Importing pets to Germany

I was asked by someone on Live Chat about bringing a dog into Germany but I wasn't at the computer. I searched TT and came across Getting a dog in Germany but the thre... discussion links that Webmaster6 gave were all dead.

Since I'm bringing two cats to Germany on Saturday, I've had to find out what to do. If you have other info, please add it. I'll update this with anything else I find out once I get to MUC.

First, see this document for some helpful info.

Shipping pets is pain in the ass/arse. Certain dogs are classified as "dangerous" and import is either restricted or outright banned in Germany.

You'll need to have each animal either tattooed or chipped (the latter is less stressful, less painful and more certain).

You also must have a Veterinärbescheinigung. The form is in German and English so that your vet can read it without a translation. The second page will probably not have to be filled out but that doesn't matter. Make certain that the vet staples both pages together, writes "N/A" in the boxes, and stamps and initials the page (one 2-page form per animal). You don't want customs to think that it wasn't filled out completely. Getting this busywork done ensures there can be no question that the second page (tick and echinococcus treatments) don't apply.

Your pet has to have had a rabies shot within the past year, and it had to be given at least three months prior to travel. Many sites state it's only 30 days but I was told by someone at the German embassy that it's 90 days. Making matters worse, the rabies shots are supposed to be with inactivated vaccine which isn't normally available in the US. The vaccine in the US is either killed or trans-species virus. I'm hoping customs doesn't notice.

Transport is another problem. Some airlines (like Lufthansa) will let you take a single pet weighing 8kg or less on board as hand luggage. Others won't. I have two cats and will be begging, pleading, and holding up a sign offering $100 to anyone willing to take my second cat as hand luggage so that they don't have to go into the hold.

Call the airlines to find out about charges first! It may be cheaper to fly on a more expensive airline. Some charge nothing, some charge a small fee, others charge a fortune. BA charges "double excess baggage ($125x2) plus a 'handling fee' ($150) for transfer in London per animal" whether or not you have other baggage. Taking the cats with BA would've cost me $800 on BA; it's not costing $100 on Lufthansa. The charges apply regardless of class of travel.

The hold that pets are kept in is pressurised and heated, but the animals are stuck in the cage for the duration and you can't go to them during the flight. You need to have a blanket in the cage and find some sort of water dispenser for each at the very least.

You should take your pet to the vet a couple days before travel. Tell the vet where you're going and you should get some mild tranquiliser for the animal which will ease the stress of cage, travel, handling and no food or place to relieve itself.

Your pet should not have food at least 6 hours prior to travel. Have some food (not snacks) in your hand luggage ready to put in the cage upon arrival so your pet can finally eat before you get home.

Once in Germany, take your pet and the customs paperwork to a vet and get a pet passport which is recognised throughout the EU. If nothing else it will help avoid you having to get additional and/or unnecessary vaccinations and treatments.

Dogs have to have a license. Someone else will have to chime in to say where to get it. I have cats; they don't need licenses.

That's all for now. Updates as I find out more.

woof.

I think I read somewhere that Britain has a quarantine law for pets. So even if you have layover there, your pet might be in quarantine for 90 days.

Hi,
If you're going to reply to this factual post, could you make sure the info is backed up please? AFAIK the quarantine was scrapped last year, but I'm not sure and am not going to check right now, so usually I wouldn't post anything.. if you get my drift

Britain relaxed the laws in 2000. The animal has to have had a microchip embedded and rabies vaccination at least 6 months before entering the the UK. See www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/PETS/index.htm for more info.

This doesn't apply to animals in transit (e.g. flying with BA from the US to Germany via London).

woof.

@UrbanAngel
Hmm, good to know. That was actually one of the reasons I didn't bring my cat with me. Maybe next time ..

Glad to see some more updated information on this topic. I brought my two cats over with me last December, and it was way easier than I thought. We flew Delta, which charged us about $75 for each cat to bring on-board. I did not sedate my cats, since I've heard from many vets that it is actually not recommended, but used some herbal drops (Rescue Remedy) which seemed to work fine. Both cats were totally fine, and nobody knew we even had them on board until the last few minutes when they started to get antsy.

I had all of the proper paperwork, microchips, rabies shots etc. done for them. When we walked through Customs there was nobody there at the counter, so we really could have walked through without anyone noticing at all. I ended up finding a Customs agent, thinking it might be a good idea, in case something needed to be stamped in their paperwork. I'm sure this is not the usual case, so I'd just make sure you have all of the proper vaccinations, identifications, and paperwork done. Also, make sure you have water with you for any pet you are traveling with!

My two little ones adjusted immediately, and are quite happy in their new home.

inka, I brought my two cats over from the US in June 2001, and I walked right through Customs with them at Munich Airport. Nobody stopped me; I suppose their carry cases just looked like duffel bags or something.

I did give each of my cats a tranquilizer before leaving Chicago. I was glad I did, not least because the airport security people made me take them out of their carriers to check the carriers. Since they'd already taken their pills, the cats didn't panic and make a break for it, which they might have done otherwise. They would have had the entire terminal to hide in.

I had no problems bringing my then 17 year-old cat over in November 2003. She had her shot 4 weeks before I left...the vet filled in the papers (had to get the German consulate in Toronto fax me over an English-German version but it was not a problem). I had no problems coming through the airport...as cinzia mentioned they didn't even look in the carrier and barely glanced at the papers.

I do not recommend the use of tranquilizers...at least in older cats as it can cause respiratory problems. Mollie travelled with me in the cabin and although she was a bit agitated at first...I think she got used to it. She is now here happily growing old in Munich.

Thank you for this information. Anything similar from a dog owner? I know, there have been posts on this in the past - looking for some up to date information however...my dog weighs 8.9 kg. Time for a diet?

I can't remember all the specifics, since it's been a couple years now since I brought my cat over. Someone else brought her to the vet for the rabies shot, and yet another person brought her over on the plane. Baddoggie, you might have been been given false information regarding the rabies shot time limit, so I'd check that one. I don't think it was much over 30 days before the flight that my kitty got her rabies shot (and I did lots of research on the subject at the time). I also don't remember anything about a microchip, but again I didn't take her to the vet. I did get a dual language form off the web to have the vet sign and stamp and kept her vet records tucked in a zipper compartment on her carrier.

When bringing over a cat, I'd say it's best to bring them in the cabin with you as a carry on. It's much less stressful for them, and you're right there to take care of any mess or food needs. I lined my kitty's carrier with several diaper-like pads, so that when she peed (which is inevitable on a 12-hour flight), I could just remove the top liner. Make sure and have plenty of food and water with you.

I fully expected my cat to do some howling, since that's what she used to do in the car, but she was actually perfectly silent and calm the entire trip. She didn't make a sound, and she was much less stressed than I expected her to be. After having seen that, I'd definitely avoid drugging an animal. The shock of the whole thing seemed to sedate her without the risk of the drugs.

Since I just went through the procedure of taking her to the States from Germany, I guess I should expound on that here for the benefit of others as well. There are different import laws for different states, so I can only account for import into California. Basically, there's nothing to do. I flew through France to get to California, so I got an EU pet passport for her just to be safe, but going into California they just have to look healthy. For the pet passport, she just needed a rabies shot no later than 30 days before the trip, and she needed a microchip. Baddoggie's right about the six months going through the UK, and you have to get a rabies test at the end of that six month period. Don't bother bringing any pet food into the States, because if they find out about it, they'll take it even if it's unopened. In addition, here's your heads up that Hill's Prescription Diet does indeed require a prescription in the US (wtf?! Who's going to abuse kitty food?).

Anyway, that's what I can come up with off the top of my head. If I can think of anything else, I'll add it later.

Edit: Btw, my little 19-year-old made it back just fine and is happy and healthy (though old and wobbly).

There is also Bringing a puppy dog into Germany where some of us have shared our experiences. Like others who have posted, we had no problems getting Cookie in. The customs people looked at the paperwork for maybe 10 seconds, and never looked at her or even inside the carrier bag. It took more time and energy to get our check-in luggage back then to get the dog into this country. But then, we have only one dog and she's 6 kgs. We will bring her to the States with us when we see family for 2 weeks for Christmas and I expect the same low-stress experience. I guess the only thing to remember is that the airlines require a health certificate less than 10 days old. Althoug, once again, no one looked at it.

And about tranqulizers - they are very dangerous. According to most web site (Petsmart fr example) you SHOULD NOT sedate because:

"Most veterinarians don't recommend tranquilizing Pets before air travel, because tranquilized Pets can have difficulty regulating their body temperature and blood pressure. In addition, sedated Pets can lose their balance, which increases their potential for injury. If you think that your Pet may require a sedative, visit with your veterinarian about prescription recommendations."

YMMV, of course. (I am not a vet, nor do I play one on TV! )

I travel with the mini-pup all the time, in cabin. We just got back from a trip to California. Anyone feel free to PM me - I've traveled with him back and forth and all over so many times, my experiences would fill up a thread and then some, but quickly -

He didn't have the translated paperwork the first time. They looked at what I had, and no problem. Now he has a passport. They barely glance at it. Weight limits are usually with container, so beware of that. Some airlines will make you put the pet with carrier on the belt to be weighed (actually, more like some counter personnel, most take your word). Generally Luft/Star Alliance members charge about $100 per leg for pet in cabin. There was one airline that used to have a 25 lb limit, but I don't recall which. In all cases though, the carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, so you cannot sit in the bulkhead or exit aisles. You should call ahead to note pet in cabin with your reservation, as most only allow 2 max per flight. Leave yourself at least 1/2 hour extra for check in, as most counter personnel don't know how to ticket it (fyi, the code is always PETC).

i just brought my dog over here with me a month ago. it wasn't too bad. and about not liking the idea of an animal in the hold below the plan. it was fine for Brenna, my dog. and anyway if the cat/dog is up above you cannot/should nto let it out of its cage anyway so what does it matter? and this way other passengers do not have to listen to the animal whine (especially if flying from the US).
Britian has relaxed it's restrictions on animals, but hte are still difficult. Heathrow claims they will allow animals to move through the airport on transit (say your flight changed there from Chicago to Munich). but in actually they do not- airlines have severe diffictulties booking animals through London. b/c of this i had Brennan fly a direct flight to Munich while i was on one through london (m y ticket was bought for me by the people i work for). you can also send animals unaccompanied (if you are not on the flight) as cargo. it's a lot more expensive though!
as you know the animal needs microchip or tattoo and rabies that's it. also they should (not sure if they have to though) have a tick/flea treatment and a worming w/in 24 hours of departure. make copies of the bilingual health certificate in case somethign happens since the original must stay with the pet. also if you microchip in the US be careful per normal US the US microchips are not ISO! you can get ISO ones though. even if you do they may/may not be readable here. Brennan has an ISO chip, but cannot be read with the reader at customs here. they let him through though and said if i want to travel get one put in here.
if you want to travel in europe with your pet get one of the pet passports. they keep track of all the vaccinations etc and are used at borders in the EU and save on a lot of cost and paperwork in the end.
also, try to get familiar with parasites/diseases here. I am working for a vet (not in her practice but with her children) and there are some ones that are more common here that she will give monthly pills to (like in the US how we would give heartworm).
also, i've notice more of a tick problem here than we had at home.
if you have any more questions please ask! i have lots of more info esp relating to the process of bringing a pet over here and the requirements!

Interesting. They must be more conscientious if your pet goes through cargo. I've never even seen a scanner at any airport (though my pup is chipped).

My little bugger has never whined during a flight, even the long ones, but I started flying with him when he was about 6 months or so (he's 3 now) and never need to sedate him now. He loves his travel bag. Even on this last trip, the people near us never realized I had him with me until I took him out at baggage claim. [puffs out chest with pride ]

butterbean i think it'd be fun to watch people's surprise when all of a sudden an animal emerges (imagine flying for so long and then bam a dog or cat you didnt know of!)

for those of you who have brought your animals back to the US did you have to do anything? i'm not planning on bringing Brennan back anytime soon, but it's always good to be prepared. I know they have to have a current rabies shot, but that is all i could find out.
anything else you know of?

also, what is needed/cost for an EU pet passport?
thanks!

Hi everyone,

I've been reading what you wrote and it's very useful!

I plan to bring my dog with me from Phoenix to Munich next January, and I'm very concerned because I'm afraid I made the wrong airline choice. I'll fly with US Airways, but I just read that they changed their policies so that no carry-on pets are allowed in trasatlantic flights. Does that mean that I cannot have it with me during the flight, but as checked baggage? Do you know if it is still possible to transport pets using their cargo service?

Hope to hear something from you soon! Thanks in advance

Carolina

carito- what type of dog?
i'm sure my dog would love to play w/ another american dog when you get here!!!
(Brennan loves to play with any dog, any type, etc etc... he's a collie/shepherd mix and is 1 yr- almost 1.5 yr!)

argh! i just typed a long reply regarding Carito and USAir- no clue where it went (i prob pressed some wrong button somewhere or something!)
anyway...
i said you can send your dog cargo w/ any airline even if you're not flying it. call around to the airlines and check prices. for me to fly my dog from Chicaog-Munich it cost $700 he's a medium-large dog and weighs 40lbs. so depending on the crate and dog size/weight the price varies. i flew him Lufthansa b/c it was cheaper.
so i'd call USair and check w/ them regarding cargo service and price. also call other airlines and see what you can get. while on the phone w/ USAir also see if you can just fly him on your flight as "extra luggage" (he'll fly in a pressure/temp controled dept under the main part of the plane) this is cheaper than cargo and is what most do for larger dogs who cannot fly in the main compartment with them (seeing as it seems that your dog cannot-for whatever the reason).
also, call to to confirm he cannot fly up by you b/c i've received conflicting info on what is possible and is not.
lastly, when you're trying to book your dog make sure the airline does not have any regulations. some have times when dogs cannot fly (ie- summer when the ground temp is too hot for the animal to be in a crate and being un/loaded or some have winter ones too). somtimes they block off a few weeks/months others they just say they can make a reservation, but the weather that day will determine if it's possible.

don't worry! it'll all work out and if you have any more questions feel free to ask- i'm sure one of us out here has an answer or somewhere to go for it!
good luck with making your arrangements

oh- in the other message i also said something about medication. you know not to sedate the dog, but if your dog gets nervous a lot (like at the vet or whatnot) there's an herbal thingy you can give him it doesnt knock him out or anything, but just relaxes him- it's kind of like making him drunk (has hops and what not as ingredients). you can get it at almost any petstore in the US just ask and make sure to read the ingredients to make sure it's natural (less adverse effects- good esp when flying when the effects are amplified). i used it for brennan, not sure if it worked, probably did nothing, but for being caged up for 12 or so hours i figured it wouldn't hurt and all vets i talked to said nothing wrong with it. but it's not necessary or needed (unless your dog gets anxious/nervous a lot)

USAir does not allow pets in cabin on international flights, but they do allow pet as cargo as usual. Alitalia also doesn't allow pet in cabin (fyi for when you get here and start traveling about). United and Lufthansa, also in the Star Alliance group with US Airways, does. If you feel strongly about traveling with your pet in the cabin, you could see if they could switch you to one of these affiliates without significant additional cost.

mattiehh raises a good question regarding summer travel, but coming from Phoenix in January you should have no problem.

my vet in the US also recommended children's benedryl. I want to say it was about half a pill when my pup was a 2 lb baby (chihuahua), but any vet should be able to tell you.

@mattiehh - it is funny to see people's reactions, especially the ones I've been sitting next to for the whole 9 hour flight. Usually the flight attendants ask how he did on the way out and that's how people find out, as he never makes a peep. Once I had one woman that had sat next to me say she wondered why I seemed so obsessed with the carryon luggage at my feet! I usually spring him when I'm waiting at baggage claim. LOTS of attention there too.

Sorry, made me laugh like a drain.

Our dog does not like American dogs, he blames them for all the worlds problems. Only likes socialist, left wing, lesbian, one armed (legged), vegetarian, non-smoking dogs.

@don- glad i could make you laugh! but i think (although prob making fun of me) what you said was hilarious!

(i meant that my dog loves to play with other dogs. usually it fairs okay here, but sometimes i get a crabby old lady or someone else w/ a stick up their butt that yells at me! i say sorry and get my dog away and try to explain i speak not a word of german, but they continue to scream!) not that that scenario is normal, but... it has happened!

or there's the old lady in the woods. i was out with my dog and the dog for the family i work for (i'm an au pair). my dog was who knows where (i was looking for him) when Muck, the dog of the family, ran up to an old lady. then he started to try to bite a sausage she was carrying (like a big salami or something) when i get there and get Muck away the woman screams at me. i'm trying to apologize and she goes and takes her purse and starts whacking me with it! i just took the dog and left (albeit laughing hysterically b/c it was funny) wondering what she was doing wandering in the woods with a massive 30cm sausage!

Thanks for the advice! I'll call USair to make sure they let me fly with it, at least as checked-in baggage. So far it seems as if they are quite strict and only allow service dogs to fly in the cabin. The thing about the regulations concerning the weather is true. I read that Delta requires a certificate from the vet saying that the dog can handle very low temperatures during the winter months (I'm flying in Jan.)

@Mattiehh: hopefully your dog won't be too dissapointed because mine is not American. I'm Mexican and my "Tequila" as well, a 6-month old Chihuahua. This actually leads me to more questions. Let me explain my situation:

I'll fly with the dog from Phoenix to Munich because I'll visit my sister there. I'm going then to Mexico by car and on my way back I'll bring the dog with me. Do you think that once being ready to fly back to Germany the airline will accept the certificates (health, rabbies shot, blood test, etc.) if they come from a certified Mexican vet (obviously not USDA certified vet)? Otherwise I guess it'll be easier to send the dog alone from Mexico although I would prefer flying with it.

as long as it's stamped with the Mexican authorities i think it should be fine. b/c in the US "USDA certified vets" really, usually, are just normals vets and then they send the paperwork to closest USDA office and have someone there look at it and stamp it and send it back. so the USDA doesn't even look at the animal- just any ol' vet does.
does that make sense? so as long as you look up what Germany's requirements for animals coming from Mexico are and you do that paperwork and follow whatever is required it should be okay. Also, most paperwork once approved and stamped is good for 3-4 months (at least the int'l health cert. from USDA to Germany is).

your dog is neamed Tequila? that's cute!

OK!! Then it seems as if it is not so hard and strict in the end. I´ll do all the paperwork in Mexico so that I don´t have any trouble when flying from the US.

Yeah, my Chihuahua is named Tequila hehehe couldn´t be more Mexican, could it??? hahaha

oooh, too bad I'm moving to Paris. would love to have my mini-bite meet another. is yours male or female?

[attachment=14450:attachment]

Tequila is a male dog, but unfortunately "not so male". The testicles never came down, so to say. That means it'll never become a daddy. In any case, it likes playing with other girls!! We have two chihuahua female dogs at home (in Mexico), and they all get perfectly along.

Here you can see how cute it is.

omg. ADORABLE!!!

I brought my Maroon-Bellied Conure (think largish, dark green budgie) over with me last year.

Oh. My. God.

If you're taking any sort of parrot other than a budgie (common parakeet) or cockatiel out of the US and/or into the EU, you must, along with the veterinarian's certificate, have CITES permits from both. I had to get an export permit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and an import permit from the German Nature Protection Agency (Bundesnaturschutz, I think).

I found all this out two weeks before I was scheduled to fly. United did not tell me this, the USDA did not tell me this, the Bavarian Agriculture Ministry did not tell me this. Only random Googling for tips on long-haul flights with birds tipped me off. The US FWS claimed a wait of up to 90 days. After several phone calls, I managed to get a sympathetic employee, who let me drop the application and fee off at their Arlington, VA HQs (thank goodness I lived in the DC area...) then pick it up two days later. The best German Embassy employee on earth figured out who at the Naturschutz I needed to email with, and they agreed to bill me for the import permit.

The Zollamt met me at customs with my import permit. I figure I have had my one good turn with the German federal beauracracy, which in this one case, was clever and caring, thinking outside the box.

I paid to get her microchipped. Not required for entry, but means I can do home quarantine when my bird and I return to the US. For a bird that small, it was surgery that ran about $200 at one of the few DC-area vets who would do it on a bird under 100g.

United allows "parakeets" but not "parrots" in the cabin, so my bird's paperwork is all drawn up for a "Maroon-Bellied Parakeet," which is one of the names listed in the CITES directory for Pyrrhura frontalis. She's a "Braunohrsittich" (Brown-eared Parakeet) here, anyway.

I bought the largest cage that fit United's checked baggage guidelines (62 linear inches) and packed my clothes inside, in lieu of a second suitcase. I did not want to make her sit through a weekend in her underseat-sized carrier. It's now a second cage for travel (the little girl now has a 1m x 50cm x 1m palace from Dehner as her main residence)

US FWS export permit: $25
German import permit: 38 EUR
Microchip implantation: $200
Exam for USDA/German veterinary documents: $80
Cage: $50
Fee to place quiet bird in small carrier under seat in front of me: $105

Total costs for moving bird with approximate market value of $150 in either country: $460 + 38 EUR.

Yep, over $500 (not counting the big permanent cage purchased later). I love my bird.

On the flight itself, she was an angel; the passengers around me were not aware of her. She loves airports - noise, chaos, loads of attention. I think the noise of the plane scares her into silence. She spent the flight latched to the side of her carrier, occasionally taking water out of a plastic bottle cap. We had one nearly bad moment going through security; I took her out of the carrier before it went through the x-ray, and she managed to squirm away. Fortunately, the little devil didn't fly too far with her trimmed wings. She got a few feet, though. Slender birds like parakeets, cockatiels and smaller conures can do that. In the future, I will bring something like a lingerie bag to put her in while going through security.

If any of you or your acquaintances ever plan to bring a bird over, I'll be more than happy to help you make sure you're doing everything necessary.

HI, I was wondering if any one has ever had trouble bring there pets over here, to Germany...

When I first got on the plane to go come over here, NO one told us about the chip we had to put in her. AND I asked THREE different people on what I needed to do to get my Bunny over (Yorkie/pom). They all told me ALL I needed was the vets paper work, showing that my dog is in good health. MY vet even said the SAME thing and that he did this ALL the time. Even the American Airlines said that, we I called to book her, her spot. The 3rd person was the Army, when I booked my flight.

Well, needless to say.. She could not come on the flight with me. Even thou I went AROUND and AROUND with American Airline and told them the guys name, who WORKED for them, Who also told me that. You think the airline would know ther rules, huh?

We were getting the run around from the Germany, Gov, After we got her chip. The Vet told my mom we have to wait for the paper work to come back from Germany, telling us if it was okay or not to bring my dog over.

Well we have been waiting on the paper work scents November.. Every time My mom OR I call, we get "it has been sent out" OR "the papers are about to be sent out". After having the ruining for about 3 or 4 month, and me Flying off the handle the 3rd time they told me that. They told us, we have to wait for my dogs shots to be due. Which there not due till May and that's a WHOLE 90 days. The vet told us the paper should be back in 2 to 6 weeks, and its now going on 5 months.

I have tried scents November to bring my little Bunny over and its NOW March. My mom back home is STILL waiting on the German papers to be sent back so the vet can do the shots in May..

Has any one else had this problem,bring there pets over to Germany?



Topics merged by admin

Wow, a little off topic, but that is the most creative spelling of "since" that I have ever seen.

Try Importing pets to Germany, which can be found by entering "pets" in the search box above and to the right.

which country are you trying to bring her from? the chip thing is sort of new - I think since late 2004 (though I agree your vet should know).

waiting on papers is strange. what exactly is the paperwork supposed to say/approve? usually you have to have evidence from your vet that the chip is an approved chip that is readable by scanners used in Europe (generally an ISO chip meeting specifications 11784 or Annex A of ISO Standard 11785), as well as certification of good health from your vet. But that's from the US, probably Canada, etc.

edit: it looks like the US website for the German consulate has not been updated for the new EU pet import rules either

Actually, the fastest and best thing you should do is talk to a good German vetranarian, and perhaps even have them, if they're willing, contact your vet in your home country. That paperwork thing does not sound right to me.

My guess is the US (just because of the mention of American Airlines, though).

Sorry, I didnt know where to post it, and the message bored is give me problems right now. Every time I try to post I get an error.

Your guess is right. I am tryin to bring her from the US.

I had to get the chip, I guess for good health. No one ever told me WHY, Just that I HAD to have it to bring her over. I am guessing, just in case she ever gets lost... But I have heard that Germany dose not even have the thing here to scan the chip to see who her onwers are, But I am not sure if that is true or not.

Thats what a MP (militarty police) told me.

then what you're going through DEFINITELY does not sound right (and therefore your vet is crap and you should consult a new one anyway). you should not have to wait on paperwork from Germany - I can't imagine what they would issue without having the actual dog to examine. I'm willing to be there is no such thing. You no longer need the translated health certificate that people talk about. If you have the chip and a clean record of health and up to date vaccinations you should have all you need.

you could be right about the ownership thing on a US chip. here it's used to track the pet's health in the EU system, not to prevent pet stealing. Still, it will register your pet with your vet here, who will keep track of your contact info of course.

I just found this on the French embassy website:

I. Dogs,cats and ferrets

The European Union adopted new measures for the importation of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) into the EU member states.

In order to bring their dogs, cats and ferrets from the United States into France, travelers must abide by the following conditions:

- each family is limited to 5 animals. Every animal must be at least 3 months old (or otherwise travel with the mother).

- every animal must be identified by a microchip (standard ISO 11784/11785) or a tatoo. If the microchip's standard is different, you must bring your own scanner in order to read the microchip.

- every animal must have a valid rabies vaccination (if it is the first rabies vaccination for the pet, you must wait 30 days before departure)

- the health certificate will be valid for 4 months after signature by an official veterinarian (certified by the USDA) or endorsement by the competent authority (USDA). The list of USDA Area Offices of Veterinary Services may be consulted at the following URL address:www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/area_offices.htm. However, it is strongly recommended to do the health certificate a few days before departure.

- the blood test is not required for animals coming from Canada and the United States.

Sounds like your vet is not an official veteranarian, is trying to seek endorsement and not getting it, and is lying to you about it all and blaming it on the Germans.

The chip thing definitely sounds wrong because I have a friend who brought her dog in mid 2004 and, although, she was chipped in the States when she was younger, she needed a completely different chip for Germany. That doesn't make sense.

who are you calling that's telling you "the papers are about to be sent out"?

BTW - Olivia has a side business in Frankfurt (Langen area) where she dogs sits.

We can personally recommend her! Did an awesome job with our little one...

Best regards, Chris

PS. Hope you get an answer over your dog Olivia!

In February 2004 I brought my cat here from the US. I had documents from my vet for international travel. I had a few extra vaccines done that's all. When I entered the country, no one looked at me, no one stopped me, no one said a thing. It was no problem. The cat had no chip put in her. I flew United Airlines and unfortunately had to pay about $100 for her to fly in the cabin under the seat in front of me. There was no difficulity. Sorry you are having so much trouble.

So I miss my dog and am thinking of bringing him over here with me. My folks have him right now...

-is it tough to bring a pet into Germany?
-Would I have to fly home to get him?
-Can dogs fly alone? I assume somebody from the airline would have to chaperon him?

thanks in advance for any tips...

JW

Couple of tips for traveling with pets in cargo. Secure the cage either with heavy duty clips or tape. Tape the door shut to prevent it opening. Attach a bowl of frozen water. A blanket or something (also helps mop up the water that spills.

the door should stay shut by itself. and it's not recommended to lock it or do extra securing of it incase of emergency and the airline people need to get the dog out.

read this thread. it has heaps of info.

yes, you can ship your dog cargo. check with Lufthansa. when my dog flew cargo over a year ago it was around $500 from Chicago to Munich.

most airlines have a policy that there must be a blanket or some other absorbant material in the crate (and why would you fly your dog with a blanket he's familiar with and something to make him more comfortable?!?!?)

check out Moving from USA to Munich with a greyhound dog for more info.

Hi Guys,

I hope I can debunk some of the original poster's info - I brought my dog with me last April to Germany.

a) If you can do a direct flight from the states to Germany, it's easier.

b) Only ONE animal is allowed per "class" of the flight. This means that if you have a cat in first class, then no other animal can be in first class. There can be one in coach/economy - but only 1 on Lufthansa. AND be aware that if ANYONE complains that they are allergic to a cat, you CAN AND WILL BE BUMPED OFF THE FLIGHT. Most airlines prefer you state that you have a pet to be carried on as luggage in advance - so keep this in mind.

c) Animals can only be transported between certain high/low temperatures. Check with the airlines for their specific policies. Lufthansa said high of 85, low of 40. I was lucky - I had a husky so my "low" temperature lower than most allowed 30 f - with a waver signed by myself and my vet.

d) The Rabies vaccine was fine - as long as the Vet signed off on it and I had the USDA stamp the import/export forms.

e) Expect to pay for all your forms - carry at least 3 originals. - In Munich, lufthansa had the 1 set of originals - they charged me 100 Eur handling fee for me to get them from one office, then I had to walk them to the next office, and the next office charged me 200 EUR for a stamp. Then, the third office - the vet inspecting my pet - looked at the papers and charged me another 60 EUR to let the dog out - and he wasn't even needing to be quarantined - all 3 were called "paperwork handling fees". Not sure if you can avoid this - even if all your papers are in order, but worth having multiple original notarized copies to try and hand them the papers without all the give me the papers I started with, walk to office 2, and then pay and then office 3.

f) Once you get here, plan on getting your pet a "passport" from the local vet in your area. It's worth the money - this way, if you want to transport them anywhere else in the EU, you don't have the headaches.

g) Finally, according to my vet, the pet transporter I consulted, and the folks at Lufthansa DO NOT tranquelize or medicate your pet and put them on the plane. Just like you should not take meds and/or drink on flights because the alcohol and meds affect you differently at 30,000 feet high - the same is true for the pets. In general, they become more terrified and freaked out if you have them medicated than if you just let them alone (no meds) and then reassure them by leaving a blanket/shirt of your scent in their carrier and use your voice (calm) to tell them it's ok.

I hope all this helps - if you need any more info or want to talk to the guy I consulted as a pet transportation service, I can provide his details.

Kindest Regards,
Rose

Hi. Who the hell are you?


I'm the original poster. Bring it on.

> a) If you can do a direct flight from the states to Germany, it's easier.
Duh.

> b) Only ONE animal is allowed per "class" of the flight.
Wrong. What you wrote depends on the airline. You will normally be allowed only one pet instead of one piece of checked baggage and have to pay the standard additional baggage fee plus animal handling fees for additional animals.

> be aware that if ANYONE complains that they are allergic to a cat, you CAN AND WILL BE BUMPED OFF THE FLIGHT.

Horseshit. Passengers have no way of knowing which -- if any -- animals are being carried as cargo and not in the cabin. There may be a complaint in the cabin if you take the animal on board with a small carrier (only cats and very small dogs) which may lead to you having to take another flight or being asked to allow your pet to be transported as live cargo (heated & pressurised section of the cargo hold).

> Most airlines prefer you state that you have a pet to be carried on as luggage in advance - so keep this in mind.
Excessive understatement. Every airline REQUIRES that you declare the animal, fill out the paperwork, and meet all requirements for animal transport, including showing all paperwork at the origin airport and providing a suitable cage with food and water.

> c) Animals can only be transported between certain high/low temperatures.
This depends on the airline and more importantly, the airport. Temperatures are a concern at airports where live cargo can't be held in a climate-controlled area until a short time before flight departure. Certain airplanes don't have the climate control in the cargo area and others which have it only do when an engine is running (climate control not fed by the Auxilliary Power Unit).

> d) The Rabies vaccine was fine - as long as the Vet signed off on it
That's what I wrote. You missed the bit about it having to have been done at least 30 days prior to departure.

> e) Expect to pay for all your forms - carry at least 3 originals.
You did it wrong and should've followed my advice. You can download the papers from the link I gave which are in both German and english. You take them to a vet, have them filled out, ensure any blank or N/A fields are marked as such, and that's it. You present them at the originating airport when checking in the animal and again when passing through customs. There are no handling fees because the airline doesn't have shit to do with these.

You got inspected by a vet? You probably did something else wrong, like checked "Yes" somewhere on the form. There's no place on the forms for a notary. My guess is that you used standard non-German vet forms instead of the multi-language one required which I told everyone about.

> f) Once you get here, plan on getting your pet a "passport" from the local vet in your area.
Unnecessary unless you're traveling regularly with your pet. that's not what this thread was about. That subject was covered here and here.

> g) Finally, according to my vet, the pet transporter I consulted, and the folks at Lufthansa DO NOT tranquelize or medicate your pet and put them on the plane.
Of course not. Why would they? The animal is caged and if they gave it medication and it died, you could sue them. YOU have the option of medication, and your vet should tell you whether the psychological condition of the animal overrides the general physical concerns, primarily dehydration and temperature regulation.

Animals are not "terrified and freaked out" when medicated: that's what the fucking meds are there to stop.

if you need any more info or want to talk to the guy I consulted as a pet transportation service, I can provide his details.
By all means, please do. He's full of shit and as a result you paid hundreds in unnecessary costs, passed on a load of incorrect information, and pissed off a long-time member of the board, one who went through this ordeal with two cats who now very happily lord over the household.

woof.

i cannot believe i'm saying this, but for once i agree with BadDoggie. I know in some of the links I posted above in post #41 he and i disagreed, but he is more spot on with this info than you are.

Yes, of course carry copies of the forms, but they are attached to your animals crate (if it's traveling down below and not in the cabin) and you do not need to get them back (and duh! carry extras with you too).

and you forgot the dog needs to be microchipped (or tattooed, but it think microchip is the prefered method). If coming from the US make sure it's an ISO chip and not a US chip.