Health Certificate for moving back TO the US

So, I had my dog's appt with the vet here in Kingston to get his health certificate for travel back to the US. This was our normal vet's last day before moving back to Ireland (there's other vets in the practice). Anyway she said we could come pick up everything after 4pm.

Well DH went and picked it up and its just a letter on letterhead saying

"To whom it may concern,

I have examined the dog Chip Wester today and found him to be healthy for travel to USA by air on 9th July 2008.

Chip had a rabies vaccination on 25th October 2007 Rabisin Merial L211157 which is licensed for 2 years.

A copy of Chips medical records have also been attached.

Yours Sincerely

Vets signature

Her Name BSc BVSc GPCertSAS MRCVS"

I called the vet back and told them I was expecting a form or certificate but it was just a letter, was that normal?

She said if that's what the vet did then that was normal. (Really helpful).

I guess I will call customs in ATL as I have their number since they will be clearing them and also need to call BA World Cargo as they require the health certificate as well.

Please let me know any info you may have on this process. Its hard to find info about going the other way.

Edited to add: I just called customs at ATL airport (404-675-1302) and they said a letter signed by the vet on their letterhead saying he's fit to fly and info about his rabies vax is sufficient. I told him I was worried that it wouldn't be enough as I'm used to USDA forms, etc but he said that was fine. He said it very quickly and without reservation so I feel somewhat relieved. He was more on me about my mom picking Chip up and whose name would be on the paperwork (meaning airwaybill). I've already dealt with British Airways World Cargo about giving them my mom's info and my mom having to call BA World Cargo in ATL and have them put "ok to forward" in his reservation. Etc. I guess I will call BA World Cargo here tomorrow to make sure everything is fine on that end.

It seems that no matter which direction you're going in, moving a pet is stressful (though maybe not by the same degree).

Yep, I think it's still stressful no matter which way you are going, but the paperwork is certainly nothing to come into the US compared with going to the UK!

I am currently in San Diego, just getting started on the PETS paperwork to return to the UK (where I'm from originally) so I am already getting stressed about it. In contrast, we just had someone start at my work who moved to San Diego with her cat from Holland 2 months ago. She got a Pet Passport issued in Holland and had various records and pieces of paper with her, and as she came through customs at LAX with her cat, she was met with laughs when she offered to get out the cat's passport. "What! A passport for a cat, ha ha ha, don't be silly, just go through! Ha ha ha...." No custom checks for kitty at all!

I do have a pets passport for him as well. I will not be flying on the same day so I have to fax everything to my mom who is picking him up. the airwaybill, all the vet stuff.

Maybe I'll copy the pets passport and fax that over.

My mom is required to take all that paperwork over to customs before they close and get him cleared before she can pick him up from BA World Cargo so its a bit strange. Its the paperwork getting cleared. She won't have even seen Chip yet.

The health 'certificates' I've had to go to Japan, to the UK, back to Canada.. back to Japan.. have all been like yours.  Some have had really ridiculous spelling mistakes, even.  I generally think of them as a 'fit to fly' form.  Sure, double-check anything  you're concerned about, but I think you're fine.

awesome, thanks! I did double check with BA world cargo and ATL customs so hopefully all should be ok or they lied