Taking A Dog To Europe

[Tokker]

We've lived in thailand for 3 years. Upon arrival we bought a dog (pug). Now we have decided we will go back to europe (belgium) and obviously we don't want to leave the dog behind. Can anybody refer me to a post or website with the correct information on what we should do exactly? thanks

[Nienke]

Hi Tokker,

First of all the vaccinations need to be up to date. That is, your dog need to have recieved the vaccinations not less than a month or longer than a year before arrival in Belgium

As Belgium is part of the European Union, you need to have proof that your pug is rabies free. For this you need to send a sample of your dog's blood to the Pasteur Institute in Brussels. There they will check the blood for antibodies against the rabies virus. If your dog hasn't had a rabies vaccination every year, then you have to make sure that your dog has recieved the rabies vaccine at least a month before you take blood sample.

It takes about a month before you get the test results back, which they will send to you. From that moment your dog needs to stay another 3 months in Thailand before he can travel to Belgium. The vet can take the blood sample and most probably can send it to Europe for you as well. All has to be done in a week, that is from the moment that the sample is taken to whne it arrives at the Pasteur Insitute. Sending blood by TNT or so isn't cheap though.

Make also sure that the vaccination book of your dog contains the sticker from the vaccine bottle, the stamp of the vet and his/her signature.

Your dog needs an ID: tattoo or microchip.

I've understood from Kadafi's post (see pinned subjects) that certain airlines, like Thai Airways, now refuse to take short-nosed animals. So, double-check with your airline company.

Crate train your dog way in advance. You can find information about how to do, here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...=importing+dogs

Export permit and health certificate from the Animal Quarantine Station (http://www.dld.go.th/dcontrol/image/AQS.jpg): 3 to 5 days prior to departure. You need to bring your dog, the vaccination book and a copy, your passport and a copy, the Rabies test result and a document that the Pasteur Institute needs to send your with the rabies test results, that is 'veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats, ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (regulation (EC) No. 998/2003)'. This document you need to fill in completely with a stamp and signature of the Thai Animal Quarantine Station.

Make sure that all data on the different forms are the same, such as date of birth, color, sex, breed etc.

Import permit: to be obtain from the Ministry in Belgium, Couldn't find it through google, but you can try your Embassy in BKK or see this link (in Dutch, though): http://www.vlaanderen.be/servlet/Satellite...Infolijn%2FView

Lots of info and important links you can find here: http://www.abiec-bvirh.be/#

Well, I hope this is helpful and I didn't forgot anything.

Your neighbor, Nienke

[Tokker]

thanks a lot. Hartelijk bedankt. great info.

[Tokker]

I asked my vet about the procedure of sending the blood and getting all the paperwork ready. He said it would cost 15,000 baht (including the lab work). Is that a reasonable price? I know it's a lot but since the sample needs to be chilled at all times...

[Nienke]

Never have sent blood to Europe myself, but have heard of prices up to 20,000 baht. So, yes, I'm afraid 15,000 baht is very possible.

Nienke