I have aquired a cat from the SPCA recentaly and would like to know if anyone has any info on what I would need to do to get him back to the UK from the US?I have read a few web-sites but none of them give any detail on what steps to follow.
He is micro-chipped and vaccinated and has had his rabies injection.

1. does he need a pet passport?
2. What documents would I need to get him back please.

My father has not been very well of late and I want to be prepared incase its a last minute rush and there is no way I am leaving him here so thats not an option.

Whiskers

Thought I'd reply for you since nobody else has !
Go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm
Tells you everything you have to do....basically get pussy microchipped, then a rabies shot, then a blood test to show rabies antibody is there but 6 months has to pass from the date of this test before pussy can enter UK without going into quarantine. Plus tick and tapeworm treatment has to be done before entry into UK 24-48 hrs before.
Being in USA you won't get a ''passport'' for pussy but a veterinary certificate.
Also make sure all the above procedures are done by a USDA acredited vet !
Hope you love pussy enough to do it all....very tedious but very easy !
Katie-kins

Good answer.

Pedant in me adds; 6 months from the date of the blood sample, not the blood test (some labs freeze samples then test as a bulk run), usually only a month's wait, but originally with the PETS scheme we were waiting up to 5 months for the test results!

To the OP; check that the chip is of an accepted standard, and was implanted (doc. evidence) before the rabies vaccine. If ok so far, 1 month post jab (tho there is no minimum) get the sample taken.

Do the DEFRA forms

the APHIS vet cert is here;
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/ir...s/no_cn_hc.pdf

this site also carries the accredited vet info.

Can be time consuming, but is getting easier as more vets do the procedure.
Would advise giving your US vet a copy of the notes for vets from the DEFRA site http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar.../vets_proc.htm

Good luck Gerry.

Thanks to both of you sorry I did not reply sooner just came home for lunch and to make sure he was alright?
All the shots and micro chips where done by the SPCA so I guess that makes them correct for him.

Yes love the little bugger to bits will get everything in motion ASAP.

Thanks

I can recommend Virgin Atlantic for transport.

Here's the steps I posted a little while ago. Good luck!

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339654

Steps:

1. Get the rabies shot
2. Wait about 4 weeks and have your Vet draw blood and send to the Kansas Lab for results.
3. Once you get the results of the titer test wait 6 months.
4. Have the certificate endorsed by the USDA (Federal) Vet ....this is not the same thing as a USDA Certified Vet. A lot of Vets are USDA certified but the Federal Vet works for the USDA......once the certificate is endorsed it's good for 4 months....if you don't leave the country in that time frame, the Federal Vet must endorse a new certificate. Make sure you do not let your rabies vaccination expire. Get it renewed at least a month before it is due to expire.
5. Once you are ready to fly and have your date booked, get a Health Certificate to fly your pet out of the country. It must be issued within 10 days of travel. This is not the same certificate as the UK Pet Travel Scheme one. This is the certificate required by the airline to fly any animal in the US anywhere. This certificate may say that the Federal Vet needs to endorse it as well and British Cargo incorrectly advised us it must be endorsed by the Federal Vet, but the USDA tells us it is not required..........I had the Federal Vet endrorse it anyway (on the day we flew out no less) because after all the wrong advice we got from our Vet and maybe inadvertantly BA Cargo, I no longer trusted anyone to know what they were talking about.
6. Between 24 and 48 hours of travel, have your Vet give the dog the tick and tapeworm treatment. Make sure to read the DEFRA requirements for the proper drug that must be used. Make sure your vet completes the Pet Travel certificate regarding the tick/tapeworm treatment.
7. BA requires that you arrive at cargo with your pet at least 4 hours before flying. .........when you count that extra time, the length of the flight and the time it takes to pet to clear customs, you are probably going to have a somewhat soiled and smelly dog on your hands when you collect her/him. BA was great at Gatwick for helping us to clean our dog Scout up and provided loads of blankets for her to rest on in the car. Our dog messed her crate 5 minutes before we picked her up. If British Customs had been a bit more speedy and hadn't taken 4 hours to clear her we would have been fine. DEFRA cleared her almost immediately, but Customs took their time.

Our dog is blind and diabetic. She was exhausted the day after the flight but has since perked back up a good bit. I would advise a visit to the Vet for any animal with a few days arriving back in the UK to give them a quick looksee.

We faxed our customs forms to the UK several days prior to our flight as BA told us to do, but don't count on that speeding Customs up any.


Good look to anyone shipping their dog over. I have to say, it was the most stressful part of our move.....at least to me.


If I left anything out please fell free to ad to the steps.

Don't assume that. Check with Defra to make sure it's a chip accepted in the UK. The cat may have to be chipped again with a chip that can be read in the UK.

Also.........NEVER assume that your Vet has a clue about what he or she is doing. My Vet assured me they knew what they were doing and I had to clean up after them for every step.

Thank you all I wanted to post this email that arrived this morning for others.
The only other 2 questions I have are Scout you mention make sure the rabies does not expire what's the validity please?
And no idea if the micro-chip was before or after the Rabies injection?

Well Puss cat is having the blood test on Saturday and you are right Scout they had no idea what I was talking about or what to do I had to refer them to the Defra web-site. lol

Thanks all.



If you prepare your dog/cat for the Pet Travel Scheme it will not have to go into quarantine on arrival in the UK. For your dog/cat to qualify for PETS it needs to be:-



1. Microchipped (A permanent record of identity)

2. It then needs to be vaccinated against Rabies (your dog must be at least 3 months old in order to have this vaccination)

3. A blood test needs to be done - This is to measure the level of anti-bodies against rabies. The blood sample must be sent to an EU Recognised Blood Testing Laboratory.

4. You will also need to wait 6 months from when the blood was drawn from the animal before it can enter the UK



(IT MUST BE DONE IN THE ABOVE ORDER)



5. Tick and Tapeworm treatment needs to be done between 24-48 hours before you check your pet in for departure to the UK

6. Your pet needs to travel on an approved route to the UK



For further information on the scheme please refer to our factsheet

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quar...actsheet4a.pdf

Most rabies shot's in the States are good for a year.but not all....check with your vet to make sure. In our case we started all our paperwork in the Autumn of 2004 for a spring move in 2005 and wound up not moving until the Autumn of 2005. We had to get a rabies booster shot to keep our dog in compliance (plus we had to get a 2nd Pet Travel Certificate since they are only good for 4 months).

I should have said.....Microchip first, then make sure the rabies injection(s) is recorded on the chip.

1/Rabies validity depends on brand (let me know) and country. Most require boosters every 2-3 years. I suspect you will be well within these limits.

2/Microchip MUST be in before (or simultaneously with) the rabies vaccination, i.e. the vet administering the rabies vax must have been able to record the chip number with the record of vaccination. Somebody must have this information (?at the SPCA), or you are in a bit of bother (though remediable). Endeavour to find out date of chip implantation, date of vax, brand and batch number. - or if you have a vax card look to check to see if this info is recorded there.

Would think that your vet needed all this info for the lab submission? We do in the UK.

Keep in touch, G.

What a S..T fight this has turned into the SPCA say that they have not kept a record of the day that Puss was vaccinated so I have the micro-chip enrollment receipt ID and looks like he is going to have to have the Rabies again because although we have proof he has a Microchip with Homeagain ID we cannot find the exact day so back he goes for another RABIES bloody stupid.
And in answer to your question he has had a (Manufacturer Fort Dodge or brand).

Thanks again all.

Yep, sorry to hear about that.

Vaccine brand now irrelevant - you're back to step 2 - BUT you are now in control! 2/Vax then 3/blood test - note there is no (DEFRA) minimum jab to blood limit - we use 1 month for certainty. Mog has already had a rabies shot, so would expect positive titre already, so you could shorten the jab/blood interval now to 2(-3)wks (and thereby start the 6mths earlier)

At least you haven't shelled out for the blood test you booked for Saturday.

Lastly, Sod's Law - HomeAgain chip - long story - don't worry Gerry.