Enjoying Switzerland with Your Pet

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with its landscapes forming the backdrop of many a movie, play or novel. The country is a pleasant combination of processes that work like precision clockwork and huge untamed mountains and valleys. The country is quite foreigner friendly, due to the huge tourist masses it attracts from both far and near, but the best part for you as a pet owner is that it is also pet friendly.

Taking a pet into Switzerland is much easier than taking it to most other countries like Australia and UK. In fact, the process is simple enough for you to take your pet even if you are going on a holiday. Swiss regulations regarding pet travel import are fairly flexible, mainly because of the small territory and the large number of foreign visitors that it attracts.  So pet transport can be easy to Switzerland.  

Dogs and cats can enter Switzerland without a permit if they are less than three in number and accompanied by a person. No border veterinary inspection is required in such cases. A rabies vaccination certificate is required, which should certify that the animal was vaccinated at least 30 days and no longer than one year before crossing the border. However, dogs and cats from rabies-free countries that forbid rabies vaccinations like Australia and New Zealand and puppies and kittens up to 5 months of age from European countries (except Turkey and the States of the former Soviet Union) or from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are exempt from this rule.

Guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice, canaries and certain aquarium fish can be taken to Switzerland without any veterinary certification. Other animals might require an import permit or their importation could be prohibited.A veterinary certificate along with an import permit is required for taking domestic animals such as horses, turtles, parrots and ferrets.

Another thing that will make pet owners happy is that animals are generally not quarantined once they enter Switzerland. But then, birds are, and your pet may be put into quarantine until it is established that there is no danger of parrot fever.

Once your pet has crossed the border into Switzerland, it can get ready to get a taste of the good petӒ's life. All kinds of pet food are easily available in pet stores and supermarkets. Dogs and cats are allowed everywhere ranging from trains and buses to restaurants and parks, as long as they are on a leash or in a basket. Small animals can travel for free on the owners lap while larger dogs can sit near their owner by paying for half a ticket. Vets and pet care facilities are in abundance so much so that almost every neighborhood has its own vet. The government provides bins at every corner for disposal of dog waste. Even the places that do not allow dogs inside like grocery stores and post offices provide hooks outside for tying up your pets.