Travelling with pets can be difficult depending on which kind of route you will be taking. There are also certain laws in each country as they have strict rules on what kind of pet you are bringing with you. This means that the laws imposed in one country varies from the other. It is best that you search for the rules about bringing pets with you. As with modes of transportation, most of them allow your pets to be transported with you as long as you have them declared or registered. In some airline carriers, they require you to register your pet first if you wish for them to be with you in your cabin.
If you are willing to spend money on bringing your pet along, your pet will be need the following:
- Tapeworm treatment for canines
- Rabies vaccination
- Microchip (this must be done first before the previous 2)
- Official veterinary certificate for third country or pet passport – you can ask your vet for a pet passport although outside the European Union veterinary certificates are issued instead. With the certificate it will allow your pet to enter the borders of the UK or any other country part of the European Union.
- Blood test (for traveling to the European countries that come from unlisted countries)
Pet owners are advised to wait for at least 21 days after the vaccination and rabies treatment have been given otherwise the pets are not allowed to board the airline carriers, much less enter the border of the country. There may be other documents needed for your pets such as the transport company which will need an official statement from the vet, assuring that the animal is fitted to travel with the owner. If you have more than on pet to bring with you, you are required to do the same process although for owners traveling with over 5 pets, they will need a health certificate. Pet owners should wait at least 1o days prior to their travel date.
Before traveling abroad, it is best that you check out the rules of the country you are planning to go to, whether they will allow your pet or not. You can also check out the embassy and ask them about pets whether or not it is legal to bring them along. If you fail to do so, you might end up leaving your pet at the airport terminal.