Aachen Travel Forum

My husband and I are moving to Aachen in January 2007. We have a Siberian Husky that we are planning on bringing with us...Can anyone give me any information regarding pets in Aachen??? Are there restrictions in weight??? Is there someone that we must contact and inform of our pet???
Thank you for your help and time!!!

Apart from the usual documents from bringing pets into the EU (health pass) etc, you need to contact the town authorities and tell them you have a dog. That is best done when you go to "Einwohnermeldeamt" to register your residency.

You have to pay a tax on having a dog. Unfortunately I cannot tell you how much it is, as it is a local tax and therefore the city council of Aachen decides these things. Expect something like 100-200 EUR a year.

This is the official website with the info for bringing pets into Germany.

http://www.german-embassy.org.uk/taking_pets_to_germany.html

Your dog has to carry a micro-chip, he must be vaccinated against rabies, and be accompanied by a special document issued by a US government-appointed vet.

The regulation you are looking at is numbered "EU 998/2003". Do a search for it.

Weight restriction: are you asking about air transport rules?! If so, you must contact the airline you will be flying with, they have rules about the size of animals that can be accommodated in the passenger cabin, when this is allowed at all, and about the size/type of containers to be used for travel in the cargo hold. The part of the hold used for the transport of pets is pressurized and heated just like the passenger cabin, so do not worry on that account.
Contact the nearest German embassy as regards current requirements for bringing your dog into Germany in the first place, but as far as I know this is still accurate: http://www.eustis.army.mil/Veterinary/import.htm?OpenDocument#GERMANY

The info in the link gaminary gave you is dated from 1992. The law changed in 2003. The regulation I mentioned is the correct one. It is the same EU-wide. Just don't take all the info from an UK site, since the UK government was allowed to make their own special extended regulation, adding a few points.

BTW, the dog tax I mentioned is currently 90 EUR a year in Aachen. (I found the law regarding this on the town's website.) If your dog is larger than 40 cm in height or heavier than 20 kgs (which I think he is) you'll also need to register your dog as a "large dog" (according to article 11 of LHundG NRW) with the "Ordnungsamt" of the Town of Aachen.

So, when you are in Aachen and register your residency, you also register your dog first for taxes with the town's tax office and second for security reasons wit the town's office for law and order.

You can do all this at:

Bürgerservice (Aachen-Mitte)
Verwaltungsgebäude Katschhof
Katschhof
52062 Aachen

Here is all the info you need (German only.)

http://www.aachen.de/DE/stadt_buerger/politik_verwaltung/behoerdenwegweiser/dienstleistungen/index_detail.asp?searchId=2694

If the link is too complex, just type "Hundesteuer" into the search box of www.aachen.de.

Regarding security issues: Once you registered your dog as a large dog, you'll get people checking on you whether your dog is dangerous. I don't know the procedure. Either you get a letter that you have to go and see somebody (likely a vet appointed by the town), or somebody comes to see you. They'll want to know whether your dog is agressive or doesn't obey your commands.

After this visit you get a certificate stating that you can handle your dog. This is called "Sachkundenachweis" and it your job to get this paper. You also need to get liability insurance for your dog. Without Sachkundenachweis and insurance you won't be allowed to keep your dog, if he is larger than 40 cm in height or heavier than 20 kgs.

You also need to keep him on a leash at all times outside your home. (Hint: a leash can be a rope attached to a wagon, bike or sled.)

If you are interested in doing races or other sports, contact service@agsd.info

The AGSD is the General Union for Sleddogs in Germany, they can advice you on all things Husky and Sleddog related in Germany.

http://www.agsd-verband.de/

As for the above mentioned insurance:
http://www.tierversicherung-vergleich.de/
You'll need a "Hundehalterversicherung".

Thank you all so much for your help!!! My husband and I are truly grateful!!! We love our dog so much and will do whatever necessary to bring him with us to Germany!!! We appreciate you taking the time to help us!!!

Thanks again!
Erin and Matt

Be aware that these things take time (a lot of time), so expect at least 6 months (most likely more) to be able to meet all the requirements. Also, I dont know the dog classification that a Husky fits under, but there was a law in Germany passed a few years ago that forbids the import of a Kampfhund (fighting dogs, i.e. big dog breeds that can be dangerous). You will most likely also be required by the authorities to have all your paperwork translated into german before they will accept it as well.

Start learning german as well, as there is no other way to get through all the paperwork/visit the vet/etc. unless you want to employ a full time translator