Taking a pet out of the country is not as simple as chucking Spot or Fluffy into your Samsonite. Like every task in Ukraine, it requires proper documentation.
All pets must be vaccinated against rabies and other infectious diseases no less than one month before departure. Dates and doses of vaccines must be recorded in a veterinarian passport. State clinics can provide such passports for Hr 5.
Some private clinics also offer vaccinations and veterinary passports. ItХs a good idea to call your clinic first and find out if this service is provided. Dobrody, Krity Uzviz 6, 244-9727, offers a full course of shots for cats (called Quadricat) and dogs (called Hexadog) for Hr 45. The same shots for puppies under three months costs Hr 40 (Young puppies cannot be inoculated against rabies).
If you are taking your pet to a state clinic, opt for the higher-quality, foreign-produced vaccines because some pets have been known to fall ill after getting Ukrainian-made vaccines.
Three days before the departure, take the veterinary passport to the Kyiv Veterinary Department, Volynska 12, to have the vaccination information recorded on Form Vet 1, which will cost you Hr 17. This form is required when passing through customs and is good only for three days.
In order for pets to leave the country, owners also must have a certificate proving that the animal is of no value to Ukraine. This applies to all pets regardless of whether they are pure bred. The cost for such an evaluation is based on the value of the pet. It ranges from Hr 10 to Hr 20 for mixed breeds and up to Hr 200 for purebreds. If travelling by train or bus, the certificate should be obtained at the Ukrainian Canine and Feline Union, Saksahanskoho 112b; Tel.: 475-8221, 555-6030; open Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m. If travelling by plane, the certificate should be obtained at the Boryspil airport.
Once at the airport, pet owners need to find the customs veterinarian in Terminal B on the second floor, right above the post office. The service works around the clock. Upon examining your pet and the documents, you receive an international veterinarian certificate proving that your pet is healthy. The customs fee for one to 10 animals is about Hr 8.
When purchasing an airplane ticket, tell your agent that you will be travelling with a pet because all airlines have different rules regarding animals. Some airlines allow cats and small dogs to be taken on the plane as carry-on luggage, but in most cases they need to be transported in the luggage compartment and must also be in a cage.
Before leaving, check with the airline to determine if there are other requirements that must be met.
