Events Arkiv - PawsofSAWS

July 23, 2026: SAWS Pet Travel Prep (NO pet registration)

🇮🇹 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! 🐕🐈💙

July 18, 2026: Pet Italian Registration – NO TRAVEL PREP!

🇮🇹 Upcoming Pet Registration with Italian Authorities

Saturday, July 18, 2026
📍 205 Housing Complex (Bldg. 303C), across from NAS 1
⏰ 0900–1300
📅 By Appointment Only
💶 € CASH ONLY on site

⚠️ IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ

The Italian government is currently implementing regional policy and taxation changes, affecting pricing, payment methods, and processing times for veterinary administrative services, including pet registrations, passports, and health certificates. As a result, delays have occurred across Italy, including at events where governmental veterinary authorities provide services on site.

Thank you for your patience and attention to the updated process.

🐾 Why you must register your pet

If you are staying in Italy longer than 3 months, your pet must be registered in the Italian National Pet Database (BDN).

Registration:
- Establishes legal ownership
- Ensures compliance with Italian law
- Helps reunite lost pets with their families

SAWS provides English-language support and administrative assistance to help pet owners navigate pet registration and travel requirements.

⭐️ Is SAWS Required?

No. Participation through SAWS is completely voluntary.

You may register directly with the appropriate governmental veterinary authorities (ASP) on your own.
SAWS offers scheduling assistance, translation support, and convenience for those who choose to participate.

📋 How It Works (Quick Checklist)

✔️ Read this page fully
✔️ Submit the Registration Form HERE (might not be open yet, but it will be real soon). 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 regarding your registration request (this is not your appointment confirmation)
✔️ SAWS schedules appointments once registrations close and the event schedule is finalized
✔️ Receive your assigned time slot by email
✔️ Attend with your pet, ID, confirmation email, and payment
✔️ Bring € CASH ONLY for payments on site

⚠️ 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 sevice 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.

Pet registration 🐱🐶	Pet Italian Registration only (already chipped) CATS & DOGS - Amount due at registration - paid cash on site: €110 per pet - Includes ASP registration fee - Covers ASP processing, onsite ASP consultant, and event coordination.
Pet registration & Chipping 🐱🐶	Chipping & Registration CATS & DOGS - Completed together. - Amount due at registration - paid cash on site: €135 per pet - Includes ASP registration fee - Covers ASP processing, onsite ASP consultant, and event coordination.
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 €20 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
- All pets must be present
- Valid government ID required
- Power of Attorney required if representing another owner
- Dogs can be microchipped from 2 months of age
- One appointment per pet
- Pets living in Italy over 3 months must be registered
- Address changes require new registration

❗️NOTE❗️
NO PCS pet passports, health certificates or Rabies vaccines at this event!
If you are PCS'ing or traveling, you are looking for this event.

🚫 Please Do NOT:

❌ arrive without an appointment
❌ forget your ID or confirmation email
❌ miss your appointment without notifying us at least 48 hours before event

📨 After Your Appointment

If you do not receive the registration certificate after 10 days, please contact us.

📞 Questions?

📱 +39 352 035 1671 (WhatsApp OK)
📧 info@pawsofsaws.org

We’re happy to help — see you and your furry friends soon! 🐕🐈💙

Disclaimer: Sigonella Animal Welfare Society, Inc. (SAWS) is an independent nonprofit organization and is not a governmental agency. We provide scheduling assistance, administrative support, and English-language guidance to help pet owners navigate registration and travel requirements. Official registrations, certifications, and approvals are issued by the appropriate governmental veterinary authorities.

Volunteer sign-up for SAWS events

📢 WE WELCOME YOU TO VOLUNTEER AT OUR SAWS EVENTS 📢

This page is for volunteers assisting with specific SAWS events.
If you are new to volunteering, please complete the general Volunteer Application first.

We need volunteers for our events throughout the year, for example at our Pet Registrations, Pet food drives, Car washes. We also attend the bigger events on base, like for example the Autumn Fest and the Christmas Market.
👇🏼 For more info on the TNR volunteer positions, please go to the bottom of this page 👇🏼

Here is where you sign up!
You sign up very easily right here 👉🏼 Track it Forward.

WHY volunteer?
We believe this is a cause, most people understand the importance of and we always enjoy to see new faces at our volunteer team. Here you help us help the rescues, you make new friends and can share a passion for helping animals.

You will of course get volunteer hours – AND you will be part of a pawsome community 🐾

If you do not already know us
We are SAWS – Sigonella Animal Welfare Society. We are an entirely volunteer-run organization that rely on community support.

We help and aid the animals around Naval Air Station Sigonella, animals that are on the street, dumped or thrown away like trash or born without a loving home.

Thank you from the
SAWS-team
If you have questions, please contact us.

TNR Program – Volunteer Positions

Certified Trapper

- Volunteers must complete the required 8-hour online TNR trapping class offered through Neighborhood Cats and receive a certified copy of their passing the course.
- Volunteers will also attend an on-hands refresher class prior to the trapping event.
- Volunteers will be provided protective gear prior to trapping to include at a minimum. arm gloves and protective eye wear. Volunteers will be required to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and closed toed shoes for trapping.
- Certified trappers will be assigned a specific trapping location and will work under the guidance of a team lead at each site.
  Only certified trappers will release the cats in their respective locations.

Transport volunteers

- Transport volunteers will attend a pre-event meeting whereas they will be provided a safety briefing on transporting the cats. Not only will the safe handling of the cats be discussed but also the addresses/locations of each of the network vets that will be sterilizing the cats.
- Approximately 2-3 transport volunteers will be assigned to each of the two designated trapping locations. Each volunteer will transport approximately 4-6 cats in holding cages (depending on the size of one’s car) The cats will have been transferred into the holding cage and covered by the certified trapper and placed into the transport volunteer’s auto.
- All transport volunteers will be provided safety gloves and eyewear. All transport volunteers are required to wear long sleeved and long pant clothing with closed toed shoes.

Holding/Recovery volunteers

- Holding/Recovery Volunteers will be required to attend an informational and safety meeting prior to the trapping event.
- Volunteers will prepare the recovery location to receive the cats. Volunteers must wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed toed shoes. Protective gear will be required to be worn at all times to include safety glasses and long-sleeved gloves (will be provided).
- Preparation of the recovery location will include the setting up of tables, covering such tables with plastic.
- Cats will be brought to the holding/recovery location on the evening they are trapped and are held overnight so they do not eat prior to surgery. They are monitored at all times.
- Volunteers will monitor the recovery time period in 12-hour shifts during the entire recovery time periods.
- The holding/recovery volunteers will clean area.

Cat Caregiver

- Food will be provided through fund raising and/or request out to Sig Community.
- Cats will be feed and water provided once daily but no later than every other day at the discretion of the caregiver.
- The caregiver will monitor the feeding station area to ensure it is kept orderly and clean.
- Caregiver will alert the TNR team if any cat is observed in need of medical attention.
- Once assigned it will be the responsibility of the Cat Caregiver to find a substitute in the event the primary caregiver is out of the area.

You sign up very easily right here 👉🏼 Track it Forward.