In today’s edition of Share you story we get onboard with Emma and her chihuahua, who flew from Finland to sunny Malta, where her dog prepare a big surprise for the custom officer. Enjoy this ride and we are sure, you can find here a few valuable lessons. 🙂
About the trip
- From: Helsinki, Finland
- To: Valletta, Malta
- Pet: Dog, Chihuahua
- Age of the pet: 8 years
- Airline: Finnair
- Guide: How to fly with dog
Traveling with a dog is always a bit of an adventure – but sometimes, it’s a comedy.
I recently flew from Helsinki to Malta with my little chihuahua, and while the flight itself was smooth (shoutout to Finnair for a calm 4-hour ride), the real “highlight” came after we landed.
If you’re flying to Malta with a dog, be aware: you need to declare your pet on arrival, and an official will check your travel documents at the airport. Simple, right?
Well, welcome to island time. We were told someone would meet us for the inspection, but the officer was… let’s say, taking his time. Eventually, someone casually waved us into the customs office to wait. It was a small, official-looking room – and since we’d been traveling for hours, I figured my pup could finally stretch her legs.
Big mistake. My chihuahua marched into that office and promptly peed all over the floor. Right there in the middle of Maltese customs. TBH I just stood there, horrified, while she looked very pleased with herself. Not a great first impression. Luckily, the official eventually showed up – very relaxed, completely unbothered by the situation with the Maltese word “MELA!” coming out of his mouth. He checked our documents, and let us go.
On the way out of the office I met a cleaning lady who I asked to go to the office, that there was an accident. 😉
Thank you, Emma, for sharing your story and big life lessons when it comes to travelling with pets!
So if you are also planning to fly to Malta, we recommend that you arrange a veterinary check at the airport in advance – this can be done online or over the phone. Upon arrival, you will head to the office where they will check your documents – normally it should not take more than 5-10 minutes, but it is an extra hustle when flying to Malta.
🐾 — Tapeworm treatment requirements for Malta —
Have a travel story with your dog you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it! Tell us about your journey and help inspire other pet travellers. 💌