Karenn,
We're bringing our two minniature dachshunds over the first weekend in March. The PETS process is a long process but you can do it. I'll try to answer your questions as best I can, as our vet didn't have any clue about what to do either.
First - The Avid Eurochip - is the chip that we put in our dogs. It should be readable in the UK (but isn't in the U.S., so it needs to be specially ordered by the Vet, additionally, the vet should have a eurochip reader to confirm that the chip is working - they should be able to do that).
Second - The rabies vaccine simply has to be not-expired when it's administered. No certain type or brand. On one of the PETS forms it asks for the details of the vaccine that's administered, but I think it's more of a formality than anythign else.
Third - Yes the vaccine can be given on the same appointment as the microchip - however, that's not the most important part. The microchip number HAS TO be on the paperwork that is sent to the special USDA approved testing facility that tests your animals current rabies titre levels. It's not the actual vaccine that counts on that visit, it's the blood test for rabies that matters most. I'm afraid I'm not being clear so I'll illustrate with what happened to us.....
July 1 - Took dogs in for microchip, rabies blood test, and new rabies vaccine. Chip inserted, blood test taken. Test sent to independent lab (two in U.S.A., one for millitary only, so it was sent to one at the University of Indiana -I think).
July 15 - got results of test back - one dog had adequate rabies titre level, the other did not. Because the vaccine takes a while to work into the system (i.e. not same day), and it had been too long since one of our dog's last rabies shot, it didn't have sufficent vaccine levels when they took the original blood test. Result - that dog had to get re-tested to check for appropriate vaccine levels.
July 21 - 2nd dog get's retested.
July 30 - Got results back that the second dog was now ok. OK, so six months from the time the passing blood test was taken, with the microchip info on the blood test, the dogs are ok to enter the UK....but then there's the paperwork.
Be sure to keep copies of EVERYTHING from the vet. The indiana place that tests the rabies titre levels sends the vet (or faxes) a page of test results. Keep that. On the DEFRA website it says that they require a certified copy of that, when I contacted the lab that did the sample, they read me a DEFRA memo that says a simple copy is ok, doesn't need to be certified. But I digress....
Once you get your test results back, you fill out a form (from the DEFRA website), not in front of me now so I can't remember which one it is. Your vet signs the form and gives details about the rabies vaccine. Then, that form, plus the copies of the passing rabies tests, get sent to your State Registered Veterinarian...(can't remember if it's the dept. of agriculture, but I think it is USDA). Your Vet may know who this person is...it's a person licensed by whatever state you live in, to sign the export documents for animals), I think there's only one office per state so you may be able to find it on your state website or in the blue pages of your phone book. We lived in NC at the time and mailed our paperwork to Raleigh...it was returned to us in 4 days with a state seal in the area where the state vet saw it.
After the paperwork is cleared by the state vet, you're just in a waiting game until the six months is up. Remember that there are only certain routes / airlines that can bring pets into the UK. We're bringing ours from washington d.c. so the only approved carrier is Virgin Atalantic. They won't allow you to make a reservation until your paperwork is completed by the state rep. Plus they have all sorts of restrictions on crate size etc. Virgin is charging us $125 or something per pet handling charge - on top of the cargo charge. Then when the animals get to Heathrow, the british government charges something like 250GBP ($500) each to process the animals into the country. I haven't gotten to that stage yet so dont' quote me on that.
Karenn I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more specific questions and I'll do my best to answer them. Good luck with everything!
Stephan
Owner of Chilli Dog and Derby Dog
