Shipping Pets

Licensing and Vet Services
Upon arrival or adoption of new pets, all pets living on and off-base, must be registered with the Kaiserslautern Veterinary clinic on Pulaski Barracks (Vogelweh Military Complex), Bldg. 2928 or another Military Veterinary Treatment Facility (i.e. Baumholder). Veterinary Services are appointment based only and emergency care is not available. Registration consists of maintaining a current medical record and a valid rabies certificate (for cats and dogs). If vaccines are given to your pet off-base, please bring proof of vaccination so we can update our records.

Download this pet registration form and fill it out. Afterward send it to this email address: usarmy.landstuhl.medcom-ph-e.mbx.vmce@health.mil

Veterinary Medical Center Europe: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays for clinic meetings. Open from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for over-the-counter medication pick-ups, registration and for making appointments) by appointment only; DSN: 590-1900 or 06371-9464-1900.

Emergencies
Once you are settled, you should find a German vet in case of after-hours emergencies. The military vet clinics have listings of local German vets.

ID: Animals in Germany -- German law requires that the identification tag be worn on the animal at all times. Rabies certification must be kept current. When not confined, a dog must be on a leash.

Housing: Finding housing with a pet is no more difficult than in the States--some landlords will accept them, some will not. An additional security deposit may be required. Germans love animals and a properly behaved dog on a leash can bring a smile to most. Note the words "properly behaved" and "leash;" again, courtesy and self-discipline are prominent aspects of the society.

Pet insurance: Animals are not allowed to run loose in Germany. Rabies is a problem in Germany, so if you plan to bring your pet, plan for it to live in the house or a fenced yard and only stay outside in a carrier or on a leash. As a pet owner, you are liable for any damage your pet may do--anything from digging up your landlord's flowerbed to causing a car to hit a telephone pole while veering to miss the animal. Most insurance companies offer pet liability insurance at a nominal fee.

Pet Examination Fee: Beginning Feb. 1, pet owners arriving at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal will be assessed a 55 Euro veterinarian examination fee in accordance with European Union Ordinance #998/2003. The fee will be charged per household, not per pet. The fee is not reimbursable on travelers orders and will be payable by credit card only.

Pets in Germany -- Germans love their animals, but they also take pet ownership very seriously, as we all should. So before figuring out all the steps to get your pet to Germany, ensure you review the differences in the laws and general guidelines associated with pet keeping here.

Of note from the USDA:
"Pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be identified with a microchip compatible with ISO standard 11784 or 11785 or the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet. Microchip implantation must occur PRIOR to rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination that occurs prior to microchip implantation is not considered valid regardless of whether the animal was up-to-date on its previous rabies vaccines. In this case, the animal must be revaccinated. 21 days must have elapsed after the first (primary) vaccination after implantation of the microchip before the animal is eligible to enter the European Union. A rabies vaccination is considered primary if either: (1) an animal was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination but vaccination occurred prior to microchip implantation, (2) vaccination was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination, or (3) the animal was vaccinated for the first time."

Germany has implemented a dangerous dog law that prohibits the breeding or trade of "dangerous dogs." Dogs with a history of attacking or biting people can also fall under this new law. "Dangerous dogs" may not be imported to Germany under any circumstances. Already the attempt to import a dangerous dog is punishable by law.

For more information and a list of prohibited breeds, check out the "Dangerous Dogs" fact sheet.

Furthermore, there are strict guidelines for leaving pets alone and general upkeep. In addition to the difference in laws and guidelines, shipping pets and finding a home to house them can be challenging tasks.

Not all landlords allow pets, and even those that do often only allow small pets. For those staying on base, keep in mind you are limited to two pets, and dogs that are on the dangerous dog list are NOT allowed in housing.

Abandoning your pet at any time during your stay in Germany is NOT an option. Due to all these issues, many individuals often decide to leave "Fluffy" and "Fido" with family during their overseas tour.

Health Certificate -- Before you ship your pet, a veterinarian must verify the health of the animal and issue a certificate dated within 10 days of your arrival. The certificate must be in German and English and state that the animal is in good health and had a rabies vaccination more than 30 days old but less than one year.  Military vets are usually familiar with this certificate, but civilian vets may need several weeks lead time to order the certificate from the Department of Agriculture.

Veterinary certificate needed for Germany

Don't wait until the last minute to discuss the health certificate with your vet. The time limit for the validity of the certificate and vaccination is subject to change and varies dependent upon the air carrier.

Pet Quarantines -- Germany does not require quarantine for any animal.

Licensing and Vet Services
Upon arrival or adoption of new pets, all pets living on and off-base, must be registered with the Kaiserslautern Veterinary clinic on Pulaski Barracks (Vogelweh Military Complex), Bldg. 2928 or another Military Veterinary Treatment Facility (i.e. Baumholder). Veterinary Services are appointment based only and emergency care is not available. Registration consists of maintaining a current medical record and a valid rabies certificate (for cats and dogs). If vaccines are given to your pet off-base, please bring proof of vaccination so we can update our records.

Download this pet registration form and fill it out. Afterward send it to this email address: usarmy.landstuhl.medcom-ph-e.mbx.vmce@health.mil

Veterinary Medical Center Europe: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Closed from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays for clinic meetings. Open from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for over-the-counter medication pick-ups, registration and for making appointments) by appointment only; DSN: 590-1900 or 06371-9464-1900.

Emergencies
Once you are settled, you should find a German vet in case of after-hours emergencies. The military vet clinics have listings of local German vets.

ID: Animals in Germany -- German law requires that the identification tag be worn on the animal at all times. Rabies certification must be kept current. When not confined, a dog must be on a leash.

Housing: Finding housing with a pet is no more difficult than in the States--some landlords will accept them, some will not. An additional security deposit may be required. Germans love animals and a properly behaved dog on a leash can bring a smile to most. Note the words "properly behaved" and "leash;" again, courtesy and self-discipline are prominent aspects of the society.

Pet insurance: Animals are not allowed to run loose in Germany. Rabies is a problem in Germany, so if you plan to bring your pet, plan for it to live in the house or a fenced yard and only stay outside in a carrier or on a leash. As a pet owner, you are liable for any damage your pet may do--anything from digging up your landlord's flowerbed to causing a car to hit a telephone pole while veering to miss the animal. Most insurance companies offer pet liability insurance at a nominal fee.

Pet Examination Fee: Beginning Feb. 1, pet owners arriving at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal will be assessed a 55 Euro veterinarian examination fee in accordance with European Union Ordinance #998/2003. The fee will be charged per household, not per pet. The fee is not reimbursable on travelers orders and will be payable by credit card only.

German Rules On Dangerous Dogs

In April 2001, German law was passed on import of dangerous dogs for protection of the citizens. The local offices of public order (OPO) at city and county level are appointed to enforce the dangerous dog regulation.

Dangerous dogs are defined as animals either
- known to be vicious
- having indicated inclinations to attack game or livestock
- having attacked persons
- having shown unusually aggressiveness

Automatically included are Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bullterriers and other dogs descendant from one of these dogs.

These races and any dogs deriving from these races cannot be imported to Germany. Breeding, reproduction, and trade of dangerous dogs are prohibited. The responsible authority may order the dog to be neutered. Dogs may not be trained or bred to become dangerous dogs.

Permission by the local authority is required to keep a dangerous dog. The owner must justify the need to keep the dog, for example as a watch dog. Furthermore, the owner must be at least 18 years of age and personally qualified. Personal qualification requires passing an aptitude test administered by a person or office certified by the State Veterinarian Chamber. This test is only valid for 5 years and only connected to the dog that is tested together with the owner.

Certain criteria automatically disqualify persons to own dangerous dogs:
- final conviction for at least one crime committed with premeditation or twice for crimes committed while drunk within the last 5 years
- addiction to alcohol or drugs, or mental illness or impairment
- repeated violation of dangerous dog legal provisions

Dangerous dogs must be kept safely. They must be marked with an electronic chip applied by a veterinarian. The dog owner has to show proof thereof to the local authority. Furthermore, if the dog is lost or given into somebody else's custody for more than 4 weeks the owner must notify the local authority.

In public areas, including common areas in multi-family housing such as stairwells, dangerous dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle. Dog owners may ask for an exemption to wear a muzzle if the dog poses no danger to public security. Persons walking dogs in public must be 18 years or older, physically able to control the dog and not disqualified. A person may only walk one dog at a time.