PETS Program

Good luck to those of you with pets in quarantine and going through the PETS program.

I have made the heartbreaking decision to find a new home for my 3 1/2 year old Australian Shepherd, Rudy. I will be moving to England next month and after weighing the options decided the best thing for Rudy would be to find him a new good home. Fortunately I have found a lovely family with two children and a big house that seem to adore him and give him lots of love and attention, so at least I know he will be well taken care of even if I will miss him so much. This is truly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I hope all of you with pets have good experiences either bringing them to the UK or finding good homes for them.

Hi, ncjenuk -- gosh, sorry so sorry about your having to leave your dog   -- but it's so great that you know the family who are adopting him and that you can be sure he'll be happy. Traveling and adjusting to a new country/environment/culture takes a toll -- on people and animals. I hope it comforts you a little to know that you're such a great dog-owner that you looked and looked until you found a really good solution. Sometimes you have to trust your instinct about these things -- your heart tells you when it (whatever it may be) is the right thing to do. Partings are hard -- but you know the old saying, one door closes and another opens -- well the one opening for Rudy sounds like it leads to a wonderful life. And you will move onward, too ...  Best of luck! :)Katelyn

Does anyone one know where to get the PETS certificate in the US?  Our vet has never heard of this and the DEFRA website says a only government approved vet can issue the certificate. We should have a blood test for our two dogs back and I need to know how to get the certificate.  
Thanks.  

Andrew,
The best advice I can give you is to go to the DEFRA site and print out everything, link by link, under the topic posted for Vets. We have an excellent vet who contacted DEFRA directly and asked every question possible.

To everyone else who is doing this:
We had Bear in for his vaccines and his chip. The chip (Avid UK) was ordered about a week ago and arrived today. So I drove Bear over and he had his shots, then they put in the chip. Our vet used an AVID reader immediately to be sure the chip was not only detected but registered the number correctly. Bear was great--a very brave kitty--for the entire thing. He didn't just sit there and take it all, but I was amazed at his demeanor.

The next step is the blood test in 21 days. It's recommended that you wait 30, but the Kansas lab said 21 days should do it. A word of advice, in case you didn't "get it" here (I didn't, and it probably says it): if you're counting back 6 months from your departure, be sure you account for the shots and chip. In other words, we thought that all three things would happen (possibly) on the same visit. No. you have to get the shots, the chip...then wait 30 days (to be safe). So count back SEVEN months and start there.

Bear is such a good boy. I'm so proud of him. He caterwauled the entire way there and back...I can't help but think about his misery on that 9+ hour plane ride. Poor, poor Beary.  

~Beth

Did a bit more digging and it looks like you have to get the certificate from the USDA.  The American version of the DEFRA site is found at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/exp-pets.html [nofollow]

and has some good step by step instructions for owners and vets to follow the PETS scheme.

I was about to point you in that direction.    It all depends on what state you  are in.  I will be going there next week and will post what I find.

Beth,

How are you traveling with Bear?

Sarah

Sarah,
We're going from San Antonio to Gatwick on Continental, so Bear has to fly in cargo.  :'(

...if that's what you meant.  

Beth

Beth,

yep, thats what I was wondering. Sorry he cant be with you in the cabin. Im sure he'll just have a long snooze tho, as all cats do

I was currious because Ive got to travel with to cats going heathrow/gatwick to houston. Let us know how your trip goes?

Sarah

You mean you're going from UK to America? Or Houston to Gatwick?


Beth

Martin and I are moving back to the US. So we're going from Gatwick or Heathrow to Houston with two cats in tow Hopefully they'll go in the cabin with delta.

You can call the USDA for a list of approved USDA vets.  If your vet is not USDA approved, you will have to find one that is.  The USDA is also an excellent source of other  information on the Pet Passport Scheme.  Either you or your vet can call.  Both of you probably should.  

We entered the UK with my kitty in Dec.  She had only completed four months if the six required for the passport so she has to be in quarantine for two months.  The kennel that is keeping her has two dogs that arrived a month ago with improper paperwork.  They will have to be there six months at £300 a month.

Just to clarify and post an update.  Our two dogs and cat are almost ready to go.  We may not be, but they are.  The Entry date is 6 months from the date the blood was drawn for the titer test.  Some vets are getting confused on the issue.  I spoke to the USDA yesterday.  I was told to go ahead and mail the PETS Certificates (filled out by my vet) and $84.60 or $28.20 per animal to the local USDA Vet Services office.  In the case of Atlanta it's in Conyers.   They will in turn stamp it and send it back to me in the enclosed SASE.  So there.  That's it!  So to keep up the Certificate all you have to do is make sure that the animals are vaccinated BEFORE the expiration date on your certificate (6 months after the valid from date "titer drawn date").  


The USDA Vet can come to the airport, but she said that in most cases all travel arrangements to include the sealing of the crate by them are now being organized through the respective airlines.  So that's my story so far.  

So in summary:

1. Get ISO approved microchip in Pet (we used HomeAgain).
2. Get Pet vaccinated.
3. Wait a few weeks.
4. Have your vet take a blood sample and send it off to Kansas State University (A DEFRA lab).
6. Wait up to 6 weeks. Ours took 4.
5. Get blood test back. (Hopefully strong enough or above .5)
6. Have Vet fill out PETS certificate.
6. Take/Mail (I'd call first) PETS Certificate to USDA/VS office.
7. They will stamp it and give/send it back to you.
8. Make arrangements for flight and sealing of crate.

That's all I know so far.  If anyone needs me to find there USDA office or anything at all let me know!

Dont know if its the same for UK bound pets but our two US bound kitties were rabies vaccinated in the UK and had to wait 30 days before the blood test could be taken.

Thanks for the info about the USDA all.

It's somewhat the same here, but it's no earlier than 21 days, according to the Kansas Lab that tests the bloodwork.

Beth