No idea about the legalities, but we've taken our cats from and back to France on a few occasions over the years without problem. And we've never had any sort of passports for them.
You should have pet passports to travel across the borders, and vaccinations (at least the rabies vaccination) should be up to date.
Apart from entering the UK, I've never needed to show the passport, however, and I've been to Konstanz with my dog many, many times. Going to the UK requires extra work.
super easy to Germany, just need the pet passport showing all shots are up to date.
One thing though, in Germany, if you use the public transportation, you are legally supposed to have a muzzle on your dog. We've never actually put it on as our dog is never an issue, but we always had it and were actually asked about it once.
I believe Pet Passports, are those little booklets with has some ID details of the animal, that is mainly used for the evidence / history of their relevant vacinations.
I’m surprised. I would have thought that a cattery/kennel would want to make sure your pets’ vaccinations were up to date. Unless you’re leaving them with friends.
once - same guy that asked about the muzzle not being on. I don't think most really care really but if you are asked for it, I'm not sure what they do if you can't prove their shots are up to date.
The border guards do have the right to confiscate & terminate pets who do not have the correct documents; there was an article late last year in the local paper about about a family pet that was put down at the border. The Swiss border guards just phoned a vet who came & did it.
Of course you do have the option not to cross the border but then if you are abroad you have to find someone there who will board your pet, carry out the vaccinations, provide the paperwork, etc.
Pet passport for dogs and cats is fine. Other pets, for example, parrots on the CITES list, or any other species on that list, you need a lot more paperwork to show they are not illegal imports. Our parrot does not have a pet passport, but she does have a microchip(no ring) and is registered with ANIS. I am sure she could talk her way out of a difficult situation if the need arose.
If you are importing the pets into Switzerland for the first time, make sure you have all the paperwork in order.
In France you can of course get a vaccination certificate/booklet, assuming you get them done, but my understanding of a 'Pet Passport' is something very different. All else apart, there's no way of linking the booklet to any given animal, apart from vague colour description.
I think a proper 'Pet Passport' needs microchips and other complicated stuff, doesn't it? Like regular boosters for certain diseases and vet's exams.
That seems quite far fetched. Have you got a link to that? Seems to me that would only happen if the dog was on the dangerous dogs list for that area, and shows signs of extreme aggressivity.
We live very near the border and cross over and back regularly - and never had to show any documents at all. But we know all the border guards and they know our dog too - she barks at them everytime as well! However, if they chose to, they could ask for her passport, etc, and cause trouble if not available - the fact they don't does not mean they couldn't, if they so wished.