Switzerland

• Rules
• Living
• Geography
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Attention:  This information is to be used as general guidelines and may not be updated to meet the current requirements.  Before you travel, be sure to contact the appropriate authorities for your destination country.

SWITZERLAND IMPORT RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Microchip:  Each Pet shall be identified by means of a microchip.  No other form of identification is acceptable. The microchip used should comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785- otherwise the pet will need to be sent with it’s own scanner attached to the top of the crate.

Important Update as of January 21, 2011:

Please note that the Federal Veterinary Office in Switzerland is now also enforcing the law that microchips must be implanted on the same day or before the rabies vaccination.

The rabies vaccination, if arranged prior to implantation of the microchip, will not be valid and another rabies vaccination will need to be done after the microchip.

2. All animals need to have Full Vaccinations:

Dogs:  Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Leptospirosis, (DHLPP) and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 4 weeks before arrival.

Cats:  Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP), and Rabies within the last 12 months or a minimum of 4 weeks before arrival. 

3. EU Vet Health Certificate (Form EC#: 998) – (Form provided to you by PetRelocation.com) – This is the standard Health Certificate to be filled out by your accredited Veterinarian and must be signed in a different color than that of the certificate's printing.  This certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the checks at the EU point of entry.  For the purpose of further movements within the EU, this certificate will be valid for a total of 4 months from the date of issue or until the date of expiry of the rabies vaccination, whichever date is earlier.

4. USDA Endorsement:  The below referenced forms:

• Microchip Implantation Record
• Rabies Certificate
• Vet Letter
• EU Vet Health Certificate

Must be sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval. 

5.  International Health Certificate:  Your vet should have these in stock.  It’s a good idea to call ahead and ask.  This is an international health certificate that needs to be completed by your vet within 10 days of departure.  Depending on the logistics of your particular pet relocation and the specific health certificate being used (APHIS Form 7001) an additional USDA Endorsement maybe required on this health certificate. 

6.  All original documentation listed above must travel with the pets.

7.  In order for us to successfully clear customs we will need the following documents supplied prior to the animal’s arrival:

• Copy of Pet Owner’s Passport
• Note from Pet Owner’s Employer for the Relocation
• Owner’s Flight Itinerary (If traveling separately)

Local Pet Resources

Want to be added to our listings?  Contact us!

Veterinarians

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

Groomers and Pet Supplies

Most of the Pet accessories, Dog food and leashes etc are available at supermarkets and Pet stores.

Some of them are:

Vaud, Nyon

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

Basle:

Clinic Name: Animal House Bielstrasse
10 Basle 4104
Tel: +41-61-402-11 33  
Doctors: Dr. Y. Steiger, Dr. C. Hagemann
Information: Specialties: Small Animals

Zurich:

Clinic Name: GZZ Dachslerenstrasse
11 8702 Zollikon Zurich, Switzerland
Tel: +41-1-391 39 39
Fax: +41-1-391-39-40  
Dr. STEIGER Yves J.R.
Hours: 24 h
Information: Small and exotic Animals

Dog Licenses in Geneva

A dog license is available from the Département des Finances at the following address:

At: l'Hôtel des Finances, Caisse de l'Etat, Rue du Stand 26
Open: 09:00-16:00 Monday to Friday
Tel: 022 327 55 72

The following documents will be required:

Private liability insurance certificate (assurance resposibilité civile) health certificate with updated vaccination records microchip identification document (a microchip can be quickly and easily inserted by the vet who will provide necessary documents) Dogs in Public Places

Dogs are allowed in many places, but not everywhere and must be kept on a leash in the city and in residential areas. Dogs are not allowed into areas marked with a "no dogs allowed" sign. This is a circular sign with a white background encircled in red with a picture of a black dog in the centre. Dogs are not allowed in grocery stores, post offices or other public buildings.

Since 21 August 2006 (following the mauling of an 18-month old toddler by a pit-bull in Geneva) all dogs have to wear a muzzle in a public park in the canton of Geneva.

Before moving into rental accommodation it is important to check that dogs are allowed and that this is included in the rental agreement. Small pets such as such as guinea pigs, hamsters or canaries can be kept in all cases (even if there is a ban on pets in the tenancy agreement).

"Robidogs" can be found throughout Switzerland. These are green containers (each about the size of a rubbish bin) and should be used for the proper disposal of the dog's waste. They dispense plastic bags that are to be used to clean up after the dog.

Pets on Public Transport

Dogs and cats may travel on public transport. 

Cats (usually traveling in a pet carrier) and small dogs that can can be held on a lap travel for free. A half-fare ticket must be bought for larger dogs, and they must be on a leash and kept at the owner's feet.

Animals Lost & Found

Found an animal?

A found animal should be reported to the local cantonal office for lost and found animals. The office can be notified in several ways: Fill in a printed form available at police stations, canton offices and veterinary surgeriesTel: 08 48 84 88 20

Found dogs and cats should be taken to an animal refuge ( Refuge pour Animaux or Tierheim).  Website Animal Trouvé has a comprehensive, interactive map of Switzerland with all cantonal refuges and other animal organisations listed. See Animal Trouvé (in French)

Lost an animal?

Website Animal Perdu lists all cats, dogs, birds and other animals found and housed in refuges throughout Switzerland. The database of found animals can be searched by the animal's identity number (tattoo or microchip) and by region. Owners of lost pets can place announcements online. See Animal Perdu (in French)

Lost & Found in Vaud

The canton of Vaud does not subscribe to the national database of lost and found animals. Instead this is managed by the Société Vaudoise pour la Protection des Animaux (SVPA).

If an animal is found in Vaud, it should be reported to the Société Vaudoise pour la Protection des Animaux (SVPA) then be taken to the refuge, the Cantonal Fourrière of Vaud, in Lausanne (see address below).

If an animal is lost in Vaud, contact the refuge (open for calls daily, 24 hours a day). Tel: 021 784 80 00.

The Vaud SPA has a downloadable form to be filled with the details of the owner and lost animal: click here 

The completed form should be faxed to +41 (0)21 784 80 01

Centre SVPA (Refuge)
At: Sainte-Catherine, 1000 Lausanne 25
Tel: 021 784 80 00
Fax: 021 784 80 01

Organisations & Refuges

The SAP, Swiss Animal Protection (Schweizer Tierschutz STS or Protection Swiss des Animaux PSA) has a list of refuges in each canton. 

Swiss Animal Protection (SAP) 
At: Dornacherstrasse 101, P.O. Box 461, CH-4008 Basel
Tel: + 41 (0)61 365 99 99
Fax: + 41 (0)61 365 99 90

Geography

Switzerland is a landlocked alpine country located in Central Europe. Switzerland shares its borders with France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Liechtenstein. Its independence can be dated back to 1291 and currently there are over 7 million people spread over 26 cantons or "counties/states".

Capital: Bern

Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)

Language: German, French, Italian, and Romansch

Climate

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 Föhn, which can occur anytime of the year.

Geography:

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 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, partly forested area.

American Citizens Abroad (ACA), www.aca.ch Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ACA advocates the interests of US citizens living abroad. The website has downloadable information on voting, citizenship and census issues, plus links to various resources.

Comparish.ch, en.comparis.ch, provides advice for those moving to Switzerland on finding insurance, telephone providers, apartments, etc.

Switzerland is Yours, switzerland.isyours.com, provides a lot of advice and information for those wanting to relocate or invest in Switzerland.

The Xpat Xchange, www.xpatxchange.ch, is a one-stop shop for English-speaking expats, full of advice, businesses, addresses.