The long awaited litters of pup in america were born a couple of weeks ago and we are bring them in through the pets passport, There are 3 pups comeing 2 bitches and 1 dog all from different litters. Do you know if there are any import firms that will sort all the paper work out for us, as I have this fear that we will get them to the english airport and some form or check will not be as it should and they will have to be kenneled for 6 month, due to us getting it wrong. I Have read the DEFRA requirements time and time again but still would rather pay someone to get things right. Any Idea's

i don't know if this link will help :)

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I did a quick Web check a couple of weeks ago and didn't come up with any firms, although there must be a few.

I would check with the breeders and ask them if they know of anyone who has exported a dog to the U.K.   I checked with a friend who breeds Cairns and Norfolks and she came back to me very quickly with someone she knew who exported a dog.   (British judge at an American show liked a dog so much should bought him and had him exported.)   I never followed it through, as I now have to leave my dog (and husband) in the U.K. whilst I spend most of this year in the U.S.

You can also check with the American breed club, or your breeders might be willing to do it for you.

Stacey

Hi Britney

i think I'm going to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm undertaking this process for a puppy going to Singapore (who needs his Pet Passport done so he can return in the future), so I think i now know the system inside out.

The puppies will have to be microchipped, and have rabies jabs first of all.  The microchipping MUST be done BEFORE the rabies injection, otherwise it will just have to be repeated.  The Rabies jab cannot be done until the puppy is AT LEAST 12 weeks of age.

Then a blood test is taken approximately 30 days later, to test the level of immunisation against Rabies.  the blood can only be tested by a DEFRA approved laboratory, it is probably easier to send the samples to the DEFRA lab in Weighbridge.  Once a successful blood test result has been achevied then the vet can apply for the Pet Passport Certificate

Now for the bad news.  The pups CANNOT enter the UK until at least 6 MONTHs after the *successful* blood test has been taken.

Ultimately this means your pups cannot come into the UK until they are a minimum of 10 Months of age.  And then only, providing everything has been done in the correct order, and the blood test was successful.

On top of this, I'm not sure whether America is one of the countries involved in the pet passport scheme, so you may be looking at 6 months quarantine after all.

However, it is occasionally possible to quarantine them at homre, where they will have a kennel and run, but must not, at any cost, ever come outside of the kennel/run. 

There are several 'pet moving' companies who can give you more advice on this, do a google for 'pet movers'.  But ultimately DEFRA themselves will give you the best, most up-to-date information.

Hope this helps.

Caroline

You are correct in most of what you say, but USA are part ot Pets now.  The only thing to bear in m8ind is that the pups must not visit any non Pets country in the six months prior to coming to UK.

Of course you will have to pay or recompense the breedr for keeping the pups so long, as you can hardly expect someone to basically board your dog for 8 months for nothing.

The costs are likely to be similar to quyarantine, but the advantage is that pups can be socialised, and even shown before coming over.  Bad side is that you will have to wait longer (you could have had pup at 8 to 9 months if it went through quarantine).

Hi, having the first dog to actually enter the UK on Pet Passports from USA(she came into Quarantine a coule of weeks before Pet Passports from the USA came into force, but was fully compliant with the requirements, so was allowed out the day after the USA were added)  There are a load of things to bear in mind.  Firstly, as posted by others, they have to have Microchips, rabies shots, then blood tests.  The blood test is a bit of a nightmare as the only lab in the USA DEFRA approved is in Kansas.  If, for some reason, the first blood test fails (know one puppy currently waiting to come in who failed by 1 incrememt) then the rabies shots/blood tests must be re-done.  You then have to have the worming doucmentation filled in by a vet immediately before travel.  Everything has to be checked and double checked - it is vital that the USA vet is made aware how important even the smallest details on the instructions are!

Of course, you will have to pick an airling/airport which carries under the pet passport scheme - more joining gradually, but dont just assume that becasue they will fly dogs to the UK they are under pet passports.  If you fly on a non PP airline, then you have to do the 6 months quarantine.  (I dont know if this has ever been pup to the test yet)

Oh, and then, at the moment only Heathrow is allowed as an airport point of entry for Pet Passports.  At Heathrow you cant just collect the dogs yourself from the Airline, it has to be transported to the Animal Control Centre, which pupts a couple of hours onto the time, and costs about £200on top of the air freight charge.

Getting back to your original question, we have used james Cargo (based heathrow) a couple of times, when shipping out, and they are very reliable and helpful.  It does cost substantially more than the DIY method, though.  Oh, and 1 final thought, some airlines will only accept dog bookings if an accompanying person is on the same flight.  On the brighter side, we did find that book a dog to fly USA to UK was much cheaper than UK to USA - but you can only do the USA to UK booking from the USA!
bye
Gwen

Hi Caroline, bit confused by your info - espcially about accassionally being possible to quarantine at home/in run?  Where did you disocver this, I was positive that Quarantine time could only be served in a Licensed Quarantine kennel.  Also surprised to hear Singapore was in Pets Passport, didnt know anywhere far east was included.
bye
Gwen

Thanks for you help, we have sorted everything with the breeder and she knows that she will have the pups untill they are about 10 month,she is chargeing us half the price that she usually charges for boarding dogs at her kennels, this is payable a month in advance, we are responsable for all vet bill and proceedures that are required for the pet passport. I am going over to Seatle in 8 weeks time with a friend to meet our pups, It is the first time the American breeder has sent pups to england in this way,It is the paperwork that I am finding frightening the thought that one mistake could make all that difference. I am going over to accompany the pups back, as I have a horror of them stood somewhere in the heat/cold  all by themselves

Britney,

A mistake on the paperwork can make the difference - but it is the same for Pet Passport within Europe.   

The procedures are very clear and I am sure there will be no mix ups.   Have the pups given two rabies shots several weeks apart - as is done in the U.K. and they will be sure to pass the titre test with flying colours.

Stacey

Good luck with it all Britney - I am sure it will all go smoothly.  As you say, it is the paperwork which is the sticking point so many times - when our boy arrived from Finlnd last autumn he was stuck at heathrow for a few hours (as was Mike, but not together) because the vet. had filled in the worming details on the wrong page.  A late night drive through a forest in finalnd by Keepers breeders (to the Vet) got the form (faxed out again by Animal Control at heathrow)( filled in correctly, and he was released in time for his supper.  And as Briedog said, it does go through much easier using a shipper - they sort it all out before you have time to panic.  It is when you are going it alone that the delays and extra costs for driving to animal control occur, this is all built in with the shippers total cost.  As a matter of interest, which airline are you using from Seattle.  Am trying to keep a bit of a record about different airlines, where they fly from, accompanied or not, and the treatment customers get with them.  Help us decide in future which is the best way to ship.
bye
Gwen

Hi Gwen

Singapore is a rabies-free island, and is included in the Pet Passport Scheme.  It is one of the 'long haul' countries listed on the DEFRA website.

With regard to undertaking quarantine at home.  Have another look at the DEFRA website, the info is all there.

Hope this helps

Caroline

Hi Caroline,  Just visited DEFRA site, thanks, no idea so many 'exotic'islands now included.  Couldnt find the bit about 'home quarantine ' anywhere - which bit did it come under?

Please to see a whole load more USA routes have joined up.
bye
Gwen

Re the message that the pup must be 12 weeks before the rabies jab is given there is a letter from an American breeder of BCs in the International Sheepdog Society magazine this month basically giving a warning about this.

The breeder in question was bringing 2 pups to the UK for a friend and followed (he thought) the DEFRA requirements to the letter. He had the rabies injection done when the pups were 86 days old - ie 12 weeks and 2 days, the pups were then blood tested using the approved lab and then waited 6 months before the travel was booked.

The paperwork was checked before boarding the flight and everything appeared to be in order, but on arrival at Heathrow the dogs were refused entry to the UK and were put into quarantine. It appears that in the USA / Canada 3 months is interpreted as 12 weeks - ie 84 days, whilst DEFRA interpret it as 3 calendar months, and as the pups at 86 days had been slightly under 3 calendar months when they had the jabs they were refused entry.

He was given 2 choices by DEFRA - either leave the dogs in quarantine for 6 months or fly them back to the USA. He decided to put them in quarantine to see if something could be sorted out. After a week of phone calls and faxes to and from the USA and what he describes as the most stressful experience of his life DEFRA agreed that they would accept the rabies jabs given at 86 days and released the dogs from quarantine.

He warned people from the USA and Canada to ensure that they had the rabies jabs done at 3 calendar months, not 12 weeks.

Karen

Karen

Your post on the timing of the rabies jab is very interesting.

I phoned DEFRA to clarify this last week, and asked if it was 12 weeks or three calendar months.  They told me that 12 weeks from birth date was absolutely fine.

I guess it depends on whether the Inspector at Heathrow is having a good day or not, sadly!

Caroline

I guess it could just all come down to which inspector is at the airport at the time, but given the short space of time between 12 weeks and 3 calendar months if I was importing a puppy I would make sure the pup was 3 calendar months before having the rabies jab just to make certain.

Karen

i have import a swedish fcr the agent was laydhaye,they were very good no trouble at gatwick airport,i just fill in a form,then back to the aniaml center,a turn around of 45min,the staff were great,

if want karen telphone number please give me a call on 01252310267.

Just to add a bit of extra info on importing dogs under the passport scheme. If the dog will be coming in on a normal import license for early release, then they can travel with any airline. I have a male shar pei arriving from the US under the scheme in 11 days & he will fly straight to Manchester, then spending about 4 days in quarantine before being released. Also, it's now recommended that all dogs have TWO rabies vaccinations, 2 weeks apart. My male had this & passed his titer test first time. I know of many that only had the one rabies vacc & have failed after 30 days.   

Thank you I have been jotting down bits to remember and pass on to breeder in America to watch and find out further on her side, thank you for all the good feedback, as I am very nervouse of doing this, so all help is good.I have waited all this time to import again as I brought a Bitch in from France in 1992 and she did not go though quaranteen well and I swore I would not go that road again, as most of the dogs that have been imported this way have never been shown, as it has made them very introvated.

briedog Will contact you tomorrow if possible, as I have just come on line and it is a bit late to bother people

Thanks Lynn

Let me know if your breeder needs any contacts in the US for help with procedures etc.... & i can give you the contact details of the girl who has done all the passport for my male. This is the first one to come over on the passport, my other 8 have done quarantine with no problems......Sue.

Skyota,

Sorry, but it is not true that a dog flying in from the U.S. on the Pet Passport scheme can fly on any airline.  The DEFRA site has a list of approved airlines, it is a limited list.

Stacey

Hi Stacey,  the approved routes only apply if the dog is coming in accompanied from the US. If they are coming in on an import license going into quarantine for early release, then they can fly with any airline as they normally would. A friend of mine recently had her American Champion fly over on a normal route, he was released after 2 days at the kennels. Another friend actually went to the US to fly back with his dog, but he had to come on an approved route, then the dog was released from Heathrow Airport after about 2 hrs. Because the US doesn't have the Official paperwork for the passport yet, then all unaccompanied dogs arrive on the normal import licenses. The kennels i use actually called DEFRA about this & the woman didn't even know all the ins & outs, it's supposed to be their job!   Sue.

Sue,

Well, the DEFRA site seems very clear that bringing dogs into the U.K. from the U.S. can only be done on a few airlines.  They are the majors anyway, so it is not likely to be a problem. 

Probably best advice is for anyone who is doing this to check with DEFRA.. given from other posts there seems to be some confusion on other matters.

Stacey

Under Long Haul destinations on the DEFRA site (well that is where it was a few months back) is where you will find the details about early release from Quarantine when using non approved routes. 

When Pets first came in for many of these countries there were no or very limited approved routes.  This is still very much the case with the USA.

The routes that are offered are entirely up to the airlines, as to whether they will offer the sevice, and this decision is made entirely on commercial considerations, so there has to be a way to use PETS when there isn't a convenient approved route.

It might also be worth checking whether you can bring three dogs in on the same flight - I have heard that some internal American airlines will only accept two at any one time

Thanks Brainless, you saved me looking.......LOL I will let everyone know how smoothly it all goes with my boy in 10 days when he arrives.....Sue.