..hi folks just some more questions regarding immigrating with a dog.
i have take all my information from the following canadian food inspection site:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...n_queste.shtml

am i right in saying that the as the uk and ireland are considered rabies free countries, i don't need a rabies vaccination for my dog before she flies to canada?

do i just need the certificate to say her vaccs are upto date and a vets certificate to say she is fit to fly the day before we leave?

i would be interested to hear from anyone that has done it recently or is just about to go through the process.

i had thought we needed to get her a rabies jag but reading this it doesn't seem to be the case

any info is greatly appreciated!

If there is any chance at all you will want to take your dog back to the UK or other country at some point, I would advise on getting a pet passport, rabies vaccinations, microchip etc to avoid a 6 month quarrantine.

Also, I believe rabies vaccination is a legal requirement in some (if not all) provinces

thanks chance uk, suppose there's no harm in the rabies jag and microchip.
is the pet passport scheme not just for europe?

it is no longer just for europe, there is a whole list on defras website

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar...res/owners.htm

It involves some expense. A microchip, 1 or 2 rabies vaccinations, and a blood test to check that the vaccination has worked. You can return to the UK 6 months after the blood test so if you started the process now, you would unlikely beable to bring your dog back into the UK this christmas but you would be fine next year. Most vet clinics have leaflets explaining the process.

I believe your wrong

Pet passport is for Europe yes, UK is part of Europe isnt it?

As far as Rabies Vacc is concerned get it done if only so you can take le chein to USofA and back.

It is a legal requirement under the Health Protection and Promotion Act to have dogs and cats over three months old vaccinated for rabies in all municipalities in the geographic region of Southern Ontario.

I believe the laws vary according to risk. As a veterinarian who has worked in Ontario, I know that the above is correct. I dont pretend to have knowledge of the laws elsewhere but in many areas of Canada, rabies vaccination is mandatory. Rabies is taken extremely seriously especially if an animal bites someone (accidentally or intentionally). You can save yourself a lot of problems by just getting the vaccination

hello, I work in a Vet. clinic and have sent hundreds of animals abroad, mainly to the UK. It would be a smart move to have a rabies blood test done, just in case there's a chance you might return to the UK one day. Your dog won't be able to enter the UK until 6 months have passed from when the blood sample was taken. The whole process should take around 7 months (including the rabies vaccine given before the blood test to ensure there is a sufficient level of rabies antibodies in the blood) It's important that your dog is up-to-date with the rabies vaccination thereafter, and not a day late... otherwise the blood test will be void and you would need to start the process all over again. Always make sure to check the 'due date' in your pets passport under the 'rabies' section. 24-48 hours before the flight you will need to take your dog to the Vet for export treatment (frontline, and de-worming pill) the Vet will sign and stamp the passport, stating that the treatment was given, and that your dog is fit to fly.

I'm taking my dogs to Toronto. They are up-to-date with the rabies vaccination, and will be given export treatment 24-48 hours before the flight. I will also get a health certificate from the government vet (just for added reassurance)

Now, for animals entering Canada from the UK, here are the requirements:

Dogs three (3) months of age or older from rabies-free countries:

1) EITHER
Domestic or pet dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by an export certificate issued in either English or French, and signed by an official government veterinarian(1) of the exporting country. The certificate must clearly identify the animals and state that:

1.1 rabies has not existed in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding the shipment of the animals; and,
1.2 the animals have been in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding their shipment, or since birth.

2) OR
If an export certificate as described in paragraph 1) above is not available, dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian(2) in either English or French, which clearly identifies the dogs and state that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. The certificate should identify the animal as in breed, colour, weight, etc., and indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), including serial number and duration of its validity (up to three years). Please note that if the duration of validity is not indicated on the certificate, it will be considered to be valid for one year.

There is no waiting period imposed between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

If that's true it's either not widely known or not enforced. We've taken various animals to a variety of vets in Southern Ontario and no mention of it has ever been made. I'd be astonished to find that even 10% of cats in Southern Ontario have had rabies shots.

i think there may be an exclusion for cats that never go outside.

The indoor cat is a concept alien to us. We currently have four cats and one dog that haven't had rabies shots. They've all been to multiple vets without mention of the idea. Admittedly we're scofflaws, none of them have tags, but the idea of a rabies shot law is news to me.

http://www.canlii.org/en/on/laws/reg...0-reg-567.html
http://www.wdghu.org/page.cfm?id=183

It is a legal requirement. it is the owners responsibility to ensure their pet is vaccinated.

the following article was written by Dr Scott Weese - professor of pathobiology at the University of Guelph
http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/200...-and-exposure/

so if i wasn't intending to bring jess back to the uk, as i'm coming from a rabies free country there would be no need for a microchip or rabies vac? is that right?

i am intending on getting her rabies vac, and haven't yet decided on the pet passport process. if i just wanted to get the rabies vac done as to satisfy so we could travekl to the USA, how long before travelling to canada do we need to do this?

usually you get a rabies vaccination done - then 4 weeks later a blood test to prove the rabies vaccination has worked. It would be best if you talk to your local vet - vets involved with the pet passport scheme/rabies vaccinations in the UK have to be government trained to give the specific advice because of the legal requirements.

Just let them know that you are not sure when you may come back to the UK (if ever). They should be willing to double check the requirements for export to canada for you as well. They'll also beable to give you a run down of the costs (it adds up to quite a lot). I'm currently working in research not in a veterinary clinic so i'm not up to date with the costs etc

Oh dear, another local law flouted.

I agree and would recommend that the OP does have their dog vacinated against rabies, however AFAIK it is NOT mandatory to have a Rabies Vacc administered in AB.