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Grooming Your Pet to be an International Traveler

By February 3rd, 2016No Comments

irishdog

Last May, Johnny Depp got in a lot of doggie doo with the government of Australia.  The Pirates of the Caribbean star and his wife were accused of smuggling their two Yorkshire terriers – Pistol and Boo – into the country on a private jet without proper documentation and medical clearances.  Depp flew the pooches back to the U.S., but the couple still faces various charges associated with Great Down-Under Canine Caper.

International travel with a pet involves a complex and time-consuming set of regulations, restrictions and procedures.  Australia, in fact, has some of the strictest bio-security laws in the world, but with good reason: the country is one of the few that remains rabies-free.  And the Aussies would like to keep it like that.

If you are taking your pet on an international trip – permanently or for a visit – a USDA-endorsed international health certificate and any other related documnents are often required.

As soon as you know your itinerary, call Croton Animal Hospital.  We’ll be happy to help with the process, including :

  • Getting a health certificate
  • Updating vaccinations
  • Completing disease testing

Visit www.aphis.usda.gov for more information on International Animal Product Export Regulations (IREGS), and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

If you intend to bring your pet back into the U.s., there may be certain re-entry requirements, depending on where you traveled.  Plan ahead.

  •  Your carrier (air, rail, cruise line, etc.) may impose additional requirements to transport animals.  Check for these well in advance in order to get your paperwork complete and  approved.
  • Each country has a specific health certificate and establishes its own rules for entry of animals from the United States.  The process could take several weeks to complete, depending on the requirements of the importing country.
  • Some countries require and isolation or quarantine period, lasting from weeks to months, before an animal is eligible for entry.

You should start investigating the requirements of your destination country as soon as you can.                                                                                                                                          —

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