Hi Guys,

After a lot of searching it appears the cheapest option for us arriving when we want to is Fly into Toronto, get a one way car rental and drive to calgary.

Since this involves driving through the states (according to mapquest the quickest route) can anybody advise if there would be a problem taking the dog in and out of there? He is not classified as a dangerous breed at all AND had his rabies shot.

Cheers in advance

Butch.

No problem at all. We do it often.

On edit : that is, the dog is no problem. Taking a rental car through the US may be an issue so tell the rental company what you have in mind.

Thanks for that.

I took the dog, US customs are entitled (supposed?) to ask for sight of a rabies certificate older than 30days, but thankfully they didn't in our case (didn't have one).

Sysclp said that pet food not manufactured in the US can be confiscated, so beware of that

That's interesting. We brought a load of treats back last week; lamb hearts, lamb tracheas, stuff one doesn't see here. We took bull penises with us but I don't suppose there's a restriction on them as so many people carry them around. I didn't think to mention the animal parts as I was primarily concerned with concealing the beer.

...into Canada? I understood it to mean the confiscation could happen on going in to the US.

Yes, into Canada. I'd be surprised if there were restrictions going the other way, generally Canada's more strict about things food related. Perhaps the US objects to French labelling.

The clearance you needed from your vet to fly to Toronto will serve for you to cross the border.

You think? My connection's too slow today to bother googling it but from memory you can't take things like jars of baby food into the US... a friend had a packet of digestive biscuits (admittedly opened) confiscated on arrival in the US... things like that gave me the impression the US was by far the stricter of the two.

For someone who claims to be travelling back and forth frequently to the U.S. your ignorance is truly astounding.

Have you not heard of the BSE crisis?

Here is a quote from a U.S. government brochure put out by the U.S. Department of State in October of last year.

"Meats, livestock, poultry, and their products are either prohibited or restricted from entering the United States, depending on the animal disease condition in the country of origin.

Currently, NO RUMINANT PRODUCTS FROM CANADA MAY ENTER THE U.S. without a permit. This includes frozen, cooked, canned or otherwise processed beef, lamb, and veal. Hunter harvested game is admissible from Canada for the traveler's personal use if accompanied with a permit. For more information on hunter-harvested game visit the USDA web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse/trophies-from-can.pdf Poultry, pork, milk, butter and cured cheeses (Cheddar, etc.) and eggs are permitted entry. However, all such products must be in packages clearly marked with Canada (or the U.S.) as the country of origin. If there is any question as to the country of origin, the product will be denied entry. Pet food with meat by-products is not admissible as traveler's baggage."

Oh dear, another law broken.

It isn't a big list is it?

C

There are just so many laws, too many to worry about. For example, we have a big problem with raccoons in the back yard so, for Christmas, my parents-in-common-law gave me a 'coon caller and a bunny blaster rifle. That's innocent enough but what a catalogue of crime it implies, "importation of firearm", "use of unlicensed firearm", "killing protected species", "improper disposal of dead animal", on and on. Just considering the list of laws I break daily is enough to make me want to bicycle home (no helmet) or drive there(speeding, no DLR) to drink a beer (illegally imported, improperly labelled) and have a smoke (smuggled) on the porch (arguably a public place) from where I can admire my lawn (fed a regular diet of pesticide and fertilizer in contravention of the municipal code).

Shit, I may as well have a joint, it's less illegal than most of my daily routine.