Shipping Pets

Traveling with Pets (during COVID-19)

Visit the following website for more info: https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Pet-Travel-Pagepets

Checklist before the flight:

• Owners should proactively check with the airlines as soon as they are notified of their move and make pet PCS travel arrangements as early as possible.
• Due to reduced flights from COVID travel restrictions, airline flight limitations may affect pet transportation. Owners need to initiate plans as early as possible in order to investigate options.
• Monitor temperatures of the departure and arrival airport.
• Regarding extreme weather, per the USDA: ‘Kennels should be protected from extreme sunlight and extreme heat and cold. Sufficient shade must be provided to protect the dog from the direct rays of the sun at all times. During the movement of dogs to or from the airplane or animal holding areas the dog must not be exposed to ambient temperatures above 85 °F or below 45 °F for more than 45 minutes.’
• Regarding extreme temperatures, per the USDA: ‘Dogs must not be exposed to air temperatures above 85 °F (29.5 °C) or below 45 °F (7.2 °C) for a period of more than 4 hours. Dogs must not be accepted for transport unless the animal holding areas meet these temperature requirements.’
• USDA recommendations/general info about flying with your pet: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/pets-on-planes

Quarantine with Pets:

• Incoming pets will reside in the quarantine rooms with their families.
• Owners are responsible for supplying their own pet supplies including medications, food, and cat litter/pet waste bags. Please ensure you have enough of each to last for 2-3 weeks.
• The on-post veterinary clinic can provide telephone consultations and minor sick call care while the pet is in quarantine. Major sick call or emergency care will need to be provided by an off-post veterinarian.
• Pets must be registered with the veterinary clinic on post once the owner is released from quarantine. Registration occurs via walk-in (owner only - pets are not required to be present for registration). Please bring the pet's vaccination record when registering.

Wiesbaden Veterinary Treatment Facility, or VTF, information:

• Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 1 to 4 p.m., and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Phone number: (0)6371-9464-1544; DSN: 590-1544.
• For specific questions/concerns about your pet, please call the Wiesbaden VTF during our normal operating hours.
• For questions about booking travel arrangements or lodging, please contact your travel specialist or the lodging department.

Attacks on people by dangerous dogs  in some cases with fatal results  have made legislation to combat dangerous dogs necessary. As a result the (Hundeverbringungs- und -einfuhrbeschränkungsgesetz) came into force in 2001. Its provisions include a ban on the import and/or transfer of dogs that are classified as dangerous.

The Customs administration is involved in monitoring the import of certain breeds of dog.

The Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act prohibits the import or transfer into Germany of certain breeds of dog and crossbreeding of these dogs with one another, or with other breeds.

It refers to these breeds of dog:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Bull Terrier

Neither may dogs of other breeds or crosses of these breeds be imported or transferred from abroad if the regulations of the federal land in which a dog is to be permanently kept presume it to be dangerous.

Wiesbaden US Army Garrison Veterinary Treatment Facility is professionally staffed by Army Veterinary Corps personnel with the primary mission of providing complete veterinary care for all government-owned animals.

Our staff understands how important your pet is to you and with that in mind, we also offer many types of routine care services for the pets of military families. For availability of services or to schedule an appointment please call the number listed below.

All pets living on post must be registered with the VTF upon arrival. On-Post Housing may limit the number and breed of pets that can live in on-post housing. Contact on-post housing for more information.

Due to our limited manpower and resources, most veterinary emergency cases are best served through a full service civilian veterinary hospital.

Street: Bldg 1038, Wurger St. Wiesbaden AAF

City: Clay Kaserne

Country: Germany

Nearest Major City: Wiesbaden, GE

Appointments Available: Daily

For an appointment call: DSN 590-1544 or Civ +49(0)6371-9464-1544

Hours of Operation:

Closed in observance of all Federal Holidays.

Monday - Wednesday: 8 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday: 8 a.m.-noon

Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.:

Closed the afternoon of the last working day of each month for inventory. Closed on all Federal Holidays.

At Our VTF:

Please allow 72 hours notice when requesting prescription refills.

German Dangerous Dog Ordinance 

German states have passed a Dangerous Dog Ordinance placing restriction upon the ownership of certain types of dogs.

Military and civilian personnel moving to Germany should weigh the requirements of the German DDO and owner responsibilities for dogs that fit the criteria below when making a decision to bring such dogs with them.

The breeds affected by the new DDO vary from German state to state, but here in the state of Hessen and the city of Wiesbaden, the ordinance affects three prime breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, Pitbull Terrier, and Bullterrier. It is mandatory that all U.S. ID cardholders owning these breeds or mixes involving these breeds register their dog(s) with the US Army Veterinary Treatment Facility on Clay Kaserne. Registration with the VTF is free of charge. Owners must also register their dogs with the proper German authorities and have their dogs permanently marked with a tattoo or implanted with a microchip.

A muzzle is required in public until the owner and dog pass the voluntary temperament test, which demonstrates that a dog is not dangerous. The Hessen ordinance stipulates a charge to the owner for the temperament test.

Once the dog has passed the temperament test, the muzzle may be removed. A certificate attesting to passing the test will be issued. When in public, a dog still must be kept on a short leash and a copy of the certificate must be in the possession of an authorized adult while walking the dog in public. Persons who do not want to have their dogs tested may elect to keep the animal muzzled. In the event that a dog does not pass the temperament evaluation, German officials will determine what measures must be taken. At a minimum, such dogs must be muzzled and kept on a leash while in public. For aggressive dogs the officials could determine that liability insurance, impounding, neutering or even destruction are necessary.

Other than the mandatory registration of these dogs with the VTF, those living on U.S. installations are not affected by the new dangerous dog ordinance.

However, those choosing to live off-post in the local communities must strictly adhere to the ordinance.Please contact the Veterinary Treatment Facility at DSN: 314-590-1544 or OMM: +49 (0) 6371-9464-1544 for your questions.

The Customs administration is involved in monitoring the import of these breeds of dog. The Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act prohibits the import or transfer into Germany of certain breeds of dog and crossbreeding of these dogs with one another, or with other breeds.

It refers to these breeds of dog:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Bull Terrier

Neither may dogs of other breeds or crosses of these breeds be imported or transferred from abroad if the regulations of the federal land in which a dog is to be permanently kept presume it to be dangerous.

PCSing with your PETS: 

Before your flight: 

Owners should proactively check with the airlines as soon as they are notified of their move and make pet PCS travel arrangements as early as possible.

Due to reduced flights from COVID travel restrictions, airline flight limitations may affect pet transportation. Owners need to initiate plans as early as possible in order to investigate options. Monitor temperatures of the departure and arrival airport.

Regarding extreme weather, per the USDA: ‘Kennels should be protected from extreme sunlight and extreme heat and cold. Sufficient shade must be provided to protect the dog from the direct rays of the sun at all times. During the movement of dogs to or from the airplane or animal holding areas the dog must not be exposed to ambient temperatures above 85 °F or below 45 °F for more than 45 minutes.’

Regarding extreme temperatures, per the USDA: ‘Dogs must not be exposed to air temperatures above 85 °F (29.5 °C) or below 45 °F (7.2 °C) for a period of more than 4 hours. Dogs must not be accepted for transport unless the animal holding areas meet these temperature requirements.’

USDA recommendations/general info about flying with your pet: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/pets-on-planes

Quarantine with Pets:

Incoming pets quarantine with families. Owners supply their own pet medications, food, and cat litter/pet waste bags. Please have enough for 2-3 weeks. On-post veterinary clinic can provide telephone consults and minor sick call care while in quarantine. Major sick calls or emergency care need to be handled by an off-post vet. Pets must be registered with the veterinary clinic on post once the owner is released from quarantine. Registration occurs via walk-in (owner only - pets are not required to be present for registration). Please bring the pet's vaccination record when registering.