Crossing the border with my dog?

[kayc]

I brought my dog with me from the USA...all paperwork and vaccinations are current. Can she cross with me to the south side?

[waddo]

No! Did you bring your dog in via Larnaca? You may have a faint chance if so. Are you a Greek Cypriot? They seem to be allowed to smuggle their animals backwards and forwards across the border without any problem. You would have to check with the RoC authorities as things change all the time but your chances are honestly slim to not at all. Sorry, we are in a similar position and have asked at the border many times - the answer has always been NO!

Edited by Poster.

[kayc]

No, I am an American, not a cypriot, greek or turkish. I went to a great expense to meet all the health and safety requirements to have my dog travel with me from the USA. It's been 2 years since I arrived in Cyprus via Ercan.

What grounds would they have to refuse her entry if all her paperwork and vaccinations are current?!!! Refusal because we've resided in the Turkish area for a time and they've got their underwear in a wad about that? That's vindictive thinking, no logic at all.

This is not a very amicable island :-/

Do flights from Turkey land in the RoC

[ifonly]

Funnily enough there is a post today on KARs face book page about this.
You should contact KAR as they will be able to explain the reasons why and what you should do - but the answer is No pet is permitted to travel from North to South - not even for transit purposes. There are various reasons why not - but it is still No.
You would need to fly out of Ercan and then back into South Cyprus from another Country. I don't think any flights go from Turkey to South Cyprus.
Also there are specific rules about entry criteria for pets travelling from TRNC (and some other non EU countries) into other Countries (especially EU ones) so you would need to make sure that you get everything right - contact KAR. 0533 869 4098 kar@kyreniaanimalrescue.org
Good luck

[erol]

What grounds would they have to refuse her entry if all her paperwork and vaccinations are current?!!! Refusal because we've resided in the Turkish area for a time and they've got their underwear in a wad about that? That's vindictive thinking, no logic at all.

The agreement that controls who and what can cross from North to South, as far as the South's authorities are concerned is the 'Green Line' Agreement made between the RoC and the EU as part of the accession of the RoC to the EU. The TRNC is not bound by this agreement but tends to largely copy it by choice. It specifically excludes the crossing from the North to the South of 'live animals'. This is principally about the EU protecting against livestock that has not been certified to EU standards entering the EU zone. When these agreements were drawn up no consideration was given to the crossing of 'pets' as opposed to livestock. From South to North is different as the EU does not have concerns about EU certified livestock leaving the EU and the North chooses to allow pets to cross with the relevant TRNC vet procedures

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content ... 1)&from=EN

9. The movement of live animals and animal products across the line shall be prohibited (North to South)

.

[Groucho]

Given that there is a distemper crisis in the north I would imagine that even if the Green Line regs allowed pets (which they don't) such easements would be suspended as a sensible precaution. I know it's not ideal but there are kennel facilities in the north... Petline veterinary practice have a dog kennel near Ercan.

[waddo]

Edited by poster as deemed "Off Topic".

[Panchocat]

You can fly from Istanbul to Larnaca. Several airlines fly the route. Egyptair, MEA, Air Malta, Lufthansa....
Some are not direct routes though.

[jenniej]

It is a total nightmare bringing a pet from south to north or vice versa! contact KAR, re the flights Lufthansa fly animals all over the world and have the best reputation, you will most likely need an import licence into Greece or Germany the problem is connection times and where the animas are kept. I am flying from Larnaca to the UK back to Larnaca with a UK DEFRA then drive over the boarder!!! bonkers!

[Cally]

Waddo Petline pet hotel, as mentioned by Groucho is owned by Niyaze, a vet of Catalkoy & run by a Brit girl called Jo. Her previous experience that I know of is RSPCA. Through the cooler months a group of volunteers go once a week mainly to walk any street dogs there for one reason or another & some of the boarders. The staff do walk the dogs but literally 5 mins whereas the volunteers walk for nearly an hour. I know this because I have done it. The kennels are spotless. If you check on line you can see them.

[waddo]

Edited by poster as deemed "Off Topic".

[buddy]

Happy Valley dog hotel looks 5star and your son in laws credentials sound very impressive, however I can recommend Malatya Dog Hotel run by the lovely Lena Will and Ingrid . MY dogs are kept safe in a clean environment if there is any problem with the dog they will take to the vet that t h e dog is registered with here in the North . My dogs are always very happy to go there which speaks volumes to me.

[Groucho]

When the TRNC can produce a kennel facility anywhere near this: http://www.happyvalley.com.cy/ only then would I consider putting either or both of my dogs into kennel's! The TRNC has yet to realise that production and running of a quality kennel facility would bring in more income than a large number of other businesses. Fees for boarding animals are always high but people are willing to pay for quality for their pets and I have always been amazed that there are no "quality" kennel facilities available here. Perhaps it is because a good kennels require the staff to work at it and be well trained as well. If only I could convince a quality vet establishment to expand into kennels as well they would be on a winner! Things have changed much here in the past 10 years and far, far more local people are keeping and looking after their pets than ever before. It took years for the change to occur in the RoC but now there are both good and excellent facilities available there, maybe here as well one day? I would be quite happy if anyone knows of any kennels in the North that can meet or even exceed the services of the I have indicated in the RoC.

Waddo your point is moot because if KayC could get her dog to the place you are are touting she would have achieved her aim of getting her dog south...as it is I was merely suggesting an alternative as she can't take her dog south... can she?.

Your statement that " I have always been amazed that there are no "quality" kennel facilities available here" is very judgemental considering you have no experience of Petline's facility.

[Keithcaley]

Quite an interesting discussion regarding the quality and relative merits of Kennel facilities, but possibly rather off topic, given that Kayc simply wanted to know whether she could take her dog to the South with her - possibly on holiday?

I think that the query was answered in msg2...

[waddo]

Edited by poster as deemed "Off Topic".

[Groucho]

I was quite surprised at Grouchos' final statement that my statement is "very judgemental considering you have no experience of Petline's facility" as I can see no evidence of this .

The evidence is in your statement that there are no quality facilities here.... or are you saying you have inspected the Petline pet hotel and found it wanting?

[kayc]

thank you all for the information on this topic. And as for the boarding kennels, it's helpful to know where the quality facilities are and how ppl recommend them.

I was actually inquiring on a longer term visit to the "other part" of the island. I take my tiny dog wherever I go - and it seems even though her medical requirements are up to the EU standards and up to date - she's still forbidden and considered smuggled if I'd attempt to cross legally with her. Pftt.

Sounds like nothing short of a grudge on the side of the South - solely based on the fact that my dog has spent time in the north,

So, I guess I'd have to encur an additional expense & flight to another country, just to be able to land in the South and be "admitted legally" .

How does that effect the vaccines updated here in the north, does the south consider the vets in the north credible and therefore the vaccines valid?

I so wish countries could be "adults" about these matters.. I've no interest in taking sides in this dispute.

[Keithcaley]

kayc, you really do need to talk to KAR - they have people who specialise in the regulations controlling the movement of animals, and will be able to tell you what the requirements/restrictions are, and will also be able to help if needed.

Contact details

[rowan]

you cannot take your dog north to south LEGALLY. end of.

[sophie]

kayc, Rowan is absolutely correct, emphasis on LEGALLY, end of. If you want to risk your dog, then you can always do what some do and that is to smuggle it back and forth. Stupid, stupid action by idiotic unthinking people. I believe you are making it into too much of a political issue.

[Keithcaley]

you cannot take your dog north to south LEGALLY. end of.

rowan, I think that kayc is considering the possibility of taking the dog, legally, to another Country, and then legally taking it from that other Country to ROC.

This may, technically, be possible, although I would think that the paperwork would be horrendous - in my opinion, only KAR are in a sufficiently knowledgeable position to be able to advise.

Would you agree?

Just spotted sophie's post...

As stated previously, when the regulations were drawn up, no one gave any thought to pets, it was all to do with the lack of EU oversight of livestock health in TRNC - it didn't have very much to do with politics.

The situation is unlikely to change anytime soon, because the EU still have no effective control of anything that goes on in TRNC...

[buddy]

But dogs are allowed from South to North !

[Keithcaley]

But dogs are allowed from South to North !

Indisputably true

Welcome to TRNC!

[rowan]

the rights and the wrongs of this situation are, in my mind, of no consequence. the facts are that you cannot legally take your dog from north to south. Pleas e accept that. if you try by dubious, illegal actions, the consequences for your pet may well be fatal. Please weigh up the facts, it is no good arguing about it, that is the law and that is fact. Trying to change the law is a whole different debate. I have three rescue dogs, not pedigrees or anything like but they are my family and there is absolutely no way I would risk their lives by illegally smuggling them through to the south and then onward to heaven knows where. Please think about the welfare of your animals and not about what is easiest.

[kayc]

rowan: you need not worry about me taking a chance to cross illegally, I'd not attempt it if there was even a remote risk. My dog is like family.

However, if given the chance you can be sure I will voice my distain about this so called "law" - when a law is poorly thought out and it becomes obvious it's outdated, time to make some modern updates.

[Cally]

Could someone clarify for me please..... is it law in TRNC that does not allow a dog to cross the border out

or is it the ROC law that does not allow a dog to cross into their country

[kerry 6138]

see message 5 Erols