Pets hiding under the blanket ( lightfieldstudios (123RF))
If you’ve brought your furry friend to Germany, you must register them at your installation’s veterinary clinic within the first 14 days of arriving.
When PCSing overseas or outside the continental United States, service members may be authorized a reimbursement for the transportation costs of one pet. The reimbursement cap is $2,000 and it cannot be shared to cover multiple pets.
All pets imported into Germany must have:
A 15-digit international microchip
Rabies vaccination older than 21 days
EU health certificate from a USDA veterinarian (on-installation veterinarians qualify) issued within ten days of arrival.
If your pet arrives at Frankfurt or Ramstein, you’ll be charged an importation fee. Contact the Frankfurt airport’s animal protection officer at +49 (0) 696-902-1366 if your pet will be arriving unaccompanied. Pet travel during extreme summer and winter temperatures may be prohibited, depending on the breed and airline. Dogs descending from dangerous breeds may be forbidden from importation.
Installation vet offices do not provide after-hours emergency care, so ask for a list of clinics (Tierarztpraxis) on the German economy. Many German veterinarians have English-speaking staff and accept VAT forms.
Make an appointment with a local German veterinarian soon after arrival to get your pet’s EU Pet Passport. Bring all their paperwork. The pet passport serves as a record of veterinary treatment and is required to be kept up to date in order to travel with your pet.
VACCINATIONS AND PREVENTATIVES
German veterinarians can guide you on what vaccinations and preventative treatments your animals will need each year. Most vet clinics will want to make sure your dog is protected against distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, rabies, hepatitis and kennel cough. In addition, flea and tick treatment is highly recommended.
• Animals must never be left tied up and unattended.
• Keep your dog leashed in populated areas and anytime someone approaches.
• Shelter must always be provided for your pet.
• Food and water must always be easily accessible for your pet.
• You are expected to give your dog adequate attention and exercise.
• Barking, howling or whining for 10 minutes continuously, or more than 30 minutes total, per day is considered a noise disturbance.
• Electric disciplinary devices are not permitted.
If you will be traveling outside of Germany with your pet, be sure to bring their EU Pet Passport. Depending on your pet’s size, you may need to book them a ticket on trains. Typically, pets in under-the-seat sized carriers do not need tickets. Animals must be contained while riding in vehicles (carrier or harness).
