🇮🇹 SAWS Pet Travel Preparation (PCS / Travel)
(If you signed up, you will receive your appointment very soon. If you did not sign up yet, please keep an eye out for our next PTP event)
📅 Thursday, July 23, 2026
📍 205 Housing Complex (Bldg. 303C), across from NAS 1
⏰ 16:00–18:00
📅 By Appointment Only
💶 € CASH ONLY on site (Rabies must be prepaid)
⚠️ IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ
The Sicilian government is currently implementing regional policy and taxation changes, affecting pricing, payment methods, and processing times for veterinary administrative services, including pet passports and health certificates. As a result, delays have occurred across Italy, including at events where governmental veterinary authorities provide services on site.
Update as of June 8, 2026:
Due to updated information and precautionary guidance provided by the Italian Ministry of Health regarding rabies surveillance, SAWS has implemented updates to the Pet Travel Preparation (PTP) process to ensure compliance with current veterinary requirements.
These updates are intended to support efficient document processing, reduce unnecessary wait times, and ensure pets and owners complete the required travel procedures as smoothly as possible.
Please review the "How It Works" section below carefully, as some steps in the process have changed.
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and commitment to responsible pet travel.
Additional Information
On June 3, 2026, the Italian Ministry of Health issued updated operational guidance regarding rabies surveillance and the management of suspected rabies cases in dogs and cats. While participants do not need to read this document to attend the PTP event, those interested can review the original guidance (Italian) here. For convenience, SAWS has also provided an English translation of the first page, which summarizes the most important information.
🐾 Traveling with your pet?
If you are PCS’ing, rotating, or traveling outside of Italy, this event is for you.
Depending on your destination, your pet may require:
- A valid rabies vaccination
- A pet passport
- A health certificate
⚠️ IMPORTANT:
Your pet must already be registered in the Italian Pet Database (BDN) before attending this event.
If not, registration must first be completed through the appropriate governmental veterinary authorities (ASP) or at a SAWS Pet Registration event.
⭐️ Is SAWS required?
No - participation through SAWS is completely voluntary.
You may complete your pet travel preparation directly with the appropriate governmental veterinary authorities (ASP). SAWS provides scheduling assistance, translation support, and administrative guidance for those who choose to participate.
📋 How It Works (Quick Checklist)
✔️ Read this page fully
✔️ Submit the Registration Form HERE. By clicking the registration link, you acknowledge the appointment requirements, payment rules, and no-show policy outlined on this SAWS page)
✔️ Receive an automatic confirmation email confirming that your registration request has been received. This is NOT your appointment confirmation.
✔️ Once registration closes and scheduling is finalized, SAWS will assign appointment times and notify participants by email.
✔️ Receive your assigned appointment time from SAWS.
✔️ Complete any required rabies vaccination prepayments (see table below).
✔️ Attend your scheduled appointment with your ID, confirmation email, and payment. No pets need to be present at the PTP event unless a rabies vaccination has been scheduled and paid for.
✔️ Bring € CASH ONLY for payments due on site.
✔️ SAWS will coordinate an expedited ASP Catania appointment for collection of your pet's travel documents shortly before your departure date.
✔️ Your exact departure date is required. SAWS uses this information to coordinate your ASP appointment. If your travel date is not finalized at the time of the event, or if it changes later, please notify SAWS no later than 15 days to departure by email or WhatsApp.
✔️ Attend your scheduled ASP appointment and bring your pet. ASP will complete the final travel-related verification and release your pet passport and/or health certificate directly to you.
⚠️ No-Show Policy:
Missed appointments without prior notice (at least 48 hours before event) will incur a €20 fee, as appointment slots are limited.
⚠️ Right to refuse service:
SAWS reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any lawful reason at any time, at our sole discretion. This includes, but is not limited to, concerns about the safety or wellbeing of animals, staff, volunteers, or the public, non-compliance with our policies or procedures, or behavior that is abusive, threatening, or disruptive.
💶 Services and Payment Details
All fees are per animal.
Fees primarily cover veterinary administrative services and on-site veterinary support.
| PCS/travel preparation 🐱🐶 | PCS/travel preparation CATS & DOGS - Amount due at registration - paid cash on site: €165 per pet ✅ Covers: - Document review - Rabies timing verification - Passport readiness check - ASP coordination support - Health Certificate |
| Advanced Confirmation Health Certificate (AC) 🐱 | AC Health Certificate CATS & DOGS - Amount due at registration - paid cash on site: €85 per pet ✅ Covers: - Official Health Certificate (AC) - Required for travel to foreign countries (ie Japan) - Requirements are country dependent |
| PCS Rabies 🐱🐶 | Rabies Vaccine - must be prepaid CATS & DOGS Prepayment paid to SAWS - PayPal: €60 per animal/vaccine + PayPal fee €5 = €65 in total per pet/vaccine. - Bank transfer: Bank: Chase / JPMorgan Chase Bank. Account number: 652708028, BIC/SWIFT: CHASUS33. Bank Fee must be paid by you and has to be added to the €60 - Make sure you transfer €60 and not $60 😉 - Required only for departure/travel - Must be administered at least 30 day prior to departure. |
| Consultation fee | If the requested service cannot be completed for any reason, a consultation fee will apply to cover time, assessment, and administrative processing €30 per pet |
| SAWS No-Show Policy | A €30 fee applies to missed appointments without prior notice (at least 48 hours before event). |
📌 Important Information
- Check if your pet is already registered in Italy (BDN link)
- Open to AD, DoD, GS, contractors, & NATO personnel
- You only need to bring your pet to the appointment with SAWS, if it is getting a Rabies vaccination.
- Your pet MUST be present when you pick up the travel documents at ASP Catania
- Valid government ID required
- Power of Attorney required if representing another owner
- It is recommended to begin the process around 2 months prior to PCS/travel. Starting early helps avoid delays and last-minute processing.
Due to the short validity of the health certificate, documents are typically issued and handed over in person the day before travel (or 2 days prior if travel falls after a weekend).
- ⚠️ Requests within 2 weeks of the event will incur an urgency processing fee.
- Rabies vaccine only with PCS passport & health certificate
- One appointment per pet
🚫 Please Do NOT:
❌ arrive without an appointment
❌ arrive without prepayment for rabies vaccination (vaccines are only available if prepaid)
❌ forget your ID or confirmation email
❌ miss your appointment without notifying us at least 48 hours before event
📞 Questions?
📱 +39 352 035 1671 (WhatsApp OK)
📧 info@pawsofsaws.org
We’re happy to help if you have questions regarding this event - see you soon! 🐕🐈💙