taking dog with us
 

HI , wondered if anyone could give me there experience of taking dog to Canada, we are using air transat from Gatwick to Vancouver, and our cocker spaniel is going as extra baggage, we have been told to take her in the crate to the check in with us, would any one know do we then have to take her somewhere else or does someone come and collect her, any info and advice would be greatly appreciated

Re: taking dog with us
 

We brought our cocker spaniel over with Air Transat in October, although from Manchester to Vancouver.

The check-in desk manager who deals with excess baggage will handle everything for you.

You check in and hang around (or take your dog for a wee around the nearest bushes/car park!) until they are ready to take your pet (this will be just before check-in closes).

They then apply the necessary stickers, complete the paperwork and take you and your pet to excess baggage, where they put security bands on the pet carrier and your pet is taken to the plane.

Then you go through customs to departure lounge.

You won't have time for duty free shopping or an Executive Lounge, as it will be time for boarding!

When you arrive at Vancouver, you go and see a carousel supervisor after doing your immigration paperwork and your pet will be brought out to you.

You then take it to the Agriculture desk and get the forms completed and then go to the fee desk to pay.

The nearest dog walk is right opposite Arrivals, across the taxi rank/road to the car hire car park and into a little wooded area.

Re: taking dog with us
 

There are many dogs here that need a home...leave those behind and adopt new ones here :confused:

Re: taking dog with us
 

We brought our border collie from Glasgow to Calgary,we booked the tickets at a travel agent who organised the booking for the dog,it was simple except for the idiot staff at Glasgow airport who decided to act up when they spotted the one way tickets.The clowns patted down and searched my 8,6,and 5 year old girls,told them that my dog would not be allowed in Canada and that they would never see her again etc..
I knew more about coming over than the airport staff knew,Calgary was a different matter all together,"Welcome to Canada,enjoy your stay!",friendly,welcoming staff that we just could not fault at all,it was like another world.
Just make sure that you have your dogs vaccinations up to date,rabies shot,pet passport,etc..

Re: taking dog with us
 

Yeah, for me it was a toss up between putting my 2 rescued border collies back into a rescue centre and rescuing a couple of newer ones here (longer warranty on younger ones), or crating them up and shipping them over. Wouldn't have got much money back for middle aged second hand dogs, so that played on my mind.

After much thought, I decided abandoning or rehoming dogs I'd committed to be responsible for the rest of their lives was probably not the best option.

They're both dead now. Only lasted 8 more years over here. 17 is no age for a collie. Must be the mountain air that got 'em :(

Sometimes UR, you really don't help your cause.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Some airlines will only carry a limited number of animals so just phone ahead an make sure. Ours came with air transat but we got a company to ship him.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Really ? How long ....

Re: taking dog with us
 

We used Air Transat too and as Lorna says you need to check in how many pets are booked on.
Ours had to go cargo as they were too heavy for excess baggage.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Am just saying that there are many homeless dogs in Canada that need good homes

Re: taking dog with us
 

And to leave your current ones, which are part of your family. (Is there a walking away shaking head emoticon thingy??)

Re: taking dog with us
 

It's their money and their pup. I cannot even image why you could say that :frown:

I brought my pup with me and also adopted a rescue dog when I got here.

Re: taking dog with us
 

You do have to book them as excess baggage in advance, so there is no risk of you turning up at the airport to be denied boarding due to too many pets booked on.

Correct pet cage spec is a must. I seem to recall Transat suggest Vari Kennel and medium size is correct for a cocker.

We found Amazon to be the cheapest:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?_encoding...ch-alias%3Daps

Re: taking dog with us
 

Thanks for your coments , really helpful . Love this site ...Scootb on the decra form we have , it states she does'nt need the rabies jab , did they ask you if your dog had it done. my dog is. up to date with all her others though . Ultrarunner leaving her behind was never an option. :)

Re: taking dog with us
 

Thanks withabix for the detailed. info , really appreciate it . could you also tell how long was you in the immigration office before you collected your dog . we are a family of 4 . ate theyquick or is it a lenghty process . thanks again

Re: taking dog with us
 

I flew with my two cats with air tansat from Manchester to vancouver last July. At both airports no one checked my cats documents (fitness to fly and pet passport with proof of rabies vaccination) that being said I wouldn't have risked not having them. I went through immigration, collected my luggage and then went to the air transat desk and the pointed me to the fragile items carrousel (where the put the pushchairs etc) and that's where the cats were looking a little shell shocked but fine!! I then went to get my visa process, and yes they were very slow and I must have been in the over an hour with only about 4 people in front of me. I got my carrier from petsupermarket.co.uk, as they were the cheapest I found, they weren't various kennels but still IATA approved but again no one check the kennels. I would recommend using a tie strap to hold the water carrier in place as one of my cats had dislodged hers so went without water for a time. I put absorbent pads in the bottom of the carrier and put towels on top of them for comfort.

Re: taking dog with us
 

My husband flew our (2) cats back to Newfoundland on two separate trips. By going Lufthansa and AirCanada he was able to keep them under the seat in front of him. This only applies if your animals are less than 7Kgs. A good option if you have a small animal.

Re: taking dog with us
 

It all depends how busy it is, both in the border control queue where you go first and also at the immigration queue where you go next.

Also depends on how slow the CBSA staff decide to be. Sometimes VERY.

What day and time does your flight arrive? That will make a difference to both queues, especially if there is a 'plug' of European or USA flights, which there often is at certain times.

Immigration was very busy the say we arrived, but that was due to the number of 'kids' coming over to work in the ski resorts for the winter. They made up 90% of the queue when we were there.

30 minutes at Border Control queue and an hour in immigration would by typical I would say.

For us it was exactly 12 and a half hours between saying goodbye to the dog and getting her back. You will need a training pad in the kennel, some wet wipes and probably a poo bag or three, although our dog would rather explode than poo in a cage, so she was a little bit desperate (and therefore noisy!!) when she got out of the travel kennel!!!

Also make sure you have scissors easily accessible in your SUITCASE (not hand luggage!!), as you will need those to cut the security banding on the travel kennel.

Re: taking dog with us
 

But, unless they're somehow more deserving than dogs in the UK, nothing is gained by abandoning two and rescuing two others. If that were of some benefit to man or beast we could all adopt a couple of dogs each week while dumping last week's pair.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Our flight arrives around 5pm, as with your dog I'm sure she'll have everything crossed by the time , she is released from the kennel . Thanks again for replying , very helpful at least we have some idea now of what happens. Has your dog settle ok after the experience ?

Re: taking dog with us
 

Sorry withabix, did your dog have the rabies jab , before arriving in Vancouver , as on the Defra paperwork it says it's not needed as UK is a rabies free country. Not sure wether to get it anyway ?

Re: taking dog with us
 

No, don't bother UNLESS you are planning to take the dog back to Britain again (or on holiday to the USA), or you are moving to an area with a higher risk. Canada is NOT Rabies free.

There is Rabies in Canada in the coyote population in some areas and Agriculture Canada will tell you the same.

Rabies jab allows your dog into the PETS scheme and therefore avoids quarantine if returning to the UK:

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/r...ation-boosters

We didn't bother.

You can do it over here IF you do it more than 6 months before returning to the UK.

Re: taking dog with us
 

We got ours rabies jabbed in the UK in case we had to come back, but since have found that the jAb is cheaper in Cansda.

I keep it up to date in case of return and also they can ask to see proof if going to the States.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Also, the OP was asking for info for taking dogs, not on whether they SHOULD or SHOULDN'T.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Indeed, sorry to have joined in the digression.

Re: taking dog with us
 

Lol.. Should have quoted UR not you ;)

Re: taking dog with us
 

Haven't got my glasses on, thought it said 'Talking Dog With Us', gave me a bit of a turn!

Re: taking dog with us
 

Thanks everyone