Dogs are common in Accra, mostly as guard animals rather than companions. Cats are around and largely left to themselves. The idea of a pet that sleeps indoors and goes to the vet is more of a middle-class and expatriate one, and it is growing.

None of that stops you keeping an animal well here. It does shape what you will encounter.

Vets

Veterinary practices operate across Accra, concentrated in East Legon, Cantonments, Airport Residential, Dzorwulu and Labone. There are also government veterinary services under the Veterinary Services Directorate.

Standards vary. Ask other pet owners — expatriate and returnee groups on Facebook and WhatsApp are genuinely useful for this specific question, because everyone has an opinion about the vets.

What to ask:

  • Are they registered with the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association?
  • Do they do out-of-hours or emergency work, and how do you reach them?
  • Do they handle the paperwork for exporting an animal? This matters more than you think, and it is worth choosing a vet on it from the start.
  • What surgical facilities do they have on site?

Consultations and routine vaccinations are inexpensive by international standards. Surgery, imaging and specialist work are more limited than in Europe or North America.

Vaccinations and health

Rabies is present in Ghana. Vaccinate your animal, keep the certificate, and keep it current. This is not optional.

Also standard: distemper, parvovirus, and the usual core vaccines; regular deworming; and tick and flea prevention, which here is a year-round job rather than a seasonal one.

Ticks are the main problem. Tick-borne disease — ehrlichiosis and babesiosis in particular — is common and can be serious. Use a proper preventive, check the animal regularly, and know that a lethargic dog that has gone off its food needs a vet, not a wait-and-see.

Heartworm prevention is worth discussing with your vet.

The heat

  • Shade and water, always. Water bowls in more than one place, refilled often.
  • Walk early or late. Tarmac at midday burns paws — press the back of your hand to it for five seconds; if you cannot, neither can they.
  • Flat-faced breeds suffer badly here. Bulldogs, pugs and similar struggle in this heat and humidity. Think hard before bringing one.
  • Never leave an animal in a car. Ever, for any length of time.
  • Power cuts mean fans stop. If your animal depends on cooling, that is something to plan for. — Electricity and dumsor

Bringing a pet to Ghana

Plan months ahead, not weeks.

You will generally need:

  • An import permit from the Veterinary Services Directorate, obtained before travel
  • A rabies vaccination certificate, within the required window
  • An international health certificate from an accredited vet in the country of origin, issued close to travel
  • Microchip, generally expected
  • Airline-approved crate meeting IATA rules

Check the current requirements directly with Veterinary Services before booking anything. They change, and an animal arriving without the right paperwork is a serious problem at the airport.

Many people use a pet relocation agent. For a single straightforward move it is not essential; for anything complicated it is money well spent.

Taking a pet out of Ghana

Start at least three months before you fly, longer for the EU and the UK, which have rabies titre test requirements with waiting periods measured in months.

You will need an export permit, a health certificate issued within a narrow window before travel, and in many cases a blood test sent to an approved laboratory abroad.

This is the single most common way people come unstuck when leaving Ghana. Ask your vet about it when you first register, not when you book the flight.

Getting a pet here

Rescues and shelters operate in Accra, and there are always dogs and cats needing homes. Adopting locally is straightforward and cheap.

Street dogs and cats are common. Taking one in is a kind thing and means starting with a full vet workup: vaccination, deworming, tick treatment and neutering.

Breeders exist, particularly for guard breeds. Quality and welfare vary enormously; visit, and see the parents.

Living with the neighbours

Many Ghanaians are genuinely afraid of dogs, and this is not squeamishness — guard dogs are common and rabies is real. Keep your dog leashed and under control in public, do not let it approach people, and warn visitors and tradespeople before they come through the gate.

Compound living means shared space. Talk to your neighbours before getting an animal, particularly a barking one. — How to find a place to live

Check your tenancy agreement. Some landlords prohibit animals. — What to check in a tenancy agreement