Pets Bulgaria - taking pets to Bulgaria

12.02.2008

Taking your pet to Bulgaria is no easy task. Yet, if Paris Hilton and Orlando Bloom can travel with their animals why can't anyone else. And if you are moving to Bulgaria the experience can be as stressful for an animal as it is for you.

A new home environment means new territory, new smells and, probably, new neighbors which can be unsettling for a pet, quite apart from one property to another.

You may be surprised to learn that a pet can have its own passport in Bulgaria. Under the government Pet Travel Scheme run by Defra once a pet has been micro chipped, vaccinated and blood test your pet will be issued with its own EU passport. However, the exercise can take up to at least seven months.

If you thought a passport for pets in Bulgaria was surprising, you may be even more shocked to learn that there is a frequent flyers programme available! Virgin's Flying Paws allows animals to win presents for themselves and air miles for their owners.

Internationally, BA, KLM and Lufthansa are just a few of the long-haul airlines that will allow pets to be taken on board or in the hold (depending on airline policy). Cats and dogs are the most widely accepted travelling companions, however, Virgin Atlantic will take ferrets and American Airlines allow domestic birds.

Unsurprisingly the low-cost airlines are not keen on having pets to Bulgaria on board, but Flybe will let them fly in the hold. Flying within Europe is a different story - Germanwings and Sterling.dk will assist.

Removal experts, Robinsons International, has teamed up with the UK's leading veterinary charity PDSA to compile the following hints and tips for pet owners moving to Bulgaria:

Make sure you pet is identifiable in case they get lost en-route or before they settle into their new home. Have them micro-chipped and dogs should always wear a collar and identity tag with the owner's name and address marked clearly.

Keep pets in Bulgaria in a quiet room with their bedding and favourite toys while your belonging are taken out of the house. Secure the door and hand a "Do not open - pets in here" sign.

Talk to your vet about ways to make the journey less stressful for pets who suffer from severe travel sickness or anxiety.

Don't pack all of your pet's food in the removal van. If it's a long journey to Bulgaria you may need to stop and feed them. Make sure there is plenty of water available at all times.

When moving your cat or small dog to Bulgaria use a secure basket. Leave the carrier around for a few days before the move so that the pet becomes used to the sight and smell of it. Pet your pet inside the basket before the removal men arrive.

Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits and other small mammals are best transported in well ventilated, chew-proof containers. Make sure they have plenty of water in a spill-proof container, a little food and lots of bedding, and that the container is ventilated.

Small birds travel best in a well-ventilated box with subdued lighting.
If your journey time is under two hours fish can be put in a large freezer bag containing water from the aquarium. When you have put your fish in the bag, carefully twist it shut, making sure there is about one third water to two-thirds air.
Remember to secure the bag securely.

As you settle into your new home in Bulgaria, remember to keep dogs on a lead when taking them into the garden for the first few days and check boundary fencing to make sure it is secure and free of any gaps before letting them run free.

Source: My home in the Sunshine Magazine