Pipmeister

When I first asked my vet about the process for moving pets from the US to the UK his staff didn't seem to sure.

But today, my wife was told they would charge $200 per animal for the process.

Hmmm. so, just so I haven't missed out anything - all they have to do is transfer the details, dates and times (1 per animal) of the Chip and Vacinations onto the same, single form.

Then, after the Aphis Vet has stamped it, get them to admin the Tapework tabs 2 days before we go - which I have to find out if is included in this $200.

If not - this sounds a little bit excessive - 15 minutes to fill out the 1 form, from data from their system - for a total of $1000.

Right?

MoshiMoshi

Are they also doing the fit-to-fly physical check and certificate, however many days pre-travel that's supposed to be now?

I think we paid about $500 to our vet, for 2 cats: all documentation, fit-to-fly physical checks and forms. They also got everything pre-checked by the USDA office before we went down there to get stamped, just in case there were any issues (worth doing if your USDA office is any distance).

I thought this was really overpriced (in contrast, our rabies shots, done at a much cheaper practice, only cost $15 each) -- but, at that stage, it was worth it for us, because the expensive place really knew their stuff. Our regular, much cheaper vets made a total mess of the paperwork, and that was why we switched.

I would only pay $200 per animal if confident the place had experience and up-to-date knowledge of getting pets to the UK. It would've been a joke to pay that much and then have to explain it to them. Does anyone at your practice know how it's done? I can understand if not all staff there know, since it's a specialised area, but for $200 I'd expect someone to be on the ball.

Pipmeister

I've asked this question several times to several of them in several occasions over the last two years. This was the first time they said anything firm.

It's a very simple process and I really don't understand what they really have to do. I went through all the forms with Aphis vet over the telephone.

I mean 3 of my pets have had their annual physical within the last 6 weeks, and one is going on Friday along with their rabies booster.

MoshiMoshi

They will still need a physical within X days of travel (I can't remember if it's 3 or 10), to certify they're fit to fly. It's not a particularly lengthly exam, though.

MoshiMoshi

I would ask your vet to put, in writing, what the $200 fee includes. Don't even mention what you think needs to be done. That way you can check they actually understand the process.

Like I said before, $200 per pet is a joke if they're expecting you to talk them through it, or don't understand exactly what's involved.

Pipmeister

No, I thought they need the Aphis stamp no greater than 10 days before travel. So the vet has to fill out their portion and sign it before I can take it to Aphis State Vet.

Anyhoo - the Aphis vet only needs to review the vaccination and tag forms.

The health check to fly is for the carrier

MoshiMoshi

I think the 10 days window begins when your (accredited) vet sees your pet and signs the paperwork, not when the USDA/Aphis State Vet office certifies it, FYI.

Your accredited vet does need to inspect your pet pre-travel, and not just for the airline's fit-to-fly requirement.

(I'm using 'accredited vet' to refer to your actual vet, and USDA/Aphis State Vet for the office which will give the final stamp -- hope this is clear, as have tied myself in knots trying to distinguish between them before. They always end up sounding like the same person...)

Are you using the Aphis 7001 form plus either Annex II or Annex IV? (It used to be Annex II but someone posted on the DEFRA thread that it's changed to IV now).

There's a tickbox on the 7001 saying 'I certify that the animal [...] has been inspected by me on this date and appears to be free of any infectious or contagious diseases [..].

This is what I mean by the physical within 10 days of travel. The accredited vet is supposed to see your pet in person when they complete the Aphis forms. It's not just a question of them reading the pet's records and signing off that the vaccinations have been done.

And, yes, every airline is going to want some fit-to-fly documentation. Some have their own forms/certificates, but others accept the 7001 as proof. The 7001 is a bit ambiguous in that it doesn't ask if the animal is, in itself, fit to fly; just that it's not an infectious danger to others. (Although hopefully no vet would sign the paperwork for an animal who was obviously unfit to travel.) Each airline's requirements may be more specific.

BristolUK

A woman brought a very limp parrot into a veterinary hospital. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest. After a moment or two, the Vet shook his head sadly and said, "I'm so sorry, Polly has passed
away."

The distressed owner wailed, "Are you sure? I mean, you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."

The vet rolled his eyes, shrugged, turned and left the room returning a few moments later with beautiful black Labrador. As the bird's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the dead parrot from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.

The vet led the dog out but returned a few moments later with a cat. The cat jumped up and also sniffed delicately at the ex-bird. The cat sat back, shook its head, meowed and ran out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry; but like I said, your parrot is most definitely, 100% certifiably ...dead."

He then turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill which he handed to the woman. The parrot's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried. "$150 just to tell me my bird is dead?!"

The vet shrugged. "If you'd taken my word for it, the bill would only have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, what did you expect?"

fulwood

lol..