Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

I am planning on moving 4 animals (2 cats & 2 dogs) to the UK 5-2012 and I'm not using a pet mover. Doing it all myself. I can't afford pet movers. I would really appreciate if you could tell me the exact paperwork needed. I know you need the form 998 (the veterinary certificate) and you need to get the USDA in your city to put their stamp on it. Also, the form for the customs. I contacted Pets on Jets which processes them at Manchester and they say I need a FAVN OIE rabies antibody test form. What does that mean? I've studied this so much and got on the website for DEFRA and I feel like I am leaving some of the paperwork out. We are flying Continental and they have told me a lot but I don't want to get to the final leg of this journey (approximately 29 hours) and find out I don't have some of the paperwork with me. I know about DEFRA changing their rules come January, 2012 so I know I need the microchip, rabies and possibly the tick & tapeworm test. Any specific help would be appreciated if you have been through this process before. Thanks so much.

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

There are many post on the forum about this subject, you seem to have it all figured out, have you discussed everything with your vet? as the process as of Jan 1st is very straight forward. Have your pets been microchipped recently? you will also need to give your vet a list of the approved tick and tapeworm, this is on the DEFRA website. I just arrived 2 weeks ago from Toronto to Manchester with my 4 pets. I did use a pet travel company. This was under the current DEFRA regulations though.
Good luck with your move
:)

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

If I'm allowed to post a link to another forum, read here: http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=70546.0

If that wasn't allowed, sorry! :o

The existing process requires you to have the rabies test, then have a blood titre test (FAVN test) that is done at only one laboratory in the US, and your 6mo countdown begins on the date of the blood draw (assuming the pet passes the blood test).

But from what it looks like, staring from Jan. 1, you no longer need to do the FAVN test. So that means, that after you get the rabies vacc, you have to wait at least 21 days before flying the pet over, and that's it! You've probably spoke to someone who isn't familiar with the new process coming into effect in Jan.

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

As Bluegrass Lass indicates the rules for animal importation to the UK have changed recently. I'd advise you ring Defra and ask for advice. For a government department they are remarkably helpful I have to say (from recent experience).

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

I just moved my cat from CA (US) to the UK. I had moved before and used a pet service, but this time opted to do the paperwork myself and save some $$. Below is a list that I found helpful, and hopefully will also help you out and not overwhelm you! :blink:

I moved in 2011 – I believe there are newer and easier regulations in place if you’re moving after Jan, 1, 2012 – so make sure to read current information on the DEFRA web site, and double check all the dates and times on your paperwork, really double check it!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_wel...websites.shtml

http://www.petrelocation.com/pet-rel...t-requirements

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/wildlife...-checklist.pdf

NOTE: Your Vet must be accredited by the USDA - you can check them out on the USDA web site.

1. Microchip your pet (make sure the chip is the European version and not just a standard American chip)
2. Rabies vaccination
3. Rabies Titer test (Your vet will submit this form: http://www.vet.k-state.edu/depts/dmp...ssion_Form.pdf
4. After satisfactory results are received, wait 6 months (think this is changing as of Jan 1 2012 - check the DEFRA web site)
5. Keep your pet's rabies vaccination up to date - if you let it lapse you will have to revaccinate and re test.
6. Book flight for the pet
I used Virgin Atlantic out of LAX - they were very helpful and ship a lot of pets. They will also accept your pet from you versus a Pet Service. The VA staff were friendly and informative. They will email you the forms they need to fly your animal, there's a Virgin Health Certificate that has to be signed by your vet and a couple of general shipping info forms. If you fly with your pet on the same flight it's a little cheaper on the UK side. Here’s the Virgin web site:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en...with-pets.html
7. You will need to order the correct size of shipping crate for your pet. Here’s a link with some guidelines, Virgin will also provide this info: http://www.dryfur.com/airline_carrie...l_reviews.html
8. No less than 24 and no more than 48 hours before the flight take your pet to the vet for a flea/tick treatment and a worming treatment (see DEFRA for the correct medication requirements >> Your pet must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis using a veterinary medicine whose active ingredient is praziquantel.
The tick treatment must be licensed for use against ticks and have a marketing authorisation in the country of use – Please note some treatments may not be applicable to both cats and dogs (or ferrets) and this should be checked with your vet. A collar impregnated with acaricide is not an acceptable form of treatment against ticks.)

9. Have all your paperwork INCLUDING the worming and tick treatment stamped by the USDA. This cost me $117 for one cat, but I think that’s going up, and I think it depends what type of animal you have and where you’re traveling. Check with your USDA office and also check what form of payment they will accept and when they are open. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/
10. Take your pet to the airport in their crate with all your paperwork. The crate must have a large container for water /crushed ice, and you should provide the pet’s dry food in a sealed ziplock bag so the airline/immigration staff can offer your pet food once it’s landed.
11. When dropping off and collecting your pet at the airport you will pay for the transportation and processing fees – be aware of what payment methods are accepted in each country.

Links to forms:
FORM 998 (EU vet Certificate)
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...12:0017:EN:PDF

Interstate Health Certificate
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/fo.../APHIS7001.pdf


GOOD LUCK - Getting all the paperwork together and stamped is the hardest part, once that's done your furry pals can join your in your new home :)

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BREAKING IT DOWN FOR ME. YOUR INFORMATION IS VERY HELPFUL. I'm glad someone finally spent the time to do this. Again I thank you very much!!!

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

You bet! I was so frustrated trying to find out what forms I needed I thought I'd share the info I found to help out fellow pet owners. :D

Re: Flying to UK with 4 pets and need advice please
 

Thank you so much Bluegrass Lass for this link. It really has helped me a lot. I am so grateful to you for this.