Overview

• Animal shelters in Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland have reached full capacity and paused new holiday admissions due to a surge in post-pandemic pet relinquishments.
• Pet owners are advised to secure care well ahead of vacations by enlisting family, friends or professional sitters to avoid rejection at overbooked shelters.
• Traveling pets must carry an EU pet passport, valid rabies vaccination and microchip, and owners should note Denmark’s ban on so­called “Kampfhunde.”
• Cats are best left in familiar surroundings with a house sitter to minimize stress, while dogs and small mammals can be placed in boarding pensions if home care is unavailable.
• The Deutscher Tierschutzbund is calling for volunteer support, including dog walking and short-term fostering, to alleviate pressures during the summer holiday season.