Almost all countries worldwide have restrictions on passengers traveling with their pet dogs. The restrictions are there not merely to annoy dog owners but basically to protect the local dog population from any disease that may be brought by new pet dogs entering their country.

Airline travel involving people and their pet dogs is becoming customary nowadays especially with the strong attachment developing between the owners and their pet dogs. Some people travel by air with their pet dogs in tow for the purpose of joining dog shows.

One of the countries that have very strict restrictions on pet dogs entering their jurisdiction by air is Europe. Not only are European authorities concerned about the entry of dogs through airlines coming from other countries but they also have rules even for dogs traveling from one European country to another.

People flying in their dogs from a third country or between European counties should make sure that the dogs have microchip attachments that have passed ISO standards for the purpose of identification. European authorities also require that the owners or other responsible persons are accompanied their dogs.

Passports may be an important travel document for all people but European authorities also make this a requirement for dogs. Pet owners traveling with their pet dogs by air for the first time, and the air travel is between European countries, should be aware that European authorities require a blue pet passport for dogs. If the dog is flying in from a third country then the owner should accomplish Form EU 998, a form that can be easily downloaded from the internet.

Form EU 998 or the dog passport should confirm that the dog has been vaccinated for anti rabies and the vaccination was done by a licensed veterinarian. European laws require that the anti rabies vaccination must have been administered at least thirty days before the air travel to any country in Europe. The dog documents should also show any other vaccination that the dog has received especially vaccines that are required by specific countries in Europe.

While passports for human travelers are normally required to be in a specific format, passports for dogs traveling to Europe by air should be accomplished in block style and written in both the English and French languages.

For Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom the microchips requirement are more stringent as the microchips should meet specific standards of ISO particularly ISO 11784 and 11785. And aside form anti rabies vaccines, the said European countries also demand for the conduct of a serological rabies test in a certified laboratory. They also require that the blood of the dog should show sufficient antibodies. However, the said tests are no longer necessary for dogs traveling between the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Malta.

European authorities are not so stringent when it comes to vaccination requirements for dogs traveling between the European Union. They even allow dogs that are no older than three months to enter any European country without vaccination. However, this only allowed for dogs that have EU Form 998 and have not been in contact with animals that may infest them with any infection.

Pet owners traveling by air to any of the European countries should make sure they comply with the requirements or face the consequences of entering their destination without their pets or going back to where they came from.