Pet Travel Expert

 Petrelocation.com - Pet Moving to Switzerland!

Switzerland a heaven on earth, a place which even gods wouldn֒t want to leave. It has some great sightseeing places and it enjoys a lovely weather for most part of the year. The country has a lot of visitors all through the year and tourism, along with expats relocating, is a major industry in this beautiful country. The country also has a very good internal transport system which works really well and all trains arrive on time, or so we are told. The nation has a disciplined population and having a culture which is a mix of German, French, and Italian cultures. The serene landscapes of the country invite people from all around the globe.

What got my attention, as I never knew this to be, is that the residents of Switzerland mainly speak German. The culture of this country has yodeling, Swiss wrestling etc. When in this country you can some traditional cooking and it surely is fun to cook rosti or the famed fondue.

The climate in Switzerland is generally temperate although it can vary between different extremes like glacial conditions in the mountain region to pleasant Mediterranean climate on the southern tip. The summers can be warm and humid with periodic rain while the winters can be cloudy and foggy. Switzerland has a weather phenomenon called the Fhn, which can occur anytime of the year.

Switzerland can be divided into three topographical areas, which is the Swiss Alps, the Swiss plateau and the Jura mountains. Some of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps include Dufourspitze at 4,634 metres (15,203 ft) and the Matterhorn (4478 m). This mountainous valley is filled with picturesque glaciers and countless waterfalls. The northern part of Switzerland is a hospitable hilly terrain with lakes and a partly forested area.

This month alone, we have moved 7 different families' pets to Switzerland, it seems to be a recent hot spot for expats relocating there. I wanted to touch base on a few of the basic rules for import with regards to the lovely land of Switzerland. For all pets, over five months old, they need to have an international health certificate showing vaccination against rabies - the shot must have been given within one year and more than 30 days from the time of departure. This is mandatory during all pet moving situations. Switzerland also requires an official letter from a veterinarian stating that your dog is in good health prior to departure - this international health certificate must be dated within 10 days of your departure.

Please note, that all dogs in Switzerland will need a license. You can contact the Dog Control Office (Hundekontrolle) in Zurich (Gartenstrasse 14, 01 216 71 28) or the government office located in your city or suburb. The license has to be renewed every year and if you move to another canton of Switzerland, then you will have to de-register and re-register your pet. In Zurich, the cost of the license is 137 Swiss Francs per year. A tag has to be attached to the collar of your pet/dog and worn whenever the dog is outside. In Switzerland there is a fine for unlicensed dogs.

Dogs and cats can travel on public transportation in Switzerland. You will have to pay for a half fare ticket if you have a bigger dog.

Dangerous animals like poisonous snakes, bears and tigers require a special import permit from the FVO. Owners need to obtain this special permit from their Cantonal Veterinary Office. Federal Veterinary Office, Schwarzenburgerstrasse 161, 3097 Liebfeld-Berne, Tel.: (+41) (0)31 323 85 02

As for local Vet care, we have heard that The Animal Hospital in Zurich has a research institute with modern facilities for treatment and diagnosis of animal illnesses.

Animal Hospital (Kantonales Tierspital)
Winterthurerstrasse 260
8057 Zurich
phone 01 635 81 11
Emergency:
Phone 01 635 81 14

A recent client of ours told us that the best pet store she has found is:

Vaud, Nyon
Scalaire, rte d'Oulteret 5, Nyon, vaud, 1260, phone 022 361 11 23

Happy Travels and let us know if we can help with anything else!