Shipping Pets

Vaccinations are required annually. Leishmaniasis and ehrlichios are present on the island. Please take this into consideration before bringing your dog to Sicily.

All animals are required to have an AVID microchip to use the Veterinary Treatment Facility, this may be done upon arrival. Full service veterinary care is available, but is often limited to mission requirements. Pets are seen by appointment only. You can also bring your pet to a local vet out in town.

For more info call the vet clinic located at NAS 1, DSN 314-624-4258, Comm. +39-095-56-4258

The age and condition of your pet should be taken into consideration before transporting them overseas which can be extremely stressful. Be sure to check with your veterinarian for proper documentation and considerations for bringing your pet overseas. If you have a small pet, they should be able to accompany you in the cabin. However, larger pets will travel in the cargo for pets. It is important to note that if your pet and their kennel weigh more than 70 pounds, you may be required to travel commercially and/or pay extra charges.

Also, know that the Navy Lodge located at NAS 1 does not allow pets to stay that are over 70 pounds. Visit https://www.navy-lodge.com/Sigonella for more info or call DSN 314-624-4082 or Comm. +39-095-713-0190

Navy Gateway Inns & Suites: We are pet friendly! Be aware of pet owner responsibilities before making your reservation.

Please view Pet Policy and Fees at: dodlodging.net/NGIS_PetPolicy_May2016.pdf. or call DSN 314-624-6832 or Comm. +39-095-56-6832

• Pet friendly guest rooms are available in both NAS 1 and NAS 2 for domesticated dogs and cats weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Reservations for a pet friendly room must be made in advance and there is an additional $20 per night fee not to exceed $200 per stay.
• Pets may only occupy rooms designated as “Pet Friendly.” Guest rooms designated as Pet Friendly will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Please contact the front desk for more information and to check availability.

You should also consider the time of year you are traveling. There are certain months that air carriers, even military flights, are not permitted to transport animals because of extreme heat and cold weather conditions. It is imperative to contact the carrier and receive this information beforehand.

There is no quarantine for importation of dogs and cats. To import your pet, you will need a rabies vaccination that is older than 21 days. Vaccinations valid for one, two or three years are acceptable as long as the vaccination is current and has been administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

If you follow these rules bringing a pet to Sicily is not difficult, but you must plan carefully and well in advance. Where you can encounter problems is in making arrangements for transporting pets for your rotation following Sigonella. This is because families, who arrived without pets, often obtain them during their tour at Sigonella. This phenomenon lessens the number of pet slots on flights back to the States.

It is also important to keep in mind that airline pet slots drop considerably during summer months because fewer airlines transport pets after the weather turns warm. Our research indicates that the cost of commercially transporting a pet from Europe to the United States can be as high as $4,000. Commercial airlines have been banning certain breeds all together, so do your research before bringing your pet to the island so as to ensure an easier transition to your next duty station.

Sigonella welcomes pets. To make your departure from Sigonella easier we strongly encourage you to plan for the cost of transporting your pet at the end of your tour in Sigonella in advance. This will ensure that your trip to your next duty station will be pet-stress free.

Personnel on all types of orders must make initial arrangements through Navy Passenger Transportation Office. Pet spaces are on a first-come basis. You must ensure your pet carrier meets the requirements of your airline in advance. An Italian Health Certificate through the Italian Embassy is also needed.

The Veterinary Treatment Facility is located on Naval Air Station one. The local DSN is 314-624-4258 or Comm +39-095-56-4258. Pets must be registered within five days of arrival, on base at the NAS 1 vet clinic aswell as at the Catania "ASP" office . Pets do not need to be present for registration just their medical records.