Pets
If you are moving your pet from the UK to Spain, they
must be micro-chipped, vaccinated against rabies and,
later, have a blood test, following which they are issued
with a certificate which serves as a kind of pet passport.
This can be a time-consuming exercise so make sure this
is carried out well in advance.
Once in Spain, dog-owners are required to register their
animals with a local Vet. Special licences (and muzzles)
are required for certain breeds of dog and you will
be liable for fines if you do not adhere to Spanish
guidelines. It is wise to liaise with a Vet immediately
upon arrival to ascertain information on local rules
and regulations and common animal diseases of the area
in which you live. Leishmaniasis, for example, is a
disease spread by sandflies and is endemic in Spain.
Symptoms include loss of weight, eye disease, lameness
and kidney failure. There is no vaccine available and
treatment is expensive and risky – Leishmaniasis
is a key cause of canine fatalities in Spain. Your vet
will be able to provide you with dog collars (impregnated
with deltamethrin) which reduces the risk of sandfly
bites by up to 90%.
Should you decide to buy a cat or dog upon arrival in
Spain, there are many pet rescue and animal shelters
along the coast to choose from. These are usually run
by Expats as the Spanish Government is still behind
the rest of Europe in respect of establishment of animal
shelters.
|
