At this time of the year, we are receiving requests for the rules, regulations, and conditions relating to travel to continental Europe in the Winter, Spring & Summer of 2010.

You’ll find many comments, reviews, some positive, some negative, some neutral, and mostly helpful on the internet in a wide variety of web sites as you gather the information to make your ultimate decision to take Rover with you on your European holiday if you considering traveling to continental Europe with your family pet dog.

There are many situations to evaluate as you consider having Rover accompany you on your European holiday/vacation.

Let’s discuss continental Europe and the destinations of Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Warsaw, Athens, and Lisbon.

The Rabies immunization in your pet must be no more than one year old, and at minimum 30 days old. The “other” routinely administered vaccines should have been given in the same time frame as the Rabies immunization.

The American three (3) year Rabies immunization protects the pet whilst in the USA .. and is generally not recognized as valid throughout the remainder of Europe. As France is regarded as “Rabies free”, the French require annual rabies immunization. Germany will accept the three year vaccine, yet as you travel to the other European countries, you must respect their requirements as regards the time frame of Rabies immunizations.

The member states of the European Union (the EU) have created a model three page health certificate for the movement of pets within the EU. The document has no reference number; yet we at Air Animal refer to it as the EU#998 form .. as it follows EU Directive 998.

The EU#998 records the origin of the pet, its microchip identification, its Rabies immunization, the signature of the examining US veterinarian, and the endorsement of the USDA’s veterinarian, authenticating the accreditation of the examining veterinarian. For those countries requiring treatment for internal parasites (tapeworms) and external parasites (ticks) .. there are areas designated.

The EU#998 is good for four (4) months after issuance, or until the expiry date of the recorded Rabies immunization.

And, you’ve been told the pet’s health certificate must be no more than ten (10) days old at the time of flight.

Simple solution; your accredited veterinarian should also issue the USDA’s APHIS Form #7001 for acceptance by the airline carrier originating from the USA.

Document Summary: to travel to continental Europe, have your veterinarian  issue two documents; the USDA’s 7001 to board the aircraft, and the EU 998 to enter the destination country.

Should your European holiday and vacation include staying with friends, relatives, etc .. you will know well in advance of their receptivity of  bringing your family pet dog with you as you travel.

Pet friendly accommodations are easily identified through your web site research should your holiday & vacation travels  take you from hotel to hotel in continental Europe.

Summary: European vacations & holidays with the family pet are possible. Consider how your pet adjusts to change, and how the pet relates to new and ever changing environs.

In a future blog, watch for it, we will discuss pet travel to the UK, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and Malta whose requirements for pet entry are different than those of continental Europe.

As you and your family plan your year end relocation, within the USA, there are a multitude of checklists to set up.

Remember the family pet(s). Driving regionally or cross country will require pre-planning with pet friendly overnight stays. Cats should be moved from automobile to hotel in a pet carrier. Dogs should be walked on a leash at all times; and tagged with a phone number-use your cell phone on the dog ID tag.

For the dog traveling in the family automobile, stop every two and nor more than every three hours for the pet to be comfortable, and to stretch your legs as well. Be sure to take along a water supply for the pets and yourself, and the food the pet normally eats, to maintain food intake consistency. Interstate automobile travel does not require health certificates to move from state to state.

A good idea is to have the pet’s most recent Rabies vaccination record handy as you travel. Sedation for the pet riding in the family car is generally not advised; your veterinarian can give you the best advice. When you reach your relocation destination, allow the pets to become adjusted to their new environments over a period of several days. Each pet adjusts differently; so be patient. Bring along the pets comfort toys, blankets, beds, etc to make the pet feel at home in their new residence.