I know there was a thread about bringing in pets from overseas. I've had a look at a few links provided in those threads about importing pets. But my questions are a little more specific and I'm hoping someone here might have some answers.

The situations goes like this:
I have a friend in New Zealand moving to the UK Near the end of the year. UK you say? Why am I posting in the Switzerland forum you ask? Here's the problem, He has asked a favour (that I have not yet agreed to and made clear that I need to make sure of before accepting). He has a 2 yr old Golden Retriever that he wants to bring with him. But he's moving to UK with no job or accommodation yet. He's wondering if we, in Switzerland, are able to hold on to the dog for a couple of months until they find a suitable apartment. Then they will come to claim the dog from Switzerland.

My questions is... Is that allowed? There's importing your own pet to the country. Then there's transiting before going elsewhere. But this is more like a prolonged transit... Can anyone help answer this question? Or point me to who should I contact to clarify the details?

I'm trying to understand some other issues too, like pets in my apartment... I know that our building allows pets. if it turns out that I will be dog sitting for 2 months, do we need to inform the agency or the Hauswartin or both?

How about animal registration? I understand any dog over 6 months needs to be registered. But I'm not the official owner...

There just seems many issues tocover before deciding whether or not to do my friend this favour or not.

I'm sure the pet experts will be along shortly, but here's my non-expert two cents' worth...

If they have a European pet passport then this will be valid both in the UK and Switzerland. Curiously when it comes to pets then Switzerland is part of Europe. This may change if there are too many of those foreign pets coming in, taking out jobs, stealing our women, etc. But for the moment the pooch can feel all European while staying in Switzerland.

I understand that the animal should be microchipped and have all the revelant vaccinations. Unless of course the dog has owners that believe that vaccinations are harmful, in which case there may be some complications...

Maybe the easiest course of action would be for you to import the animal in your own name to Switzerland, then when it comes to ship it off to the UK, transfer the ownership back to the original owner. Sending it from Switzerland to the UK should be no drama at all.

This thread is effectively about importing the animal and holding it for a while. For the other pet related issues - please go to the relevant threads that already deal with this. About not being the official owner, just become the official owner.

You have two things to think about - first, to import your friend's dog into Switzerland, see:

http://www.bvet.admin.ch/ein_ausfuhr...x.html?lang=en

Then, to bring a pet into the UK under the PETS scheme, see:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm

If you have further questions the hotline for the PETS scheme is listed on the DEFRA website; the folks there are generally quite helpful.

A word of caution, though - the UK rules are stricter than the other EU states; be sure to follow the required steps exactly as stated. FYI, it takes about 7 months (rabies vac, titre test, then 6 month waiting period) to qualify if your friend hasn't started the PETS process already.

ETA - Mark is right; for a whole host of legal and practical reasons, it would be best to draw up a formal transfer of ownership or guardianship agreement with your friend before bringing the dog into Switzerland.

Thanks Meloncollie and Mark. That's helpful info there. As far as I'm aware, rabies doesn't exist in Australia and New Zealand (generally dogs and cats leaving NZ do need to be quarantined either) But I guess Hector will need all the necessary vaccines since he'll be in Switzerland a while. That's if he is even allowed to come. My friend's plans are currently tentative. They will be flying to UK at the same time or just after Hector is put on the plane to Switzerland. Then they will be visiting around Xmas/ New Years to reclaim (possibly very spoiled by the time) Hector whom I will most likely have become very attached to *sniffs*

I've sent the links to my friend in NZ, and he will be speaking to his Vet tomorrow. Hopefully they will be able to get an application to UK approved. I doubt they will make a move if they can't bring the dog. Unlike me, they have no family in NZ to leave the pet with.

well... fingers crossed and we'll see how things turn out.

Sorry if this was already said, my head is fried so I didn't read all of the above...

We recently took one of our dogs to the UK, here's EXACTLY what you need when coming to/from Switzerland:

Into Switzerland:

• Rabies vaccination, done at least 1 month before entry (since that's the incubation period for the disease)
• Official (internationally recognized) Pet Passport
• Microchip

Into the UK:

• Rabies vaccination, done at least 1 month before entry (since that's the incubation period for the disease)
• Rabies Antibody Titer test done at least 6 months before entry by the official veterinary office of Switzerland (located in Bern, a local vet here will send off the blood sample). Make sure that aside from the form from Bern you are given, you also have an entry by your vet in the Pet Passport stating that she/he saw the original results of the lab. There is an extra page for this in the passport.
• Flea & Tick Treatment inside of 48 hours before entry, to be noted in the Pet Passport by certified vet
• Official (internationally recognized) Pet Passport
• Microchip

Also be aware that the only points of entry into the UK are London Heathrow airport or Dover via the Calais-Dover ferry from what we were told by the UK embassy.

All relevant info listed here: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/ser...=1178870944499

Oh and if he needs a sitter I do that professionally

Not true: http://www2.keycamp.co.uk/explorethe...3/Default.aspx

You also failed to mention that, when the dog goes into the UK, he needs a shot against ticks and tapeworm and the vet needs to stamp this. On the day before entry is to the UK.

Yup you're right, flea and tick treatment needs to be done inside of 48 hours before entry, sorry, like I said my brain is fried...

As for the entry points the info in my post is the info given to us by the UK embassy in Switzerland and the UK respectively, so be warned... never trust a random vacation site over the authorities :·S

Cheers!

From my experience, pets from Aus & NZ do not need a pet passport for Switzerland, but will for the UK. The dog will need to have a rabies vaccination -particularly if there is any possibility that the dog will be returning to NZ. (In Aus, the rabies vacc had to given by a vet accredited with the quarantine/dept agriculture, but not sure if it is the same in NZ).
Another consideration is with airlines - issues with transit through Heathrow and also winter travel restrictions.
As for registering the dog here in Switzerland - I wasn't asked if I was the owner, just had to show details of her date of birth and rabies certificate.

www.defra.gov.uk this is actually the best source.

But the main concern is getting into Switzerland first and that's easier. The vet should ensure everything's ready.

I can vouch that Hull-Rotterdam has reasonable facilities for dogs and state so on their website (with reference to DEFRA too)

Thanks for the info. How does one get a pet passport? Would be helpful to know. When i wrote to the FVO, the lady who replied me never mentioned a per passport. I'm pretty sure the responsible owners have already sorted all that out anyway... since they've got the microchip already as well as the appropriate vaccinations and certificates. I'll talk to them about a passport just in case anyway. Mostly I just need to know what getting a pet here involves... and also getting it out to the UK as well.

Thanks again anyhow

the pet passport is simple a notarised list of shots the dog has had - from the vet. Usually it takes the form of a book.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar...routes-sea.htm

these are all the sea routes into the UK. From DEFRA. I would say in the car is the best bet for the hound but you will need a Swiss vet to do the work - and to avoid six months in quarantine, read this very carefully: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar...info/btest.htm as it might have to be done before leaving NZ - otherwise the dog is staying with you for more than 2 months.

Sorry to be so adamant but the OFFICIAL Pet Passport has been a legal requirement for pet travel in the EU since October 2006.

This passport replaces the habitual passports which simply list vaccinations.

It has a unique number for each pet and each page is perforated with that number.

This is massively important for travel. Just ask any vet!!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar...ocuments.htm#1

Oh and you can get the official passport from any certified vet! It'll cost you around 25,- CHF

So it's a vaccination and health care record? that's a given... shouldn't be a problem to get one. I thought it was a real passport... That clears up a whole lot

sorry to be so adamant but Switzerland isn't part of the EU. Frankly, we've highlighted what is needed to get into the UK but the dog will not be going to the UK, it will be staying in Switzerland for some time.

Microchip and record of shots will get the pooch in. Of course a pet passport is useful but it's just a record of dog -vs- chip -vs- shots.

Thanks IQ - you're right that the dog will need the passport for the UK (as I put in my original reply), but as NZ is considered a 'third country' the passport is not required to get into switzerland. Looks like the OP has got all the right links for the FVO, so should have all the latest info if the move goes ahead. cheers

Official EU pet passport is still necessary if you're crossing any borders, and CH is surrounded by EU, dunno what else to tell you.

It's a mess of non-information out there at the expense of (generally) decent pet owners.

These laws are designed to prevent illegal puppy farm style import/export, which is a good thing at least.

And luckily the UK doesn't require the previous quarantines anymore, unlike Australia for example (1 month)

So yeah, it's complicated.. but better to be safe than sorry. Some vets can provide useful info for travel as can airlines but you're better off speaking with an embassy.

To be extra safe ask for email responses and print them to take along - too many good people get turned back at the borders over stupid paperwork, even tho their pet is definitely not ill.

Good luck to all!

The irony is that I've been over the border so many times with the dogs - on the odd occasion we have to open the trunk and two dogs hop out so that they can continue their search for meat.....and never once has anyone batted an eyelid.

And they're them killar dogs too