Pets in Crete

This Pets Information Page is from the Completely Crete Moving to Crete Section.

If you are moving to Crete and you want to bring your pets with you, consider their age, health and temperament - and yours too!

We have known ex-pats that have flown an aging pet here at considerable expense only to have the poor animal die within days of arriving. Worse still are the cases of much loved pets being brought here, only to die an agonising death after eating poison put down by farmers.

SCRUFFY AND ROCKY SHELTER FROM THE SUN

So if you can bear to part with your pet and re-home them in the UK, then consider this option as it might be the kindest.

If you are a pet lover bear in mind that there are countless waifs and strays needing loving homes here in Crete. So you could find a home for one of them when you got here if you wished. Your heartstrings will be tugged constantly as unwanted puppies and kittens are often just abandoned here.

See our Animals in Crete section for more on the animal charities that exist here in Crete.

If you are going to be living in Crete full time, and you really want to bring your pet to Crete, then you have two ways of doing it:

By Air

Options are a little limited. For dogs and cats Olympic Airlines transport pets by air. You will need to check with them directly for any other types of pet you might have.

Pet relocation companies can assist you with the arrangements for transportation according to the Airline's rules.

By Road and Sea

Or you can travel overland through Europe and take them aboard Greek ferries from Italy to Greece, and then onwards to Crete itself. Both Anek lines and Minoan Lines have pet facilities on board their ferries.

See our Relocating to Crete section for travel tips on how to get here.

Pet Travel Scheme

The Pet Travel Scheme ("PETS") allows pet dogs, cats (and ferrets) to travel easily between member countries (both European Union and some Non-EU countries), and return to the UK without undergoing quarantine – providing all the rules are adhered to. Click on this link to the DEFRA website for more information.

PLEASE NOTE: New rules are set to come into force on 1 January 2012 when the UK brings its procedures into line with the European Union. CLICK HERE for more information.

CATS ON A BIKE

Greece (and Crete) require that your pet be micro chipped and vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to travel.

Your vet must then complete the proper EU veterinary certificate and attach the rabies certificate.

Domestic cats, dogs (and ferrets) can travel around Europe and/or back to the UK, with an ‘EU Pet Passport’.

Passports are available from any vet. Please call your local one for more information.

Pet Passport

An EU Pet Passport is a small blue booklet containing various sections for your vet to complete about your pet, such as, microchip number, rabies vaccination details, rabies antibody titer blood test and result, tick and tapeworm treatments (administered between 24 and 48 hours – where required) and general vaccinations.