Requirements of Travelling with Dogs - in Europe

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR DOG IN EUROPE COUNTRIES?

If you’re taking a short trip or are driving on a long-distance journey, you may have found that your dog isn’t a great fan of travelling. Your dog’s distress may make it tempting to sit them in the footwell at the front of your vehicle, or loosely in the boot. But, L'élianne has a set rule on travelling with your dog in the car.

GENERAL RULES OF TRANSPORTING DOGS/PETS IN EUROPE

For the transport of pets in the EU the following general rules apply:

• a microchip
• a valid rabies vaccination
• an animal health certificate unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland
• tapeworm treatment for dogs if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta

These requirements also apply to assistance dogs.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

PET PASSPORT

When you travel abroad you'll need a passport for your trip, and your pet might, too. While required travel documentation for dogs, cats and other animals varies from destination to destination, following these steps will help ensure your pet has all the right papers to breeze through customs and avoid quarantines

RABIES

A rabies vaccination is obligated for travelling with your dog in Europe. The vaccin will protect the dog from getting rabies for three years. Your dog needs to be chipped as well. This vaccination must be given at least three weeks before departure and may not be older than one year upon departure. Some countries even want you to show by means of a blood test result that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies.

PARASITES

Abroad there are all kinds of animals and diseases, which do not occur here in the Netherlands, but which an unprotected pet can suffer from. Ask us how you can best protect your pet against the animals that spread these parasites, such as heartworm mosquitoes, sand flies, ticks and fleas.

Please note that the legislation for travelling with pets is constantly changing and differs from country to country. Some measures take a long time to implement, sometimes more than six months. Link: https://ambassade.startpagina.nl/ 

THE LAW OF TRAVELLING IN THE CAR WITH A DOG

If you take your pet with you, you have to comply with a number of rules and take into account a number of risks. Apart from the treatment of parasites, the following measures are mandatory. According to The Highway Code with regards to Rules about Animals, it is the driver’s responsibility to:

“Make sure dogs are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly.”

With these regulations in place, if you were in an accident caused by your dog distracting you while driving, this could be considered as ‘dangerous driving’. Car insurance providers may also require you to restrain your pet, so it’s best to check your policy and use a dog car seat to keep your dog from distracting you while traveling. 

REPEAT TRIPS TO AN EU COUNTRY OR NORTHERN IRELAND

• Your pet will need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland.
• Your pet will not need a repeat rabies vaccination so long as it’s rabies vaccinations are up to date.
• Your dog will need tapeworm treatment for each trip if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway. Read a blog about the top 10 countries in Europe to travel with your dog. 

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