Hello everybody. I'm looking for information on bringing dog from California, US to UK.
The puppy has been already selected and paid for and will be in age suitable for importing in Feb 2013.
Probably some of you has done it before and I would appreciate if you could share your experiences.
As far I know all the DEFRA's requirements but struggling with actual importing process. Where to start? What sort of money it could cost?
Which are the companies one would reccomend? Is all animal cargo traffic fly in to Heathrow only?
Thanks for your time.
x

Hopefully Barbara will see your post - she's pretty expert with the US.

Google Barleyarch GSP's and email or call Sue Harris ( she doesn't use this forum) but she imported a dog from that area of USA a couple of years ago. Admittedly he was older when he was shipped but I am sure she will have some useful advice. He came in via heathrow

Think Barbara was involved in bring in a pup last year and I am sure it went through quarantine. Think you can take a dog over there and bring it back via main land Europe but not sure you can import from the USA that way.

I used Ladyhaye to import my pup from Europe. They were great, so helpful. I'd recommend you give them a buzz :)

You can either put things in the hands of a shipping company, or do it yourself.

Your first step is to go on the DEFRA website and find which airlines and routes are approved from the nearest departure point.

If you come through Heathrow it will cost you some £500 charges on top of the Airline Cargo charge, as they pick up, take through customs and put them in their Quarantine kennels and charge for two days boarding regardless of how short a time the dog is with them.

What you want really is a direct flight to avoid the dog needing to be transfered.

The boy my friend imported and I organised came from JFK (New York) using Delta to Heathrow.  Now from other parts of the USA Delta have had a poor rep with dogs going missing, but we have used them twice, once in the old 6 month Q. days, and once with straight pick up under Pet Passports.

It does seem that charges are not so bad if flying into Manchester.  If accompanying the dog on same flight, it can work out cheaper to fly them as excess baggage to closest mainland Europe hub (we came back with our bitch via Brussels) and drive back to UK.

So basically a lot of ringing around comparing possibilities, or simply opt for a good company that does it all for you.  We have used Overhill from Bristol for exports, excellent again, as proper dog folk.

Check the DERFA website for approved routes and carriers as mentioned in previous post.  And use a direct flight to the UK.  Delta does have a terrible rep as does United (who took over Continental who were actually excellent).  I would never use Delta or United for any flight that includes a stop over as part of the journey. My friend lost a healthy male to heat stroke using BA on an LAX flight.  You may consider using KLM as a direct flight into Amsterdam, excellent pet programme, accompanied baggage would be cheaper if the puppy is within the weight allowed for that, and you would avoid the Heathrow charges.  I have brought over 9 dogs from the USA and now Continental is no more I would use KLM via Amsterdam as first choice.  Also some airlines will not accept bookings by "public" only from an approved IPATA agent www.ipata.org (generally if you are not accompanying the dog).  Ladyhey are excellent at this end for the UK section.

I brought a pup in last February from the US. Got a cheap KLM flight in the "Christmas sales" flew out to collect her and flew her back into Amsterdam, then she came back via the ferry to Hull, although the tunnel is very accessible having done that a couple of times too. KLM would be my airline of choice, really good with the dogs. Just recently had a complete nightmare with Lufthansa, a catalogue of mistakes but finally got my girl out to the US thankfully.

We used KLM to fly a dog from Africa to Amsterdam then a few days later Amsterdam to Heathrow. Dog had a Pet Passport issued in Amsterdam prior to going to Africa so should ave been straightforward. Dog was cleared in Amsterdam, no issues then went to stay with a friend before coming to the UK a few days later. It was a complete nightmare with KLM messing up paperwork meaning we had an extra £350 to pay and still nobody in the company willing to accept responsibility for the mistakes made and no reimbursement. Would have been cheaper to go collect from Europe and a lot less hassle too.

I flew to pick pup up, came back with him as 'excess baggage' into Paris (any European airport would do) and drove from there to UK.  You need authorisation from USA (not a European pet passport as its USA), but it's the equivalent, so exactly the same requirements now.  Excess baggage cost me $200 on top of my airfare.  When you get to UK you can convert the paperwork into a European pet passport if you wish

Thank you all for replies.
I used to ship my dogs to USA via KLM and they were brilliant. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that other way round.