Taking dog with us
May 31st 2014, 3:11 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Airdrie, Alberta
Posts: 380
Re: Taking dog with us
There is more on this kind of thing in this thread.
Having said that, not sure if it's relevant for the OP flying on AC from LHR to St Johns.
May 31st 2014, 4:11 am
#17
Pondering a career change
Joined: May 2012
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
Posts: 2,595
Re: Taking dog with us
We flew our 25kg airedale over, in his giant vari-kennel, as excess baggage with Air Transat last summer (August), from Manchester to Calgary. I checked several times in advance with AT over the phone, they were adamant that the weight of the dog+crate didn't matter, it is the paperwork that matters.
There is more on this kind of thing in this thread.
Having said that, not sure if it's relevant for the OP flying on AC from LHR to St Johns.
There is more on this kind of thing in this thread.
Having said that, not sure if it's relevant for the OP flying on AC from LHR to St Johns.
Jun 3rd 2014, 2:13 am
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Location: U.K. to Quebec
Posts: 38
Re: Taking dog with us
Hi, we flew with our dog Air Canada last October from Heathrow to Montreal. It was was a little stressful as I travelled alone with 2 kids, tons of cases & the dog but reasonably straight forward & certainly much cheaper than Airpets etc. Air Canada were brilliant but you must bare in mind once he's checked in he won't be let out again until you leave the airport terminal at the other end. Taking into account arrival 2 hours before flight and then passport control + immigration + cases + process/paperwork for collecting him, ours was in the crate just under 10 hours :-(
I was concerned but Air Canada Heathrow happily let us check in the cases first & we then sat outside the terminal & walked him up & down for as long as we possibly could then checked him in & went straight to the flight. No shopping time but worth the extra hour for him out of the crate.
Once on the plane I told cabin crew my dog was in the hold & she immediately reminded the captain and put my mind at ease that the temperature was being controlled for him.
Feel free to pm if you have anymore question or just want some hints & tips on the whole process :-)
Good luck
I was concerned but Air Canada Heathrow happily let us check in the cases first & we then sat outside the terminal & walked him up & down for as long as we possibly could then checked him in & went straight to the flight. No shopping time but worth the extra hour for him out of the crate.
Once on the plane I told cabin crew my dog was in the hold & she immediately reminded the captain and put my mind at ease that the temperature was being controlled for him.
Feel free to pm if you have anymore question or just want some hints & tips on the whole process :-)
Good luck
Jul 9th 2014, 4:18 pm
#19
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2
Re: Taking dog with us
Hi
I have just booked myself and our dog onto an air transat flight from manchester to vancouver for the 16th August. her giant vari kennel arrived today and just looks enormous!
I have done lots of research and called up defra and air transat several times and according to DEFRA she only requires her pet passport as proof of rabies vaccination and a fit to fly certificate from the vet. is this right? did anyone else that went the DIY route need any other paperwork?
Thanks
I have just booked myself and our dog onto an air transat flight from manchester to vancouver for the 16th August. her giant vari kennel arrived today and just looks enormous!
I have done lots of research and called up defra and air transat several times and according to DEFRA she only requires her pet passport as proof of rabies vaccination and a fit to fly certificate from the vet. is this right? did anyone else that went the DIY route need any other paperwork?
Thanks
Jul 9th 2014, 4:23 pm
#20
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 19,879
Re: Taking dog with us
Hi
I have just booked myself and our dog onto an air transat flight from manchester to vancouver for the 16th August. her giant vari kennel arrived today and just looks enormous!
I have done lots of research and called up defra and air transat several times and according to DEFRA she only requires her pet passport as proof of rabies vaccination and a fit to fly certificate from the vet. is this right? did anyone else that went the DIY route need any other paperwork?
Thanks
I have just booked myself and our dog onto an air transat flight from manchester to vancouver for the 16th August. her giant vari kennel arrived today and just looks enormous!
I have done lots of research and called up defra and air transat several times and according to DEFRA she only requires her pet passport as proof of rabies vaccination and a fit to fly certificate from the vet. is this right? did anyone else that went the DIY route need any other paperwork?
Thanks
Transporting Pets-Canada : British Expat Wiki
Importing or Travelling with Domestic Dogs - Animals - Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Requirements
Dogs may enter Canada if they are accompanied by rabies certification, which means they must have:
a rabies vaccination certificate OR a veterinary certificate.
Canada is not rabies free. Rabies vaccinations are recommended for dogs three months or more coming to Canada.
Rabies Vaccination Certificate
The European Union pet passport is an acceptable alternative to the rabies vaccination certificate as long as all the required elements outlined below are included.
The rabies vaccination certificate must:
be written in English or French;
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
identify the animal (breed, sex, colour, and weight);
state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies;
indicate the date of vaccination;
indicate the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine; and
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for one year from the date of vaccination).
Veterinary Certificate
The veterinary certificate must:
be written in English or French;
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
identify the animal (breed, sex, colour, and weight);
state that the animal has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least six months immediately preceding shipment to Canada; and
be accompanied by documentation from a competent government authority, stating that rabies has not occurred in the country of origin for at least six months immediately preceding the animal's shipment to Canada.
A competent government authority refers to a veterinary agency or other government agency that manages a country's animal health and welfare situation, as well as handles the responsibility of veterinary certification for the purposes of international trade. The document can be either:
a letter issued on the competent government authority's letterhead, dated, stamped, and signed by an official of the competent government authority in the country of origin; or
a signed letter by the licensed veterinarian who issued the certificate, which must be endorsed by the competent government authority.
a rabies vaccination certificate OR a veterinary certificate.
Canada is not rabies free. Rabies vaccinations are recommended for dogs three months or more coming to Canada.
Rabies Vaccination Certificate
The European Union pet passport is an acceptable alternative to the rabies vaccination certificate as long as all the required elements outlined below are included.
The rabies vaccination certificate must:
be written in English or French;
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
identify the animal (breed, sex, colour, and weight);
state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies;
indicate the date of vaccination;
indicate the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine; and
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for one year from the date of vaccination).
Veterinary Certificate
The veterinary certificate must:
be written in English or French;
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
identify the animal (breed, sex, colour, and weight);
state that the animal has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least six months immediately preceding shipment to Canada; and
be accompanied by documentation from a competent government authority, stating that rabies has not occurred in the country of origin for at least six months immediately preceding the animal's shipment to Canada.
A competent government authority refers to a veterinary agency or other government agency that manages a country's animal health and welfare situation, as well as handles the responsibility of veterinary certification for the purposes of international trade. The document can be either:
a letter issued on the competent government authority's letterhead, dated, stamped, and signed by an official of the competent government authority in the country of origin; or
a signed letter by the licensed veterinarian who issued the certificate, which must be endorsed by the competent government authority.
Jul 9th 2014, 5:15 pm
#21
Pondering a career change
Joined: May 2012
Location: Sunshine Coast, BC
Posts: 2,595
Re: Taking dog with us
We went the DIY route and flew transat Manchester to Vancouver, we purchased vari kennels for our cat and dog via an online site called zoo plus so saved cash there. Our UK vet was DEFRA registered so she gave us a letter for each pet stating the brand and details of each pets rabies vaccine, that they are rabies free, how long th vaccine lasts and both pets are in good health and she signed and dated the letter. We showed the letter and brought the pet passports as back up. Everything was fine and it took longer to get out work permits then it took to clear the animals.
Jul 10th 2014, 11:10 am
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,327
Re: Taking dog with us
This is pretty depressing to read when I think about what we paid to bring a guinea pig and a tortoise with us.
Jul 11th 2014, 2:58 am
#23
AB/SK
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Lloydminster, AB
Posts: 56
Re: Taking dog with us
We brought our black lab from Gatwick to Calgary with Airtransat. We had a pet passport and fit to fly letter and rabies cert. from the vet. AT never asked for any, they were only concerned that the dog could stand up and turn around in his crate. We were allowed to keep him out of his crate until the last possible minute. The only downside was that when we landed we had to wait until we had cleared customs and sorted work permit/goods to follow etc before we could take him outside ( and out of his crate) not good when he had been in his crate for 10 hours.
As for the cold winters our dog was diagnosed at 18 months with juvenile arthritis and in the Uk struggled to do long walks without limping for three days after, however here in Alberta with the drier cold he is like a puppy again ( he is 8 years old now) and seems better suited to this climate.
Good luck with your dog
As for the cold winters our dog was diagnosed at 18 months with juvenile arthritis and in the Uk struggled to do long walks without limping for three days after, however here in Alberta with the drier cold he is like a puppy again ( he is 8 years old now) and seems better suited to this climate.
Good luck with your dog
Jul 15th 2014, 10:54 am
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 17
Re: Taking dog with us
If he's small enough he can go in the cabin.
We were overly thorough and had vet do a pet passport, rabies and then of course fit to fly certificate within 72 hours of the flight. $100 additional hand luggage charge from Air Canada.
We were overly thorough and had vet do a pet passport, rabies and then of course fit to fly certificate within 72 hours of the flight. $100 additional hand luggage charge from Air Canada.
Last edited by Crazyhorse1; Jul 15th 2014 at 10:58 am.
Jul 16th 2014, 3:58 pm
#26
.
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Posts: 868
Re: Taking dog with us
We used Airpets and was very happy with the service. Yes, more expensive that the DIY route but it was peace of mind knowing that everything was being dealt with correctly. Leaving the pets behind was never an option for us. Our dog at the time was 11 and was very much part of our family (we'd had her since before the kids). She had 3 very happy years here in Canada!
Dec 7th 2014, 10:18 pm
#27
St John's NL
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 37
Re: Taking dog with us
Thanks to everyone who replied to post. Charlie has now landed in St Johns and has settled in really well. We ended up sending him by Airpets, who picked him up from house, organised vet exams etc, supplied crate and flew him to St Johns via overnight stay in YYZ. The direct flight LHR to St Johns does not have heated compartment in hold for animals, hence the stopover. Would definetly recommend Airpets, very easy company to,deal with and it was so nice to to have him looked after while I was dealing with packers, shipment etc.
Dec 8th 2014, 1:02 pm
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,327
Re: Taking dog with us
That's great. Welcome to Canada Charlie! 
