Shipping Pets

All pets will need a German/English bilingual veterinary health certificate which states the animal is in good health, free from rabies or suspicion of rabies and that the pet meets all microchip and rabies vaccination requirements in order to travel to Germany.

Once your pet arrives, it must be registered with the on-base Veterinary Treatment Facility Europe located in building, 2928 on Pulaski Barracks, telephone 011-49-6371-9464-1900 or DSN 314-590-1900. Hours of operation are as follows: Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The clinic is closed on the last business day of every month.

Registration can be completed digitally by completing the pet registration packet, and emailing it to usarmy.landstuhl.medcom-ph-e.mbx.vmce@health.mil. The registration packet is available for download here and/or on the VMCE Website. You must have a CAC to complete digital registration. You are also welcome to walk in the facility to register. Your pet does not need to accompany you; however, you must bring a copy of their most recent vaccinations with you. German law requires that the animal be vaccinated for rabies annually and an identification tag be worn at all times. When not confined, a dog must be on a leash.

The veterinary treatment facility will also provide you a list of host nation veterinarian specialists in the area when you register your pet. It is important that you identify a host nation veterinarian specialist for your pets to see in an emergency. 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. You can register them online from the Tasso website.

Traveling to Germany with pets requires you to make special arrangements before they are shipped. Pet travel costs are not paid for nor reimbursed by the government. The Patriot Express has limited pet spaces on each flight, so early booking is encouraged as these spots fill quickly. If you are coordinating transportation for your pet via a different airline, know that rules and costs vary across carriers.

Army veterinary treatment facilities are best equipped to do the necessary health checks and paperwork needed for shipping your pet to Germany. If you do not have a VTF near your location, check with veterinary services in your area for assistance with preparing pets for travel and getting them the necessary documentation. The United States Department of Agriculture has numerous up-to-date references on the medical requirements, as well as the documentation needed for travel to Germany.

Pet owners arriving on a commercial flight at Frankfurt International Airport will be charged a veterinarian examination fee in accordance with European Union Ordinance #998/2003 at the cargo terminal or baggage area. This fee will be collected at the civilian air freight cargo terminal if your pet did not fly with you, or at the baggage area if it did. It is payable by credit card only.

Pet owners arriving at the Ramstein Passenger Terminal will be charged a 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 do not have to be quarantined in Germany as long as they meet the entrance requirements. Your pet needs an ISO-compatible microchip, as well as a bilingual health certificate. It is important that this health certificate not be more than 10 days old, that the rabies vaccination is at least 21 days old, and that the microchip is implanted prior to the rabies vaccination.

For complete details visit the USDA APHIS Website.

If you are bringing your pet, it is important that you make arrangements for it before you leave the United States. Ask your sponsor for assistance. Although Ramstein 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 Veterinary Treatment Facility Europe at +49 (0)6371-9464-1900- or DSN 314-590-1900 for a list of kennels in the area.

The Veterinary Medical Center Europe treatment facility is located in Building 2928 Pulaski Barracks. Call 011-49-6371-9464-1900 or DSN 314-590-1900.

Registration of pets is required when inprocessing to the KMC. All pets must be registered before you can make an appointment. The veterinary clinic offers affordable, quality care for your pets. Services include health certificates, annual examinations, vaccinations, fecal examinations, heartworm testing, laboratory workup, surgery, and dentistry. Cosmetic surgeries such as ear cropping, tail cropping, and declawing are not performed.

While some specialized services are available, clients may be referred to host nation veterinary specialists due to limited availability. Emergency care and overnight hospitalization are not available on base; however, upon registration, owners will be provided a list of off-base veterinarians that can provide that service.

Pets requiring care beyond the capabilities of the veterinary clinic will be referred off base to ensure they receive the best care possible.

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.

Germany enacted a "Dangerous Dog" law that prohibits the import, breeding or trade of dangerous dogs in different areas of the country. The list varies by state, but the Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier are banned in all states. These races and any dogs deriving from these races cannot be imported to Germany.

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

It is important to have up-to-date information on this subject. For more information and questions, see the German Customs Website. The website includes a list of breeds affected by this law as well as additional information for the state of Rheinland-Pfalz where Kaiserslautern is located.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom prohibiting or restricting certain types of dogs and codifying the criminal offence of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.

Finding housing when you have a pet is usually no more difficult overseas than in the United States. Some landlords will accept them and some will not. An additional security deposit is usually required.

German Customs and Pets

Germans love animals, and a properly-behaved dog on a leash will often bring a smile. Note the words "properly behaved" and "leash," as courtesy and self-discipline are prominent aspects of the society. Dogs and cats are not allowed to run free in Germany. So if you bring your pet, plan for it to live in the house and go outside only within the confines of a fenced-in yard, in a carrier or on a leash.

Pet owners are liable for any damage their pet causes, from digging up a landlord's flower bed to causing a car to hit a telephone pole while swerving to miss the animal. Most insurance companies offer pet liability insurance at a nominal fee.

There are also many laws in Germany that Americans may not know about. Pet owners are encouraged to become familiar with the Animal Welfare Act and other regulations that outline those laws and requirements.

The German Animal Welfare Act (pdf) is some of the strictest legislation in the world and affords animals far-reaching protection. According to the law they are fellow creatures. Animals are not things. They are protected by special statutes. So plan accordingly and do your share of research on German Customs and Pets.