NSBlake

Hi

We are moving back to the UK mid year, when we came out here in 2010 we flew our cat over with a great company (PetAirUK).

They can't help us this time, has anyone done it recently (USA to UK) and/or able to recommend a company?

I can only find one in the area (Jet-A Pet) and really wanted more choice.......

Any help greatly recieved :-)

Thanks

Teach3r

We did ours by ourselfs - just make sure your vet is doing everything right as ours screwed up (2 dogs from Florida - check on the UK website DEFRA for up to date guidelines)... AS long as paperwork is up to date and cat is chipped then will not have any delay getting through and it will cost airfare alone - I think we paid $2400 in total (rang BA directly and booked them on flights). Hope that helps.

NSBlake

Thanks for the info - when did you do this? Was it recently?

Teach3r

The dogs were sent back in April 2011.. DEFRA changed the rules ref quarantine etc in January 2012 making it easier to get animals across the pond. As long as you have a trusted vet who had cat chipped, rabies checked and TETRA test I believe you should be OK. Give DEFRA a call direct (in UK) and ask what is required - we looked into a pet travel scheme but the costs were ridiculous for the work that was going to be done.

"Dogs, cats and ferrets

The UK does not allow dogs, cats and ferrets that have not been vaccinated against rabies to enter the UK. Once they have reached the minimum age for vaccination (as stated on the vaccine manufacturer’s datasheet) they must be prepared in accordance with all the requirements explained on these web pages, taking account of the required order of preparation.
•What pet owners need to do – How to bring your pet dog cat, or ferret into or back into the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme.
•Countries and territories – The rules for dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK will depend on which country or territory you are travelling from.
•Routes and transport companies – Dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme may only do so on approved routes.

Follow the below (straight from http://www.defra.gov.uk/)

What you need to do if you are entering the UK from the EU and listed non-EU countries

Preparing your dog, cat or ferret
•Step 1 – Have your pet microchipped – Before any of the other procedures for pet travel are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
•Step 2 – Have your pet vaccinated – After the microchip has been fitted your pet must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your pet has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the first vaccination date. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
•Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (apart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland who also issue pet passports).
•Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – (dogs only): before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK. There is no mandatory requirement for tick treatment. No treatment is required for dogs entering the UK from Finland, Ireland or Malta).
•Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your pet must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

NSBlake

Thanks Teach3r - this has been a great help!

sallysimmons

We're using this company and so far I've been really pleased with them. We don't fly until Friday though, so the process isn't done yet.

We have two cats and a lot to sort out and I just couldn't face worrying about 'do I have the right paperwork' and taking them to the airport crying in the car. It's stressful enough as it is!

They've been great so far and have really taken a lot of the worry out of it for me. They're not based in NYC, but the agent who is picking them up on Friday owns a kennel in Queens.

NSBlake

Thanks Sally - We drove our cat to the airport and picked her up from JFK when we flew her over here (it was a little more stressful but saved about $400)

I will ask for 2 quotes - one with pick up etc and one without

Thanks for your post! :-)

Moggiemiss

I agree with Sally ... moving back is stressful .. do anything you can to take the stress out of it, especially where animals are concerned.

Good luck!!!

NSBlake

First quote (including pick up from US house and dropping off at UK house) is $2k...........

Thats a lot of cash - was hoping for around $1k

sallysimmons

That sounds reasonable. Ours is $4,500 for two cats but that includes an extra charge for arriving on a Saturday at Manchester (they charge an extra $300 for working on the weekend!)

NSBlake

Wow - reasonable?...........I agree it may be more hassle to take the cat to the airport ourselves, but $2k for one cat (we took the Cat to the airport when we came over and in USD that was only $800) Something tells me they are being "unreasonable" this end but then that should be no surprise to me by now. Oh well.

sallysimmons

I meant reasonable in terms of how much these companies charge.

NSBlake

Ok, sorry You are correct.......(sadly)

Good luck on Friday!