|
Traveling With Pets
The U.S. Government does not pay transportation costs for pets; any costs incurred are the responsibility of the employee.
- Visit or call the Overseas Briefing Center to inquire about pet entry requirements.
- Notify the post that you will be bringing a pet and what kind.
- Call the appropriate embassy in Washington to confirm the entry requirements. Some embassies will provide forms printed in English and in the host language for your veterinarian to complete. Some countries do not permit importation or have long quarantine requirements .
- Check the requirements to see how close to departure the required veterinarian examination, shots, and tests must be scheduled.
- Arrange with your veterinarian for required shots and certificates within the specified time period.(Even though not always required, it is recommended that you include shots for distemper and hepatitis).
Certification requirements vary from country to country. See a country-by-country list
of Import and Quarantine Restrictions . Some countries simply
require the veterinarian who examines your pet to be licensed in the state of origin, and
no USDA endorsement of the veterinarian's examination statement is required. Some
countries will accept a standard letterhead health certificate and rabies certificate
issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA. However, other countries may
require that your pet be checked by a federally accredited veterinarian, and that a United
States Interstate and International Certificate for Health Examination for Small Animals
(AHPIS Form 7001) be issued by that veterinarian and endorsed by USDA.(Since August of
1994 only a federally accredited veterinarian can sign this form). Carefully check the OBC
Country Briefing Box or call the embassy to determine the exact requirements before making
an appointment with a vet. Also check the airline that you will be using for your pet.
There have been cases where a country does not require a certification, but a particular
airline does. There is a USDA endorsement fee of $16.50 per certificate for cats and dogs.
(More than one dog or cat may be on a certificate). For other animals, call USDA at the
numbers below.
The timetable for obtaining examination statements and certifications can be very tight.
Plan well in advance to be sure all paperwork is complete in time for your shipping date.
You may send your paperwork by mail or courier along with a rabies certificate, the
appropriate fee for service, and a self addressed stamped envelope or a pre-paid Federal
Express envelope (if you are short of time) for return to you. Be sure that the vet. s
name is legible, and include a contact person with a daytime telephone number. Pets
examined by veterinarians in other U.S. areas should have the papers certified by the
USDA-APHIS Veterinary Office in that state. The offices closest to the Washington, DC area
are:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)
Veterinary Services
1598 Whitehall Road Suite #A
Annapolis, MD 21401
Tel: (410) 349-9643 or (301) 261-8072
(If driving: Take Rt.50 East. Just before the Bay Bridge, take Exit 31 to small outlet
mall called Jamal's Bay 50)
USDA-APHIS
or
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)
Veterinary Services
Washington Building, Suite 6000
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 771-2774
If you wish to deliver the certificate in person, call 24 to 48 hours in advance for an
appointment.
AUTHENTICATION OF THE USDA CERTIFICATE
may be required by the country to which you will be traveling. Check with the embassy or
with the pre-arrival cable available in the OBC country briefing box. If required, go to
the:
Department of State's Authentication Office
518 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20520
State Annex 1 (Columbia Plaza)
Tel: (202) 647-5002
The office is open on a walk-in basis from 7:30 am to 11:00 am, Monday through Friday.
The authentication fee is $5.00 per document, and the average waiting time is 1 hour.
Check should be made to U.S. Department of State.
If you are taking a relatively uncomplicated flight to post, it may be to your advantage
to take your pet along as excess baggage. Ask the travel agent to provide you with a cost
comparison of excess baggage versus air freight shipment.(Remember also to save your
receipts for shipment as a legitimate "Moving Expense" for the IRS.)
Reserve air space for shipment as early as possible. Be sure to schedule arrival on a
weekday and NOT a weekend, as it is usually necessary for animals to be cleared by a
veterinarian on arrival.
Alert the Post in advance of flight and particulars as it will often help speed the
processing. Also, the post will then arrange temporary housing that allows pets.
Provide a sturdy, leak-proof crate (lined with absorbent material such as newspaper) that
is large enough for the animal to stand, lie down, or turn around in, but not so large
that the animal would be battered around in rough weather. Most U.S. carriers have
shipping containers in various sizes available for purchase. However, shop early as they
may not have all sizes in stock at the particular time you need one. (Once again, this
is a moving expense; save the receipt.)
SHIPPING OF PETS CHECKLIST
- Let your pet become accustomed to the crate before shipment, by having practice sessions that build in time of confinement. Be sure the pet has a comfortable pad to lie on and a few familiar toys. A leash should also be included with the crate.
- Put identification tags that include an emergency phone number around your pet's neck.
- Print your name and destination address clearly on the shipping crate itself; also include your pet's name, so that attendants can talk with him. If the pet has special habits - or bites - also include that information. You might want to list this information in other languages, depending on the countries transited. You should carry a photo of your pet with you. Feed him just a light meal about six hours before shipping -- NO WATER within two hours unless it is Very Hot (or the animal is very small). A water dish which is attached so that it cannot tip should be provided, but it should be conveniently located to allow an attendant to provide water at stopovers without being bitten. Send dry food along if the trip is long. If you send canned food, fasten an opener and dish to the crate in a cloth or mesh bag with feeding instructions clearly marked on the crate.
- Do not tranquilize the animal without your veterinarian's approval.
- Exercise your pet just before shipping so your animal will sleep better during the trip.
- Check with the agent who meets the flight about your pet's progress when you are changing planes. Have your airway bill number readily available when doing this.
- Allow plenty of time between connecting flights to be sure your animal is transferred to your flight if traveling with you.
- If there is a delay, the airline will kennel the pets, when kennels are available. State on your airway bill that your animal is to be taken to the animal port if there is a delay or stopover, if you desire the service.
- Arrange to have your pet picked up immediately on arrival. Airline facilities for pets may be limited or nonexistent.
VETPORT AT KENNEDY AIRPORT
There is a privately owned veterinarian shelter at the Kennedy Airport for traveling
animals. It is open 24-hours a day including weekends and holidays. It is equipped to
handle any kind of animal and has over 140 species pass through its doors. The staff will
examine, feed, water, exercise, and care for your pet during stopovers; vets are available
on the premises.
You can also write for crating directions and crates by sending a self-addressed envelope
& postage stamp to VETPORT. If there is a delay, they will kennel the pets. Normal
rates per day (or part of a day) are: Cats, $11; Dogs, $16-20 (by size).
Extra for special diets, etc. Have all necessary vaccinations administered prior to
shipping your pet.(The Vetport Requires Proof of Vaccinations.) State on your
waybill that your animal is to be taken to the Vetport if there is a delay or stopover!
The address (not an endorsement; for informational purposes only, and the United States
Government can provide no guarantees and accepts no responsibility thereof for any action
taken on the visitor's part based on the information provided.) is:
Vetport
Air Cargo Center
Kennedy International Airport
Building 189
Jamaica, New York 11430
Tel (718) 656-8295
Fax (718) 995-4757
For more information on the Washington area services that will help prepare and ship pets,contact the Overseas Briefing Center for a list of Pet Transporting Services in Maryland and Pet Transporting Services in Virginia.
For information on American airline carriers' specific regulations for travel of pets in cabin and in cargo see Pets - International Air Travel.