PETS Program

Still checking on Ireland for you...will post if I find out anything...

Good news and bad on the Ireland/North Ireland front... you can take them in BUT you have to go to London and then ferry into Ireland.

You might want to ring the N.Ireland argi peeps to confirm...their wesite was down when I tried.  

I found the following on two websites....

"The Irish Department of Agriculture and Food has now made a decision that it will allow free movement of animals that have satisfied the English Pet Travel Rules from England. So, if you can produce documentation showing that your animal has passed the revised English pet standards, you can avoid quarantine for your animal.
 
Please note that the animal must come in by ferry. Arrival from an English city into any Irish airport does not qualify. If your animal comes by air, you'll have to quarantine them. "

and
"There are no restrictions on animals being brought into Ireland from the UK.
Pets entering the UK from the continent can travel on to Ireland without the need for quarantine provided they have come along routes approved under the terms of the UK Pets Pilot Project.

Pets entering Ireland from North America are quarantined for a period of six months.

Further details for the Republic of Ireland can be had from the Dept of Agriculture. Tel: +353 1 6072000 or www.irlgov.ie/daff

For Northern Ireland contact Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland. Tel: +44 28 7131 9500 or www.dardni.gov.uk

Further information regarding the conditions of the PETS Pilot project telephone 0870 2411710 fax 020 79046834"


As for sedatives..I am not sure..I know my Vet says just don't use them!  Hope someone can help you can this one..

Not a problem...my animals are like my kids...part of the reason I did not move earlier was out of worry for them....Hopefully by the time you or we leave they will have opened up more routes to the UK other than Ft. Lauderdale... NYC and Atlanta are major hubs so it should not take too long..

.....not sure why I put a bunny face there, but I just love them....

Just wanted to add the following updates direct from DEFRA:

Continental Airlines have been approved to operate new PETS routes from Cleveland, Houston and Newark, USA to London Gatwick this summer. Bookings can now be made on 1 800 575 3335 or 1 281 553 5052.

And

Britannia Cargo are now operating their route from Sanford, Florida to Gatwick.

Happy dance time!  I love the PETS program.  

For those of you (Kcg) interested in N. Ireland you still have to go through Gatwick.

"At present no direct flights into Northern Ireland are approved routes under the PETS Travel Scheme. Pets qualifying will have to land in GB prior to onward travel to Northern Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland does not have a PETS Scheme."

Got the dogs their rabies shots yesterday..two weeks to go to the blood test date.  There is only one lab approved to do the test in the USA.. aftet that it's waiting for the results and of to a USDA Vet to issue the PETS Certificate!!!  YEAH!!!

Just wondering, because it isn't clear:

Is there a definite time that the PETS certificate has to be issued?

Beth

6 months from the date your blood sample titer came back....Once this is done you have to wait the 6 months to get in the UK.  Hope that's what you were asking....if not let me know. To keep it effective you have to get a new rabies shot before it expires.  

Thanks, Peeps!

Here's where we're at: Bear will begin his stuff in Feb. First, he's his chip, then vaccinated. Then on another visit, he'll get his blood drawn. 6 months later he'll get his PETS certificate. Question: does he have to actually have a traditional flea/tick DIP? My vet wanted to know if it could be the treatment you squeeze between the shoulder blades (Revolution). Any help here is appreciated.

Called Continental, as that's whom we're traveling with: $700 for Bear's ticket and the Heathrow delivery thing. SHEESH! This is the most expensive cat in history. I don't care, though. Apparently, we have to have a 2 hour layover in Houston just for him. If not, he has to go on a separate plane which I just can't deal with.

Here are some recent concerns: When we get to Heathrow, we have to travel back to the North West (Chester) to go home. Is Bear going to freak out? I mean...a long flight with no running around, then another 3+ hours in the car. Poor Beary. Also, and I know I've addressed this before, I'm worried about him going outside. He's never been outside before (for any length of time) and I'm concerned that he'll go out and never come back (maybe even try to cross the pond to come back here! LOL). For those of you with outdoor cats, how long did you keep your kitty indoors before you let them meander?

I can't tell you how valuable this site is to me.

Beth

6 months from the date your blood sample titer came back....Once this is done you have to wait the 6 months to get in the UK.  Hope that's what you were asking....if not let me know. To keep it effective you have to get a new rabies shot before it expires.  

Holy Hellballs! Does this say what I think it does? Peeps, are you telling me that Bear has to have have the blood sample, wait 6 mos...then wait another six months to come over? Oh my...I'm very confused now. Going back to read the scheme data...

No Beth...just the 6 months....period... I'll write more later!

Hmmm...something weird has happened. I've just been to the DEFRA site (if this weren't my home page, DEFRA would be). Found out that we're to fly into GATWICK not HEATHROW  . I'm so confused sometimes.

My question: Does Gatwick offer the same care for the animals that Heathrow does? We've flown into Gatwick before, just not with our Beary. I thought he HAD to go into Heathrow for some reason.

Just let me know if you can.

Thanks,
Beth

those damn snowmen are adorable!

  I was informed that, our two dogs, one who we already shipped to the USA when we came back to live here, have to wait 6 months from the date of the shots not 6 months from the date of the result of the test.
  Does anyone have the current cost of flying them to heathrow, i have tried several airlines but no one seems to be able to give me any answers.   My prefered airlines would be British Airlines or Virgin flying from JFK.  

We just brought our lab over last month. She was Virgins 1st animal to travel from JFK to Heathrow,and they were great! They base the cost on the weight in kilos and/or the dimensions of the crate. We paid about $750 for the flight and another 211GBP upon arrival.If you call them they'll fax you all the info.
You definately need to wait 6 mths from the date the blood was drawn.

Virgin also has a 'frequent flyer' program for pets now!