EU rules on travelling with dogs

Travelling with dogs within  or into the European Union

Most of this  information is taken from german goverment website http://www.bmel.de/DE/Tier/HausUndZootiere/HausUndZootiere_node.html
which is also available in english: http://www.bmel.de/EN/Animals/PetsAndZooAnimals/pets-zoo-animals_node.html
We would like to give you a brief summary about the rules on travelling with puppy dogs/cats/ferrets within the EU and also entering the EU from a state outside.
First of all: Europe (continent) is not the same as European Union! EU has these members: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_state_of_the_European_Union

In general:
Puppys may not be taken away from its mother (and travel) before the age of 8 weeks. A private person may not travel to another EU-country with more than 5 pets. You may only do so, if you go to show, dograce or race training with pets older than 6 month and you will need a written proof, that you are signed into such an event. Travelling with puppys younger than 7 month might be a problem. You then will need to pay attention to national regulations of the EU-Country, you want to travel to, especially if you come from a non-listed third country     LEAVING a country is never a problem, but for entering: Always check the govermental websites of the country you want to travel to. Do NOT rely on information found in forums, facebook or on other websites like ours 🙂

 

1. you want to buy a puppy in the EU (for example from Dark Legend‘s 🙂 ) and want to bring it to another country in the EU (plus Norway and Switzerland)

-the breeder has to give you a pet passport   It must be possible to clearly assign this passport to the respective animal, i.e. it must be possible to identify the animal by tattoo (=>only old dogs tattooed before 3rd july 2011) or microchip and the identification number must be entered in the passport. So for puppys theres only microchip allowed nowadays.

1a:  if the puppy is younger than 12 weeks:
due to EU Regulation 576/2013 EU countrys MAY allow young puppies to enter the state (which is for example the case for austria and NOT allowed for germany) if:
-the puppy is chipped
-has a valid pet passport
-is not vaccined against rabbies
-therefore the owner (=>breeder) has to give you an additional certification, that the puppy was since birth kept in a place, where it had no contact with wild living animals that could be infected by rabbies. It is this certification:
https://www.bmgf.gv.at/cms/home/attachments/4/2/8/CH1114/CMS1098110923401/reiseverkehr_erklaerung_heimtiere_drittlaender_unter_12_wochen_+_igv_endfassung_(speicherbar).pdf


1b: If the puppy is older than 15 weeks:
 -the puppy is chipped
-has a valid pet passport
-is vaccined against rabbies
In addition to information on the animal and its owner, the pet passport must include a statement by the veterinarian providing evidence that the animal has a valid rabies vaccination. Given that a time period of 21 days needs to elapse in order to develop effective immunity, the primary vaccination (at the age of  12  weeks at earliest) must be administered 21 days at least prior to crossing the border.
–So as a general rule, travelling between EU countries is allowed after 15 weeks, if you did right with vaccination and veterinarian statement.
-No travelling for the puppy between the age of 12 and 15 weeks, but again, EU states are allowed to do exceptions on that and some do it, some don‘t.

 

1c: watch out for tighter requirements
for the following EU countries regarding antiparasitic treatments, in particular echinococcus treatments (tapeworms):

 

 

 

2.  importing dogs into European Union from „outside“

the website of german government ist pretty complete for this, you actually can read everything here:
http://www.bmel.de/EN/Animals/PetsAndZooAnimals/_Texte/HeimtiereEinreiseregelung.html
in german: http://www.bmel.de/DE/Tier/HausUndZootiere/Heimtiere/_Texte/HeimtiereEinreiseregelung.html;jsessionid=0C73BFD751EFB8D84E96EC79F015BD64.2_cid376

short summary:

When going with a puppy from these non-EU „third countrys“ into European Union you don‘t have too much problems:

-proof of valid immunisation against rabies must be furnished in the animal health certificate. The puppy needs it‘s rabies shot at 12 weeks age plus 21 days = at least 15 weeks
-Every animal needs to be identified by a clearly readable tattoo (old dogs only) or by a microchip
-Entry is conditional on the animals being accompanied by a person responsible for the animals. The accompanying person must provide a declaration in writing stating that the animal’s movement is not intended for sale or a change of hands. So watch out breeders 🙂 …
-Entry may only be made in a direct manner. If the animals pass through non-listed countries during transportation, the keeper or his agent must certify in a self-declaration that the animal did not have any contact with animals susceptible to rabies in transit and that it did not leave the means of transport or the airport.


Warning!

In case you/your puppy comes from a non-listed third countries (Ukraine for example), your puppy cannot enter an EU country before the age of 7 month !!
That‘s because prior to entry, the animals must be subjected to a blood test for antibodies against rabies. This test must have been performed at least 30 days after vaccination (vaccination at 12 weeks age) and at least three months before entry.
What if you nevertheless do travel and you get caught? Your puppy will be put in quarantine for weeks or maybe month – which means staying alone – and your puppy will probably be mentally damaged after that. Of course all quarantine costs will be yours.