Shipping Pets

All pets will need a German and English bilingual Veterinary Health Certificate which states the animal is in good health, free from rabies and other contagious diseases, and that the pet meets all microchip and rabies vaccination requirements in order to enter Germany.

Once your pet arrives, it must be registered with the Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF), Building 8758, in the Clinic Kaserne behind the Baumholder Health Clinic. Contact by telephone CIV: 011-49-06371-9464-1200 or DSN: 314-590-1200. Registration for your pet is on a walk-in basis during their business hours. Your pet does not need to accompany you to register, however, you should bring your pet’s vaccination record and any medical records from vaccinations or treatments received at civilian veterinary clinics. German law requires that the animal must be vaccinated for rabies (both 1 year and 3 year vaccines are allowed, following manufacturer instructions) and an identification tag is to be worn on the animal at all times. When not confined, a dog must be on a leash.

The veterinary treatment facility can provide you a list of some of the host nation veterinary clinics in the area when you register your pet. It is important that you identify a host nation veterinarian for your pets to see in an emergency, or when appointments are not available at the VTF. It is also very important that owners register their pets with Tasso, as this is the method German authorities and animal shelters will use to look up the microchip numbers of stray and found animals.

If residing in on-base housing, pets are required to be registered with Housing Office CIV: 0611-143-531-2978 or DSN: 314-531-2978. No more than two dogs or cats or combination thereof are authorized per Family housing unit. Rules regarding pets in on-base housing can be found in the Army Family Housing Reference Guide here.

Personnel need to make special arrangements when traveling with Family pets to Germany. Please contact your airline for details on shipping your pet, and specific airline requirements. If you are unable to make reservations with an airline, you may need to engage with a pet shipping company to help ship your pet.

Check with veterinary services in your area to assist with tips for preparing pets for travel and necessary documentation. The United States Department of Agriculture Pet Travel website has up to date references on the requirements and documentation needed for travel to Germany.  More info contact Dog Center Europe/Kaiserslautern VTF: Contact - 06371-9464-1900 or Shipping Pet Policies: CIV: 011-49-06371-9464-1200

If flying on a commercial flight, you will clear your pet at Frankfurt International Airport upon arrival, either at the civilian air freight cargo terminal or Pet Lounge if your pet did not fly with you, or at the baggage area if it did. There is a customs fee of 55 euros payable by credit card at the cargo terminal or baggage area.

Pets do not have to be quarantined in Germany as long as they meet the entrance requirements. Your pet needs an ISO-compatible microchip, a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and a bilingual health certificate. It is required that the health certificate was not issued more than 10 days prior to arrival, that the rabies vaccination was performed at least 21 days prior to arrival but is not expired before the date of arrival, and that the microchip was implanted prior to the rabies vaccination.

For complete details, please visit the USDA APHIS Website.

If you are bringing your pet, it is important that you make pet arrangements before you leave the U.S. Ask your sponsor for assistance. Although lodging allows pets in some rooms, the number of rooms are limited. Some German hotels may allow your pet to room with you for an additional fee. It might be necessary to keep your pet in a kennel until you have secured quarters. Contact the Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF) CIV: 06371-9464-1200 from Germany or CIV: 011-49-06371-9464-1200 from the U.S. or DSN: 314-590-1200 for a list of kennels in the area.  Make sure that you plan accordingly/don't wait last minute with this situation.  Create a checklist with it:  Microchip Implant, Rabies Vaccination, Lab Test (FAVN), Advance Notification, Health Certificate and more.  For more information and helpful tips on traveling with your pet: Public Health Command Region Europe Pet PCS Checklist, www.chippmeur.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil/sites/vet/ PCSing.aspx, Air Mobility Command Pet Travel, http://www.amc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110415-049.pdf, Animal Care Pet Trave, www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel.shtml., Www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/index.html; Www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal/fag.htm; www.avma.org/service/vprc/travel.asp

The Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF) is located in Building 8758, Clinic Kaserne; from Germany CIV: 06371-9464-1200, from the U.S. CIV: 011-49-06371-9464-1200; or DSN: 314-590-1200. All pets must be registered prior to being able to make appointments. The veterinary clinic offers affordable quality care for your pets by appointment only on a space-available basis. Services include health certificates, annual wellness examinations, routine sick-calls, vaccinations, fecal examinations, heartworm testing, laboratory workup and elective surgeries. Excluded from surgery is cosmetic surgery (ear and tail cropping, declawing).

While some specialized services are available, clients may be referred to host nation veterinarians due to limitations in availability. Walk-ins, emergency care, and overnight hospitalization are not available at the VTF. Upon registration, owners will be provided a list of some of the nearby off-base veterinarians, including those that provide emergency services.

Note: It is against the law to abandon your pets in Germany.  Please inform the VTF staff of your travel plans as soon as possible; this will help you ensure that all travel requirements are completed on TIME.