Visiting Austria With A Guide Dog

You will need a valid veterinary certificate in German or an officially certified German translation thereof, which should contain the following information: name and address of the animal owner a description of the animal according to breed, sex, age and color, and the number of the dog tag if the dog has one (in Austria, dogs have dog tags). the certification that the animal was vaccinated against rabies with the day of vaccination and the batch number having to be stated. This vaccination must have been carried out at least 30 days prior to the crossing of the border but shall not date back longer than 1 year. Here you can find a bilingual vaccination certificate, which can be used by a licensed veterinarian. Download Form Since Austria is neighboring East European countries, where distemper occurs, the veterinarian of the Austrian board of examiners for guide dogs advises that your dog be vaccinated with the so-called "combination vaccination", also known as "octet vaccination," which inoculates the animal against distemper, rabies and a couple of other diseases. Your veterinarian will know about this, she thinks, because this is international standard. Also, prophylaxis against worms, fleas and ticks is highly advisable. And please take with you a certificate about all these measures. She also emphasized that your dog should be identifiable as a guide dog, either by a harness, or by a cover or an emblem. Also, it might be advisable to carry a guide dog certificate. In public means of transport you will have to buy a half-price ticket for your dog, (although ticket inspector are usually lenient with guide dog owners who have failed to buy a ticket for their dog, but still, better buy one). If you plan to stay a few weeks in Austria and plan to travel by train and bus you may want to consider obtaining a so-called "Vorteilskarte Spezial Blind" (a special benefit card for the blind). You can get more information about the card from the "Österreichischer Blindenverband" (Austrian Association for the Blind). In order to obtain it you have to provide evidence of your membership in an association for the blind or a medical certificate from you doctor (for example, a photocopy of your membership in an association would suffice). Upon producing this special card you will get tickets at reduced prices in both trains run by the ÖBB, (the "Österreichische Bundesbahnen" = Austrian Federal Railways) and buses run by the ÖBB and by the "Post." (Postal Service). Your dog will go for free. If you are accompanied by a non-blind person, they will go for free, also, although this regulation is valid in trains, only. Generally, taking your dog in public transport or public buildings should be no problem. In fact in Vienna a city law stipulates that guide dogs have access to all public sites. However, the gentleman who provided all this information, an expert on guide dogs with the Austrian Association for the Blind strongly advises to contact the State Opera, the Zoo, the Palace Schönbrunn, any museum, or any other sight beforehand to make sure everything goes smoothly. Taxis should be no problem, however, the taxi driver is entitled to refuse service he or she is allergic to dogs. Also, please ask at shops before you want to enter with your dog. Source: US Embassy

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