There are many different ways to get a dog. In addition to buying from the breeder, a dog from an animal shelter or abroad can also be offered a new home.
Both alternatives are a great way to do something for animal welfare. However, there are a few things to consider, especially with a dog from abroad. Because otherwise the supposedly good deed can quickly turn out to be a failure and, for example, unintentionally support the illegal puppy trade.
In the following you will find out what you should pay attention to when buying a dog from abroad and which legal regulations have to be observed.
Key facts at a glance
- Adopting a dog from abroad is a good alternative to buying from a breeder.
- Foreign dogs should only be taken on by reputable animal protection organizations.
- In order to be imported into Germany, the dog must be vaccinated against rabies, have a microchip and an EU pet passport.
- Certain dog breeds may not be imported into Germany from abroad.
Why you should adopt a dog from abroad
As great as the sympathy for the residents of German animal shelters may be – abroad the situation is often much worse. Overcrowded animal shelters, abused street dogs and killing stations are part of everyday life in some countries, despite the active support of German animal protection associations.
For many of these dogs, adoption by a family from abroad is the only chance of a happy life. Despite the bad experiences that many four-legged friends have had, the acclimatization usually works surprisingly well and the animals show themselves to their new owners extremely grateful.
Dogs from abroad from reputable animal protection organizations
Your intention when adopting a dog from abroad is certainly to do something for animal welfare and to enable a neglected four-legged friend to have a better life. In order for this to really succeed, you should definitely contact a reputable animal protection organization.
Otherwise there is a high probability that you have done something for your good conscience, but in reality you have fallen for a dubious supplier who wants to enrich himself through the illegal trade in puppies. maar hoe This is particularly important if the animal of your choice is not yet in a local foster home and it is therefore not possible to get to know the dog personally and to check the housing conditions.
Recognize reputable brokers of foreign dogs
Without the appropriate experience, it is not at all easy to distinguish between serious and dubious offers for foreign dogs. However, there are a few things you can look out for that are a pretty sure sign of the intermediary’s seriousness.
First of all, an animal protection association that is concerned with the well-being of animals will always have an open ear for your questions and will be happy to help and advise you. In addition, you will never get the dog from a reputable organization without verification of your suitability as a dog owner.
Someone who is only out for a quick buck, on the other hand, has neither the time nor the interest to visit you and get a personal impression of you and the future environment of the animal.
Legal regulations for dogs from abroad
If you decide to get a dog from abroad, you have to observe some legal regulations. Otherwise it is not possible to legally import the animal to Germany.
The following regulations must be observed when importing a dog from abroad:
- An EU pet passport must be available for the animal.
- The dog must be vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination must have been at least 21 days ago.
- To counteract the illegal puppy trade, the four-legged friend must be at least 15 weeks old.
- The animal must be identified with a microchip.
- Certain breeds, such as the American Pitbull Terrier, may not be imported into Germany.
These regulations apply to the importation of all dogs, regardless of the country of origin and previous living conditions. They must therefore be considered when buying a puppy from a reputable foreign breeder as well as when adopting a dog from an animal shelter.
Health insurance for dogs from abroad
If you turn to reputable animal welfare organizations when looking for a dog from abroad, you can be sure that your future roommate has been vaccinated, dewormed and subjected to a thorough examination by a veterinarian.
Nevertheless, you should be aware that the four-legged friend can become ill or injured in the future. In some cases, the veterinary costs that you then incur can quickly run into the four-digit range.
In order to protect yourself from such high bills and to be able to have expensive treatments carried out, we recommend that you take out dog health insurance for your dog from abroad as soon as possible. Simply decide on one of our three tariffs, calculate your premium directly online and ideally send us the insurance application for your foreign dog today.