I'm curious if any of you ever adopted a dog from abroad, from a non-EU country?
As per guidelines, dogs entering Switzerland need to have a chip, passport and vaccinations.
But if you try to adopt a stray from, for instance, Serbia or Ukraine - they do not have those.
Any experiences?
Thank you
nalatajka
https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home...frettchen.html
Here is the BLV's online tool to help you - plug in the appropriate variable for your situation, the tool will tell you which steps to take and the order in which to take them.
https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home...frettchen.html
---
It's important to note that EU/non-EU is not the only issue. Whether the country from which you are importing is considered a rabies risk country is also important. The first page linked also links to a list of countries considered not at risk; if the country from which you are importing is not on these lists then it is considered a rabies risk.
I bring this up because both Serbia and Ukraine are considered rabies risk countries. So you have to follow the rabies vaxx steps to the letter, in the proper order. Check, and double check, that you have it right!
---
A side note: Unless something has changed isince I last checked, the temporary easing of import paperwork for pets from Ukraine only applies to refugees bring their own pets in.
Rescues bringing in homeless pets from Ukraine still had to abide by the full import regulations.
I don't have any more recent information. Contact the BLV if you have questions:
https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/de/home...n/kontakt.html
---
Importing from a rabies risk non-EU country means that the dog must first be microchipped, then vaxx'd, then wait 21 days. (Read the online tool steps carefully.) Obviously the situation in Ukraine is catastrophic for the shelters there now. Whether there is infrastructure available is anyone's guess.
If you want to help a dog from Ukraine, you might get in touch with Animal Happy End, a Swiss dog rescue group, who have been facilitating bringing dogs out to one of their partner organizations in Hungary.
https://www.animal-happyend.ch
Or contact one of the groups in Romania (or other neighboring countries) who are helping, for instance, see the shelters llisted here:
https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/...ations-ukraine
Because of the difficulty of the current situation, going through a rescue group in a bordering country that is working 'on the ground' helping the poor dogs of Ukraine might be the easier route.
---
The need will be great in Ukraine, certainly. But for now the situation is so fluid that it is hard to say what is going on from day to day.
Certainaly adopting a dog from any shelter in a country bordering Ukraine helps, as it frees up a place for another dog in need.
---
When importing from a non-EU country you of course will not have an EU passport. However, there are forms to fill out that take the place of the passport. These forms would contain all the information normally included in a passport. Again, see the online tool.
Once your dog is safely here, you would take him to a vet for the AMICUS registration, at which point the vet would give you an EU passport.
---
If the rescue you are working with is not familiar with importation to the EU/CH, ask to have a copy of the paperwork sent to you ahead of time - then ask the BLV for confirmation that everything is in order. Or engage a professional pet shipper, or post again here for advice.
Again, getting the order - microchip, rabies vaxx, waiting period - right is key. The 21 day waiting period if the dog is newly vaxxed is frustrating, but it is absolutely critical to do this right.
---
Good on ya for wanting to help.
Wishing you all the very best.