Krakow - Post Report Question and Answers
Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
EU pet scheme for import. Most folks fly in on Lufthansa through Frankfurt (Munich does NOT allow pets as accompanied baggage, only Frankfurt!) or Amsterdam on KLM, though sometimes their small plane to Krakow can't accommodate pets. Veterinarians are fine, you may have to visit a few to find one you feel comfortable with that speaks English. We went to one recommended by a colleague but it took upwards of 30 minutes to drive to their office, so we switched to an in-home vet who did house calls and paid a lot more for the convenience (still felt cheaper than DC however). Unfortunately our dog was elderly and not doing well, but the vet was very kind when she had to be put to sleep and was able to let her pass in our lap on our couch which avoided a stressful car trip to a vet. We found a pet sitter through Golden Pets that loved our dog like she was her own, and if she had been younger and in better health, there are great kennel options and doggy daycares that offer pick-up/drop-off services and will wear your pets out while you are at work. Some folks also hire dog walkers for a reasonable cost. Polish dogs are usually well-trained and well-behaved, and the doggy daycares and kennels will offer obedience training to help your dogs get up to snuff. Most folks walk dogs on leash, though at the meadow (Blonia) and riverside parks they may let them off leash. It feels about 50/50 as to whether or not folks pick up after their pets - I know I see folks doing it and carrying bags, but I also dodge a lot of poop, especially in the winter time. - Jun 2024
There are some good vets. There are several pet sitters/ home care options for dogs. No quarantine. Easy access to dog/ cat foods available in the U.S. - Nov 2016
No. - Sep 2011
No, but they have to have the EU pet passport. - Aug 2011
