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Traveling With Your Pet

If you are traveling overseas (to North America or to Europe) with your Mudi and it is microchipped, please bring your scanner with you as many scanners do not read other manufacturers chips that are used in the different parts of the globe. This applies to both European travelers and North American travelers.

EU Rules Concerning Travel With Your Pet

As Hungary is now a European Union (EU) member country, you must have an EU Pet Passport for your dog (or cat) to travel across European borders. You need to have your pet microchipped and purchase this Passport at your vet (for European owners) or you may need to purchase it at a vet once you arrive in an EU country from a non-EU country. Chipping with an EU brand microchip may be required as well. The costs for these items varies from country to country, as well as from vet to vet. But an approximate cost in Hungary would be in the area of $20. (USD) for the EU Passport and $35. (USD) for the microchip.

The rules for travel to and from Great Britain (even though it is an EU country) may not be the same as for the rest of the EU countries. Please check the requirements well in advance of your visit.

Also, if you leave an EU country and go to a non-EU country that is determined by the EU to be not safe for rabies control, you must have your EU Pet Passport stamped with a recent (check with the "official vet" on the date/time requirements) Rabies Titer level test to re-enter Hungary or any other EU country. IF you do not have this performed under the requirements of the country you wish to re-enter, your pet will be prohibited from re-entering. Please check with each country you plan to visit as to the requirements needed several months prior to your travel as some of the Titer tests need 4 or more months time to complete the necessary requirements.

Some countries that are not EU countries (i.e. Switzerland) may not allow dogs from Hungary to enter without a recent Rabies Titer level test. You must check with these countries as well as to what the requirements are. Each country may have different requirements. Usually the Titer test results need to be stamped into your pet's EU Passport as well.

The Rabies Titer level test can be done by any vet, but it cannot be performed sooner than 30 days after the Rabies vaccination and usually no later than 3 months before your travel dates. There is only one lab in Hungary that can perform the test. The fee for the Titer level test only is approximately $75. (USD). The vet will charge you an additional fee as well.

All dogs flying/driving across EU borders must have a current rabies vaccination that is at least 30 days old stamped into their EU Passport. This includes previously vaccinated dogs as well (that is, dogs that were given a rabies vaccine before).

To bring your dog onto the grounds of a Hungarian dog show, either as a spectator or competitor, your dog must have proof of a Rabies vaccine in the last 12 months by a veterinarian. Bring original signed certificates-not photo copies.

The USA is considered safe for pets to travel to and from Hungary with only a Passport and current vet health certificate (which requires a current Rabies vaccination). Hungary does not recognize the 3 year Rabies vaccine used in the United States, the vaccine must be under one year old for the entire length of your visit to and from Hungary or you will need to revaccinate your dog before you leave the USA or while you are in Hungary. But as rules are always subject to change, you should always check before your planned visit to make sure the requirements are known and completed prior to your visit. The age of puppies being flown also has special requirements.

Please check with each countries "official vet" to determine what it's requirements are well in advance of your travel, not only do you want to avoid the expense and disappointment of not being able to enter the country with your pet, but most importantly to avoid the even more unpleasant situation of your pet not being allowed to re-enter the country you live in or are staying in for the remainder of your trip.

Myth: Airline cargo compartments are not pressurized.
Fact: The aircraft structure is basically a pressurized cylinder. All compartments on modern aircraft are pressurized that hold luggage, people or pets.

Myth: It is best to tranquilize your pet before it flies to keep it calm.
Fact: High altitudes have a natural sedative-like effect on most mammals. Thereby tending to lower respiration (breathing) and blood pressure. For this reason, routine tranquilization of pets is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED as these drugs further suppress respiration and blood pressure and make it more difficult for you pet to adjust to the environment. Most pets settle down once onboard the plane and sleep for the duration of the flight. Always consult your vet before administering any tranquilizers, sedatives or drugs to your pet before flying.

Myth: Cargo compartments are not heated.
Fact: Cargo compartments are heated through the pressurization process. The minimum temperature of this process maintains the cargo compartment temperature at 38-45 degrees Fahrenheit which will keep luggage and cargo from freezing. These cargo compartments are not used for flying animals and are marked for ground crews to be reminded. Most aircraft have one or more compartments with supplemental heating systems which hold live animals and are heated to a temperature similar to that in the passenger compartment of approximately 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit. These compartments are marked clearly as suitable for animals.

Myth: Unventilated cargo compartments are not safe for pets.
Fact: While most aircraft do not have forced air ventilation in the cargo compartments, they do have adequate airflow. While in flight, pressurized air flows from the passenger cabin into the cargo compartments. Under the pressurization process some of the air naturally leaks around the compartment doors. This air is subsequently replaced by air from the passenger cabin there by maintaining a constant air pressure throughout the aircraft. This naturally occuring ventilation provides a safe and comfortable environment for pets. The FAA and USDA support this fact through a study they conducted and state that "conditions in the unventilated cargo compartments remain within limits consistent for maintenance of animal health during normally scheduled flights of the commerical transports monitored".

Myth: Cargo compartments are unsafe and inhumane.
Fact: Of course your pet does not get a couch and entertainment, but the compartment in which they travel is heated and pressurized. Training of your pet to be comfortable in a crate before it flies is a major aid towards reducing stress levels and raising its ability to relax more easily.

Myth: The airlines kill, injure or lose thousands of pets every year.
Fact: This is the animal welfare groups gross misstatement of facts. In the early 90's the ATA issued a press release stating: "The airlines have an excellent record in transporting pets, which they consider an important part of their business. More than 99% of the estimated 500,000 dogs and cats that the airlines handle each year reach their destination in good health and without any problems." The national animal welfare organizations have erroneously inferred that the remaining one percent, or 5,000 dogs and cats, were subsequently injured, lost or died during air transportation. What the ATA statement meant by "without any problems" clearly did not mean that "problems" meant death, injury or loss of the animal. The problems referred to by the ATA concerned unfavorable weather conditions at the time of acceptance, kennels (crates) that did not meet USDA regulations, lack of proper documents, etc. When asked to provide proof of the loss of life, etc., the animal welfare organization could only account for 9 incidents.

Myth: No one at the airlines cares about my pet.
Fact: Most airline employees have pets too. Airlines are very aware that pets are very precious to the people that fly them and go to great measures to ensure the pets are handled in a safe, humane and prompt way. Many airlines have specially trained employees to handle the pets and specific temperature guidelines. Some will even notify the passenger that their pet has been loaded on board safely before the flight leaves.

Please contact the air carrier you plan to use well in advance of your flight to make sure of their specific rules and requirements before you plan to fly your pet. Every airline may not have the same rules.

Many airlines have temperature restrictions in effect. Please consult the airline you will use to fly your pet for further details.