TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

2^nd STEP: 

be it a puppy or an adult dog, it CANNOT TRAVEL before 21 whole days after having received its rabies vaccination!

Be careful and check the dates written by the vet! The first date is the date of vaccination (day 0); the second date is the date when the vaccination takes effect, which lasts 21 whole days . Your pet is allowed to travel from day 22 onward.

3^rd STEP: 

find a boarding kennel where the dog can stay until it’s allowed to travel. In Crete, contact us: PLUTO BOARDING KENNEL (gaeter@outlook.com).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Pets can only travel, be it by air, by boat or by car, with an updated passport which has the owner's name written in it! In some circumstances, if you're not taking the pet yourself back home, you can give a detailed authorization to a third party, called an escort-person, but generally the escort-person's name will be inscribed into the passport to avoid any discussion at the borders. 

There are three ways to bring your pet back home. Read the next page, PET TRANSPORT.  

At home, you have to go to your local vet to continue the basic vaccination schedule and ask him to inscribe the dog’s microchip number in the database of your country.  

BUY AN IATA APPROVED DOG CRATE 

CAREFUL! Although this is not a generalized IATA requirement yet, many airlines are now requiring steel crate hardware instead of plastic fasteners. We would recommend that you use this hardware on your pet's crate to be sure there will be no problems. Also, many airlines require cable ties in the corners of the crate. Plastic clips are not recommended. All hardware and fasteners must be in place. Crates with plastic clips have to be bolted or at least secured with solid electric wire binders. This regulation will shortly become generalized. In Greece people buy Ferplast, Stefanplast Gulliver, Ulysse or Skudo. All have predrilled holes allowing you to bold or to bind them.

Normally, but not often applied: The container must have LIVE ANIMAL STICKERS on the top and sides in letters at least one inch tall as well as directional stickers.  Also, there must be a sticker adhered to the top of the crate called a Shipper's Declaration stating when your pet was last watered and fed.
The container must be identified with the pet's name and owner's contact information. The best way to do this is to attach your pet's information to the outside of the crate with duct tape or other sturdy tape.

WHEELS UNDERNEATH THE CRATE ARE NOT ALLOWED! 

Sizing Your Pet Crate

This is a crucial step in ensuring your pet's safety and comfort and can make the difference between being accepted or refused by your airline. Measure your pet according to the chart below for domestic flights. See below for international requirements. Compare your findings with the interior measurements of the crate.

  A= length of animal from nose to root of tail
  B = height from ground to elbow joint
  C = width across shoulders
  D = height of animal in standing position (top of head for pets with non-erect ears - from tip of ears for pets with erect ears)
  The length of the kennel must be equal to A + 1/2 B. (domestic flights) A+B (International flights)
  The width of the kennel must be equal to C x 2 for domestic flights and (C + 1 inch) x 2 for international flights
  The height of the kennel (top flat or arched) must be equal to D (domestic flights) or D + 3 inches (international flights).

If you are traveling internationally, the length of the crate will equal A+B and the height of the crate will equal D+3 inches for pets with non-erect ears and from tip of ears + 3 inches for pets with erect ears.

SIZES & PRICES (for Skudo; prices are indicative)
Nr 4: Small dog:     68 long x 48 large x 51 height / +/- 70€
Nr 5: Medium dog: 79 x 59 x 65 / 100€
Nr 6: Large dog:    92 x 63 x 70 / 120€
Nr 7: Extra large dog: 105 x 73 x 76 / 150€

Skudo is the cheapest and very well build, easy to carry with one handle on both sides of the crate. Ulysse is bolted. Gulliver has great reputation and is the most bought, but is often a little more expensive. They recently improved the door's lock, which is now secured. Neither of both are easy to carry around since wheels are not allowed. 

At home you can use it to take your pet in your car and if not, you can sell it or give it to a rescue association. 

Read this page carefully: http://www.pettravel.com/passports_container_requirements.cfm