Are you considering taking your happy four-legged friend on vacation? Traveling with your pet can be both fun and exciting, but it requires good preparation. Here are six handy tips to get you started.
1. Check the laws and regulations in the EU
There are several laws and rules surrounding traveling with animals in the Netherlands. One of the rules is that dogs, cats and ferrets must have a chip for animal identification. This can also come in handy in case you lose your pet. In addition, the same animals must be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before departure. View all information regarding laws and regulations in European Union through the website of the Central Government.
2. Check laws and regulations outside the EU
In addition, it is also very helpful to check your destination for laws and regulations. This is even more important if you are going to travel outside the EU. It is good to know if your breed or type of animal is allowed to travel with you and what the conditions are. In addition, it is also important that you research this in time to make sure that things such as mandatory treatments or processes are completed in time before departure to avoid surprises.
3. Check out your destination
It is also definitely important to get to know the area and accommodation and check if it is suitable for your pet, for example: is it nice for active dogs to stay at a campsite where they can run freely. Then it is useful to check online with the campsite before you leave to see if this is allowed. It's also important to check the weather, if it gets too hot or cold, animals may suffer and you can also prepare yourself for this by, for example, getting clothes that can keep animals warm.
4. Make the journey as easy as possible
Besides the destination, you also need to think about the trip itself. Travel is difficult for some animals, so it is important that you prepare yourself and your pet well. It is important to find out before you get tickets for transportation whether the airline takes animals and what costs are involved. If you have not been traveling with your pet very often before, you could practice with this by, for example, taking a shorter car ride. On the trip itself, it is important that your pet is comfortable, so make sure they have a blanket, for example, or if they are in a transport cage that they are used to that.
5. Check destination vets
In addition to medical preparations in the Netherlands regarding travel with pets, it is also important to check in the area of your accommodation if there is a veterinarian nearby, where it is located and what costs are associated with an appointment. This is very useful in case of an emergency, but also if your pet gets sick, for example.
6. Advice from stores
Finally, don't forget to stock up on your supplies well in advance of your trip. It is helpful to look on the Internet for essential items that you can only purchase at a pet store. In these stores and on their websites, you can also get advice on the products, which in turn can help you get started preparing for your trip. The stores can offer you products such as environmental sprays and pet drinking bottles.
Good luck with your preparations for your trip and above all, make something fun together!
