NO PET LEFT BEHIND: Nations relax laws to allow Ukrainian refugees to bring their pets
Pet parents of Ukraine, who are taking refuge in other countries amid the crisis, have reportedly received a sigh of relief as neighboring nations have relaxed the rules regarding the cross-border movement of animals. Romania, Poland and Hungary are the countries that have put relaxed restrictions on the usual lengthy process.
As per People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the typical rules for bringing pets across borders include they should “be vaccinated and microchipped and have a negative blood test for rabies”. However, these processes take weeks. So taking note of the current situation, three Eastern European countries have come forward with helping hands and are now allowing Ukrainian refugees to enter their borders with their fluffy friends after only filling out a single form.
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It has been said that Romania’s chief veterinary authority has made the emergency exemption that cancels all the requirements of getting pets vaccinated and microchipped along with a negative blood test for rabies. “People entering Romania with animals must visit the ‘Sanitary Veterinary Point’ at the borders. If the animals do not have the required documents, the authority’s form can be filled out on the spot – then the animals can cross the border together with their people,” PETA noted. However, the rule that only five pets are allowed per person is still there.
Poland and Hungary have also reportedly followed Romania. In Poland, Ukrainian refugees have been asked to “fill out transition papers for the animals. Those able to provide an address in Poland can take their companion animals directly to their destination. If transiting through Poland to another EU country, guardians must leave the animals behind in quarantine at a shelter near the border for three weeks.”
And in Hungary, pets can cross the border “without a microchip, tattoo, proof of rabies vaccination, or titre test” if transition papers from National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH) of Hungary are done.
Reportedly, PETA Germany is also working towards the safety and welfare of the animals stuck in UKraine by “coordinating a delivery of nearly 20,000 kgs of companion animal food as well as blankets to shelters”. Besides, PETA UK has sent a letter to George Eustice – secretary of state for environment, food, and rural affairs – requesting him to ease the rules in the UK for the refugees entering with pets.
The letter read, “Border countries including Hungary, Poland, and Romania are loosening their restrictions to make the process of admitting companion animals less bureaucratic, and we urge the UK to follow suit.”
It continued, “Many animals in Ukraine, including dogs and cats, are neither vaccinated nor microchipped, meaning they do not have the necessary documents to leave the country with their guardians or other compassionate people and enter the UK or EU member states. A rabies antibody test by blood analysis, which would be necessary to have these animals cross the borders in line with all legal regulations, can take days or even weeks. Many vulnerable animals are therefore being left behind without their guardians or other caring people, which will lead to terrifying and prolonged deaths.”
“Please stand up for animals in these exceptional circumstances and ensure that they can be brought to safety. They must be offered refuge, too, and are vital in giving comfort to fleeing, traumatised people in these horrible times. The people of the UK would be devastated if forced to abandon their beloved animal family members, and we must ensure Ukrainians do not have to make this devastating choice either,” the letter added.
