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When beginning to relocate to France, no pet-owning transferee is going to be at home without his or her furry friend. There are a few things to understand before bringing a pet to the dog-loving country of France. Below is everything a transferee (and his or her pet) might encounter and needs to understand before relocating to France with a pet.
Microchip or Tattoo
Whether visiting or moving to France, it is imperative to have your pet marked and easily identifiable. There are two ways to go about this: giving your pet a microchip implant or giving her a small tattoo that helps identify her. If a transferee does not plan to spend more than a year in France, a microchip is required. If the time spent in France will be longer than a year, a choice between a tattoo and a microchip is offered. The microchip makes it easier to track the pet and tends to be recommended across the board (many cities in the United States actually offer discounts on microchip implants).
Rabies Vaccination
The laws in France changed in 2004, and they now require that all pets coming into the country have valid rabies vaccination and boosters. This means, of course, that bringing pets under three months of age into France could prove to be problematic, as they probably will not have the vaccination and the boosters. And, of course, a valid EU Pet Passport which states that the pet both has a rabies vaccination and is a healthy animal. This will need to be signed by a veterinarian surgeon. As for any other particular shots and tests your pet will need for the signature, it's best for the transferee to contact his or her pet's veterinarian.
The Flight
According to the United States Department of Agriculture Web site about transporting live animals, here are some important things to remember (taken from the USDA Web site):
Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and must have been weaned for at least five days.
If puppies or kittens less than 16 weeks of age are in transit more than 12 hours, food and water must be provided. Older animals must have food at least every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours. Written instructions for food and water must accompany all animals shipped regardless of the scheduled time in transit.
Animals may not be exposed to temperatures less than 45*F unless they are accompanied by a certificate signed by a veterinarian stating that they are acclimated to lower temperatures.
Animals cannot be shipped COD unless the shipper guarantees the return freight should the animals be refused at destination.
Airlines generally require health certificates from all shippers. So it’s a good idea to have a licensed veterinarian examine animals within ten days prior to shipment and issue a certificate stating that the animal is in good health. Airlines may not require health certificates for service animals used by passengers with disabilities.
Be sure to reserve a space for your pet in advance, and inquire about time and location for drop-off and pick-up.
Try to schedule a non-stop flight; avoid connections and the heavy traffic of a holiday or weekend flight.
For overseas travel (including Hawaii), inquire about any special health requirements such as quarantine.
Write your name, address and phone number on the kennel, and make sure your pet is wearing a tag with the same information. Consider purchasing a temporary tag showing your destination address and phone number. Bring a photo of your pet, in case it is lost.
Following these steps can make it a breeze for any transferee who has decided to relocate to France with their pet.
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