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For many Spanish Property ABC clients looking
to make a permanent home under the Spanish sun, there is
one question probably as important to them as any other
they may ask and that is, what is the situation in regard
to taking their pets to Spain?
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| To import an animal into Spain
is nowhere as difficult as importing one into the UK but nonetheless
there are procedures which must be followed. You will need
to obtain from a UK or ROI veterinary surgeon, a "pet passport"
showing that it has been inoculated and is free from those
diseases as notified from time to time by the appropriate
Spanish authority. The main concern of course is rabies, something
quite rare in the UK and ROI.
Once you are in possession of the necessary
documentation, it is simply a matter of choosing how
you wish to export your pet. If you are driving to Spain it
may well be that you will wish to take your pet with you.
Do remember, the time spent on the Ferry may be as long as
36 hours, depending on your destination. During this time
Fido is going to spend the odd penny or two and you should
check with the Ferry company as to what the facilities are
for this and their current regulations for animals in transit.
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Possibly, the easiest and less traumatic
way to export an animal is by air. From the UK this currently
costs in the region of £200. Your animal will be collected
from your home, or a specified location, taken to the airport
and placed on the appropriate aircraft to be delivered and
collected by you. Some companies will arrange for collection
and delivery from the destination airport but it is usually
far better for you and the animal if you undertake this
duty yourself.
Companies specialising in this work can be
found in Yellow Pages under "Pet Transportation" but if
you have any difficulties in finding one, try Skymaster
in Manchester. Alternatively, Spanish Property ABC will
be happy to make all necessary arrangements for you. Contact
the UK or ROI offices.
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| Having got their
pet safely to Spain, the next question concerns the standard
of veterinary care available. Here the news is excellent.
Not only are there many excellent Spanish veterinary surgeons
but a significant amount of British ones as well.
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Often the facilities available
for animals are far better than those found in the UK
or ROI.
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| It is good policy to as soon
as possible following your arrival, to find a vet to look
after your pets. An even better policy would be to have found
one prior to their arrival in case of journey problems. Either
way he can give them a medical and thorough checkup and advise
you of those things you need to know and be aware of.
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discuss with him or her the advantages of insuring your pets
against illness although veterinarian fees in Spain are modest
to say the least. Veterinarian practices in Spain are excellent.
The writer has never seen anything in the UK to equal some
of the practices available here in Spain. Modern, well equipped
and with stocks of everything imaginable, your pet could not
be in better hands. The
Spanish-Property ABC
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In public areas a dog must be
kept on a lead and if classified as dangerous, it must be
muzzled. Although your dog may be chipped, it is still advisable
for it to wear a collar with an identity disk or similar device
attached to it. The word Recompensa which translates to reward
will greatly assist your pet being returned should it stray.
If the reward is too generous, you may find Felix is being
kidnapped regularly by children.
Finally, the law regarding animals in Spain
is constantly changing. As a foreigner you may not get away
with quite as much as a Spaniard can. This being the case
ensure that you are kept informed as to current animal legislation.
Ask your vet to keep you informed or if you are an Spanish
Property ABC client you can register for the pet update service
where you will be contacted either by email or sms if significant
changes in the law concerning pets occurs. The
Spanish-Property ABC |
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