Travelling with Pets Tips

Pets on GNV ferries: tips for travelling

Travel with your 4-legged best friend: pets are welcome on board GNV!
Besides traditional accommodations, you can also choose the Pet Cabin.

Remember to always carry the following with you:

• medical records
• extra food
• food and water bowls
• muzzle
• leash
• scoop and hygiene bags

Your friend’s safety is very important. Never remove the pet’s collar or harness during the trip and attach a tag with your telephone number. Keep a photo of your pet with you. It will be easier to find if it gets lost!

Remember that you are not travelling alone! You will find walking areas just for you. Also, show respect for other passengers who don’t know you, keeping your pet leashed and muzzled, if required, in common areas.

Before travelling, take your pet to the veterinarian to make sure it is healthy. Visiting your veterinarian is important in order to obtain the documents you need for your trip.

During the visit, the following will be checked:

• basic vaccinations (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus)
• rabies vaccination (where necessary)
• worming
• flea and tick prevention treatments

For trips to/from Spain we recommend that you carefully consult the regulations adopted by the country (Ley 7/2023 - artículo 61.2; Real Decreto 990/2022 - article 20.1.c), which regulate the non-commercial transport of domestic animals (dogs, cats and ferrets).
If these animals come from a European Union country, in order to be admitted onto Spanish territory, they must have:

• Identification through microchip or tattoo;
• Valid anti-rabies vaccination, reported in the passport;
• Passport issued by a veterinarian authorized by the competent authority; 
• There are no exceptions, nor is the entry into Spain of dogs, cats and ferrets less than 15 weeks old and therefore not vaccinated with a valid anti-rabies vaccine authorized: 
• The minimum age for vaccinating animals is 12 weeks.For the vaccine to be valid, at least 21 days must have passed after inoculation.
  
  

If these animals come from a non-EU country, in order to be admitted onto Spanish territory, they must have:

• Identification through microchip or tattoo;
• Valid anti-rabies vaccination, reported in the passport;
• passport issued by a veterinarian authorized by the competent authority;
• test with a negative result for rabies issued by a certified laboratory (the test report with the negative result);
• There are no exceptions, nor is the entry into Spain of dogs, cats and ferrets less than 15 weeks old and therefore not vaccinated with a valid anti-rabies vaccine authorized: 
• The minimum age for vaccinating animals is 12 weeks.
• For the vaccine to be valid, at least 21 days must have passed after inoculation.
• It is necessary to carry out a serological test for rabies on your pet in an authorized laboratory before travel
• The result of this test will be reported by your veterinarian on the passport and must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.
  
  For further information we invite you to consult the Spanish government website HERE 

Seeing eye dogs: contact pmr@gnv.it

GNV and ENPA

Since 2016, GNV has been working in partnership with ENPA (The National Board for Animal Protection) to actively address the problem of stray and abandoned animals. The Company operates routes from Sicily, escorting and hosting ENPA volunteers, along with their four-legged friends, in cabins specifically designed for pets, with easy-to-clean linoleum flooring and a daily sanitation service. Our ships also have a dedicated area on the outside deck where animals can wander around freely.

ENPA is the oldest and leading animal protection association in Italy, which has partnered with GNV in order to find homes or foster facilities for more than 1,400 abandoned dogs in Sicily.