I cannot get through the gobbledygook.

Can I take aerosols (Dap spray, deodorants for the bitch and accompanying human etc) in the luggage.

Can I take her food with me.

Is there an additional handling charge at JFK with offloading dog and varikennel?

> Can I take aerosols (Dap spray, deodorants for the bitch and accompanying human etc) in the luggage

Yes you can, have a read of Gatwick's information
http://www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk/security.html - Personally i'd put them into main hold.

Can I take her food with me.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/arriving_travelers.xml
For me it reads not, BUT what will they do if you take it in and they do a check of your bag? Remove it from you at most, maybe a telling off etc.. Means you'll need to buy more over there.. Again put in hold luggage if you do that.

As for a handling charge, JFK's own website, is well... They have a new cargo area which has a new AHC, but nothing to say about any costs..

For me it reads not, BUT what will they do if you take it in and they do a check of your bag?

Major US airports have sniffer dogs checking for everything not allowed -even fruit. It's one of the first things you see upon arrival. One airport, can't remember which now, used only Beagles I remember but I've also seen Goldens and of course Malinois.

Agree with you there Marianne... It's a risk you take by putting it in yr luggage. Maybe an email to the ahc over there would be best about what they suggest?

I will be fine using my hosts food when I get there the quandary I had is that in the shipping instructions it says there should be food for 24 hours attached to the top of the kennel, and then they say you can't bring it in????

Brainless if you have instructions regarding shipping about placing food with the kennel then thats different and i'd leave it at that, maybe place a bit more in, just in case they allow you to take it away with you the other end. What you may find thinking about it is that they discard the food once at the ahc, so technically doesn't leave the airport and go onto their land as such.

Its the bringing in of meat and bi-products that I was thinking from the link meant you couldn't.
I've gone to and from different countries and had things taken from me as I wasn't allowed to bring them in(had no idea either), there was no drama in it either.

Surely if you are taking a dog with you they would allow the food to be taken with you even if it goes in th hold with the dog ? I would give them a call and ask.

I always take deoderant ect but no to foodstuffs. Apart from dry would be ok I think, but the lady that flew with us had 3 M&S trifles with her and got stopped (I kid you not).

>in the shipping instructions it says there should be food for 24 hours attached to the top of the kennel, and then they say you can't bring it in????

Presumably though this is food for travel and to be consumed whilst airside, in the event that there is an unforeseen delay.  If that's the case then the food will eaten or otherwise disposed of and will not actually be entering the country.

I know that when a pup I bred went to US in the cabin the bag of food I had given them in their puppy pack was confiscated, and they don't do AG in USA!

I spoke to the people we will be staying with and they use Proplan Performance (chicken based) and the Salmon one, so she will have to make do.

The US is extremely strict about not allowing food or plant products to be imported without a licence.

Well have brought down the varikennel that has only been used once (when taking her Mum to Finland four years ago).

It's set up in the kitchen where grandma Jozi immiediately took charge of it ;).  I think she will be well used to it in a week, as am feeding her in it.

Made sure the live animal stickers were secure (taped over with sea through tape), attached our address and address of where we are going.

Have bought a large see through document wallet to put copies of all her documents in (Pet Passport, Low Temperature Acclimation Certificate, Fit to Fly certificate and Feeding/watering schedule).

So need temperatures to stay above 20'F at Heathrow and JFK on 9th and JFK on 21st and Brussels 22nd December.