Pet Scheme For Dummies Part 2

 PETS SCHEME - FOR DUMMIES PART 2
 
THERE ARE TWO FORMS THAT YOU NEED ONE CAN BE PRINTED FROM THIS LINK: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/no_cn_hc.pdf [nofollow]
 THE OTHER IS APHIS FORM 7001 WHICH YOUR ACCREDITED VET HAS IN HIS OFFICE. IT IS A TRIPLICATE FORM WITH A US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STAMP IN THE MIDDLE AND A CERTIFICATE#. HERE IS THE TRICKY PART THAT THEY WILL NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT ON THE WEB: YOUR VET WILL RECEIVE THE RESULTS BACK FROM THE LAB AT WHICH POINT HE CAN FILL EVERYTHING IN ON BOTH FORMS BUT THE AIRLINE WILL ONLY ACCEPT THEM IF THEY ARE DATED BY THE USDA WITHIN 10 DAYS OF YOUR TRAVEL. MAKE SURE THE VETS SIGNATURES ARE IN BLUE INK NOT BLACK!!! I suggest having your vet fill in all of the APHIS 7001 and parts I thru V on the EC 998/2003 cert and sign them, at that point I would either overnight them to the local USDA office in your area or just drive them there (appointment required) I found a local office about 30 miles or so away and am planning on driving there. Here is the link for the USDA offices in the US. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE/iregs/animals/vsavic.pdf [nofollow]
 
 
Step 5. Treatment against ticks and tapeworms
Before dogs and cats are allowed to enter the UK under PETS, they must be
treated by a vet against a tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) and ticks to
prevent potentially serious zoonotic diseases coming into the UK.
The treatment must be carried out not less than 24 hours and not more
than 48 hours before the animal is checked-in to travel to the UK, and
must be given every time it enters the UK. The animals microchip number must
be checked using a suitable reader before treatment. 
5.1 Treatment
The animal must be treated against the tapeworm using praziquantel at the dose
specified, and in accordance with the manufacturers instructions, and against
ticks using a veterinary product licensed for use against ticks which has
marketing authorisation in the country in which it is given. A collar impregnated with acaricide is not an acceptable form of treatment against ticks under PETS. AT THIS POINT THE VET CAN FILL IN THE REMAINING SECTIONS VI thru VII.  Bring your vets original vaccination records along with the original results of the rabies titre test with the two certificates with you to the airport.
 
Great site for the travel cages (cheapest so far) http://www.petblvd.com/cgi-bin/pb/MAR32923.html [nofollow] - airline approved!!!! Another site for  everything you need to put in the travel cage: http://www.dryfur.com/order_form.htm#This%20kit%20includes%20everything [nofollow]
 Water bottles can be filled 3/4 with water and freeze this will help so the water doesn't spill out all at once (snap a dish on underneath) can be purchased from the PETSMART website- Hope this helps all as it has been a nightmare - any ? just ask.... We are flying from South Florida to London on March 15th thru Virgin...

Our vet has filled out the 7001 form for us, but I was told by the USDA office that the form had to be stamped by them (USDA) within 10 days of our flight. Is this right?

When are you leaving and what date did your vet put on your 7001 form? I had the vet sign & date it the day before we went to the USDA (which was 8 days before we leave). Yes the 7001 form needs to be signed & dated no longer then 10 days before flying.

Has anyone dealt with two different states? Is this possible?  Our cat will be staying with my parents in Washington state while we are away, but we currently live in California.  We really hope we don't have to take her from Seattle to San Diego just to then have to fly her to the UK.

I really don't think it matters, as long as the paperwork it filled in correctly.  My cat was processed in Canada, and I started the process in one province and finished in another.  No problems.  Easy peasy.  This is really a straight forward process.  The most important place to follow directions is the fact sheet for non-eu cats and dogs (don't trust anyone else, not even your vet!).  And you need the Third country vet certificate.  Follow those, and you won't have any problems. 

First of all thank you Kensie for taking the time to put this info up.  Ths "Dummies Guide" will save all of us alot of time.  Speaking of which, how much time prior to departure date should on allow to complete this program, with pets that will need vaccinations?

I started mine beginning May 2003 and they flew over beginning December 2003. That was the time for the whole process to complete

PETS SCHEME - FOR DUMMIES PART 2
  Bring your vets original vaccination records along with the original results of the rabies titre test with the two certificates with you to the airport.
 

What do you mean by this?  Am I not understanding this correctly?...I am thinking that the non-eu 3rd country cert. and aphis form 7001 is enough?  Or, is there another form?  Sorry if I'm asking a stupid question...just want to make sure my doggie gets in too!

I think they mean the Rabies Certificate with vet's original signature and the original copy of FAVN results from the Kansas State Lab - probably just in case there are any problems with the 3rd country paperwork.  Maybe? 

These instructions are VERY helpful, but there are still some things I'm not clear about.  It says that the forms for the rabies titre can be filled out by my vet once they come back from the lab, but that they have to be signed/dated no more than 10 days before I plan to leave.  However, I imagine the forms will come back from the lab about 5 months before my dog is ready to go (about a month for the test to be done, and then the rest of the 6 month wait).  Should I have the vet wait to fill the forms out until right before I leave?

This is complicated for me because my husband and I will be leaving the dog with family to wait out his 6 months (we have to move over sooner for my husband's job).  Our vet is in Missouri, but our dog will be staying in Virginia after we move in August--so we will not be taking him to the same vet now (May 2006) and at the time when he'll be ready to come to the UK (December 2006).  Having the vet wait until December to fill out the forms would be possible (we could FedEx them to Missouri), but I just want to be sure that that's what needs to be done.  Maybe he would be willing to post-date the forms--has anyone's vet agreed to that?

And, just so I understand, after all these steps have been completed and right before I want to leave, I have to take all my forms to the USDA office for my state and have them stamped and signed, right?   Does it matter if my original vet was in one state but the USDA office is in another?

Finally, when we are able to take him over, does he have to travel a certain way?  We've flown with him in the US before and he's been allowed to come in the cabin with us (he's little--about 10 lbs.).  Is this permitted when taking a pet to the UK?  Or do they have to go through cargo no matter what size they are?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I would be crushed if I went through all this and discovered that my dog couldn't join me!

Thanks,

Jade

These instructions are VERY helpful, but there are still some things I'm not clear about.  It says that the forms for the rabies titre can be filled out by my vet once they come back from the lab, but that they have to be signed/dated no more than 10 days before I plan to leave.  However, I imagine the forms will come back from the lab about 5 months before my dog is ready to go (about a month for the test to be done, and then the rest of the 6 month wait).  Should I have the vet wait to fill the forms out until right before I leave?

Okay, there are TWO forms that your vet (he/she MUST be accredited) will need to fill out.  The Aphis 7001, which allows your dog to leave the USA and the EC 998/2003 form, which is what the UK needs for your dog to enter the UK.  They both need to be endorsed (which costs a fee) by the state (whichever state your dog is leaving from) USDA vet.  The vet will NOT make an appointment, nor sign the Aphis form until 10 days before your animal leaves the USA, so a lot of people wait to have both forms endorsed at the same time.
Now, this doesn't mean your accredited "regular" vet cannot begin filling them out sooner, but I personally waited until two weeks ago (to make sure I had everything in order).  I know I did it correctly because I just had the USDA vet endorse the forms today!

This is complicated for me because my husband and I will be leaving the dog with family to wait out his 6 months (we have to move over sooner for my husband's job).  Our vet is in Missouri, but our dog will be staying in Virginia after we move in August--so we will not be taking him to the same vet now (May 2006) and at the time when he'll be ready to come to the UK (December 2006).  Having the vet wait until December to fill out the forms would be possible (we could FedEx them to Missouri), but I just want to be sure that that's what needs to be done.  Maybe he would be willing to post-date the forms--has anyone's vet agreed to that?

I would call the USDA vet in Virginia to see what he recommends, but I would just have an ACCREDITED vet in Virginia fill them out.  As long as its an accredited vet (and the state of Virginia's USDA vet's office should be able to tell you) I don't think it matters.  But again, call the USDA vet to be sure!  My vet post-dated the forms two weeks, but I don't know if he'd agree to do it months later!

And, just so I understand, after all these steps have been completed and right before I want to leave, I have to take all my forms to the USDA office for my state and have them stamped and signed, right?   Does it matter if my original vet was in one state but the USDA office is in another?

Finally, when we are able to take him over, does he have to travel a certain way?  We've flown with him in the US before and he's been allowed to come in the cabin with us (he's little--about 10 lbs.).  Is this permitted when taking a pet to the UK?  Or do they have to go through cargo no matter what size they are?

Call the Viginian USDA vet to ask this question.  It may be that every state vet has a different policy regarding this. 
Regarding travel, your dog will have to fly cargo.  It doesn't matter what size he is.  You'll need to buy an ATA approved dog carrier.  The one I bought was from www.dog.com (http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=101554+100&Cat=)  In case that link doesn't work, its called the PetMate Sky Kennel.   The price was VERY reasonable and its a great carrier.  My doggie sleeps in it every night! That's another thing...it'll be a good idea to let your animal get used the carrier before the trip, to ease that stress!
Also, check the DEFRA site to see what airlines are approved on your route of travel.  I know some (BMI for example) do not allow animals to fly unattended (meaning you will need to book a seat while they ride in cargo).  You will not be able to "book" your animal's place until two-three weeks before departure.  I think British Airways might even be ten days before...not sure.  Good luck!

Congrats on the USDA endorsement, Uberyank! Feels good to see those embossed documents...

Thank you so much, UberYank!  This is really helpful information.  I can't imagine trying to do this with just the regulations on the DEFRA website--as far as I can tell they never even mention that your vet has to be accredited (fortunately, when I called to check, mine is) or that you have to get the forms signed bythe USDA vet. 

Thanks again--here's hoping I can get him over there!

Jade

What a great and helpful thread.
I have my (EC) 998/2003 and I am following the check list from the DEFRA site - the procedure seems straightforward,  but I am paranoid about getting one small thing wrong and watching the dog being carried off into quarantine in the UK.  My confusion is bout the "sign-off" by the USDA accredited/authorized vet.

1. According to the US embassy in London only a USDA authorized vet can issue the PETS certificate.  Is the PETS certificate the same as the 998/2003?
2. On the 998/2003 there is a line for "Serial Number of the Certificate"  Who issues this.  I phoned the DEFRA helpline in the UK and they said it depends on the state where I am.  They couldn't give me any information about VA.
3. Do I dounload and print this off get my vetr to fill it in and then send it off for endorsment or what?
4.  I'm in VA just outside DC so I contacted APHIS in Richmond and they told me to contact a "veterinarian accredited and licensed  in the state of VA who can complete your paper work" and I could "expedite the procedure by having your practitioner FedEx your documents to our office with the user fee ($ 76.00 ) for endorsements and include a self addressed, prepaid envelope from FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc."   Should I send the documents or go there myself?

Thanks
William

1. According to the US embassy in London only a USDA authorized vet can issue the PETS certificate.  Is the PETS certificate the same as the 998/2003?

There are two forms that you will need for your dog to leave the USA.  The Aphis Form 7001 is required by the United States and the EC 998/2003 is required by the UK.  These are the only forms you will need.  You will need a USDA accredited vet to fill out the forms and an actual USDA vet to endorse them.  Unfortunately, it seems as if they aren't calling the forms by their actual 'name', which is very confusing.

2. On the 998/2003 there is a line for "Serial Number of the Certificate"  Who issues this.  I phoned the DEFRA helpline in the UK and they said it depends on the state where I am.  They couldn't give me any information about VA.

The serial number is taken from the Aphis 7001 form, which your vet will give you.  The USDA vet will write the serial number onto the EC 998/2003 form. 

3. Do I dounload and print this off get my vetr to fill it in and then send it off for endorsment or what?

You can download the EC 998/2003 form (make sure its double sided NOT two pages) for your vet to complete.  I would recommend having them type it.  Also, MAKE SURE the dates are written in the following format (unless otherwise stated!) 05 July 2006.  This will help avoid any cofusion between UK and USA date formats.
Your vet should have the Aphis 7001 form.  Only accredited vets get them.

4.  I'm in VA just outside DC so I contacted APHIS in Richmond and they told me to contact a "veterinarian accredited and licensed  in the state of VA who can complete your paper work" and I could "expedite the procedure by having your practitioner FedEx your documents to our office with the user fee ($ 76.00 ) for endorsements and include a self addressed, prepaid envelope from FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc."   Should I send the documents or go there myself?

Okay, this really angers me.  That person you spoke to should have offered to tell you if your vet is accredited, or which vets are accredited in your area.  Otherwise, its VERY difficult to find out.  I'd call them back.  Its their job.
The fee ($76) is not going to change if you go or don't go to the office.  The only difference should be the fedex envelopes to mail them.  If you are close enough, drive.  Otherwise, a lot of people have been fine with mailing it.  Just make sure its recorded delivery!

Feel free to ask any other questions, as I just went through this and remember everything clearly