Pet Travel Question: Relocating a Dog from Europe to the US
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: German Shepherd
From: Bucharest, Romania
To: JFK, United States
My wife and I are considering purchasing a dog while here on vacation here in Romania. The dog is currently nine weeks old and we will be leaving Bucharest on the 27th of July. We have to spend one night in Kiev and then will be catching a flight out of Kiev to JFK on the morning of the 28th. We are concerned that 1) we will have to take the dog out of the airport and re check/cargo the dog and its cage the following day. 2) that we will have to meet Ukraine's requirements about which I've read multiple different requirements depending on the webpage I'm using. And 3) We have emailed the port authority at JFK and the airline we will be flying (Aerosvit), but they have not contacted us back. If the dog needs any additional vaccinations, by the time they give us confirmation of what's needed, there may not be enough time for us to get the vaccinations required for entry into either Ukraine or the United States.
Thank you,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your question! It sounds like you have an interesting situation here, and we'd be happy to help you sort it all out. First of all, be aware that flying such a young dog can have risks, so be sure to talk to your vet and consider the situation carefully before you make your decision.
As for the import requirements, it sounds like you'll need to meet the import requirements for the Ukraine as well as the import requirements for the US. Luckily the United States is actually one of the easier places to fly into, but in terms of making it there it's important that you're choosing a pet-friendly airline that makes pets' safety a priority. We recommend some of the larger and more established carriers like Lufthansa, KLM and Continental.
Please contact us if you have any more questions or concern, Chris. Good luck!