's hospital that is also called Obaldia. If you call the phone numbers, they could tell you.

This could be the old hospital where the Salud Department is. Its down near the main Bus Station on the east side of town.

My Wife will be returning from the USA with our miniature schnauzer, Onyx in early August. It is our understanding that we need to make special arrangements for a Vet to meet them at the Panama City airport when arriving on Saturday. Can you provide a contact number for the Vet, so we can make those arrangements or can you refer me to someone who can help me set the appointment? I appreciate any help or recommendations you could provide!

Jack Mossette
6499-4533 or
jsmossette@yahoo.com

[quote name='Jack Mossette' date='Jul 19 2007, 05:36 PM' post='6871']
My Wife will be returning from the USA with our miniature schnauzer, Onyx in early August. It is our understanding that we need to make special arrangements for a Vet to meet them at the Panama City airport when arriving on Saturday. Can you provide a contact number for the Vet, so we can make those arrangements or can you refer me to someone who can help me set the appointment? I appreciate any help or recommendations you could provide!

Jack Mossette
6499-4533 or
jsmossette@yahoo.com
[/quote

Contact Jose Saenz at bocasfrog@yahoo.com. His cell number is 6614-7811. He's the best for easing the entry of pets into Panama.

I am reactivating this post to remind anyone who has brought their animal into Panama since January 2006 that they must clear in-house quarantine. The original post said this applies from the end of 2006, but it is now said to be from Jan. 2006. If you do not speak Spanish, I suggest you have someone call the Dept. of Zoonosis for you to find out exactly what you have to do. The phone number and address are in the original post.