PETS Program

Just a quick note on costs, in case anyone's interested. I'm trying to budget moving costs, so it helps me to know what to expect. We're travelling from Seattle, which makes it a bit more difficult.

BA do not at this time have approved PETS routes from the West Coast of the US, except for LA. They quoted me a price of US$20.88/kg, plus about $200 in extra fees, for sending my two labs over via cargo from Seattle and licensing them into quarantine with a view towards early release (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/earlyrelease.htm). That makes for a total of about $3200, plus quarantine fees and the emotional distress of quarantine.

The other thing that all airlines do is that they'll charge you based on the volume rather than the weight alone. For instance, though my dogs weigh 90 and 75 lbs, for a total of about 75 kg between them, the crates that they'll be using are so large that they'll actually take up more valuable cargo space than is represented by their weight. So, the airlines use a nifty formula ((height in inches*length*width)/366) to come up with a "volumetric weight" in kg. In our case, that's about 150kg for the two dogs (or twice their actual weight).

However, I called Virgin and got a much better rate travelling from San Francisco under the PETS scheme. They give a discount for shipments above 100kg, so the total is much less. For two dogs, it'll be about $1500 plus GBP210 in PETS scheme fees when we arrive in the UK. Alaska Air will fly our two boys accompanied from Seattle to SF for $75 each, so it looks like that's what we'll do.

I am glad for two things after reading your post Baylor.  One I live on the East Coast and two my animals are all under 15 lbs.  Heck they cat and the Chihuahua together are under 15 lbs.  Dang!  Well the price we pay for our babies!

Best of luck!

Just an update...my vet thinks Socks will be ok to travel as he is in very EARLY stage kidney disease. I did not realize, though, that you can't fly pets over when the outside temp is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, so our original plans for Christmas are out.

Looks like our new goal is March.

EDIT:Good news!!! was going by the website rules only, which don't apply to Chicago, I just found out, as their(BA) transport truck is heated/air conditioned! AND Socks and Batman weigh little enough to travel in the same kennel! I am SO happy!

Seventeen US cities are now on the approved routes list on the DEFRA web site.  And, as of April 12, 2004, crates won't have to be sealed.  Wahooooo!  One thing got easier.  I hope it's this easy to get me over there!    Chris


http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/pets/procedures/support-info/routes_longhaul.htm

Oh happy day!   Come on add Atlanta already!  Come on!  

You got it!  As long as you have your PETS certificate and the proof of worming within 48 hours, you get to pass GO and proceed to the cargo area.  It was going to be such a nightmare for me to take Spucky to the vet-in-charge with my luggage, drop him at the cargo office, and get myself to the airport.  One less bit of red tape helps a lot.   Chris

Have to ask this question (although I think it has been covered) ---

I just realized that we have not done any of the bloodwork for our dog and we are planning on leaving (US to UK) in 4 mos which does NOT meet the 6 mos criteria.  My dog has ALWAYS been vaccinated for rabies (not sure if that matters). 
If I can get the bloodwork done this week (which answer is correct?) --
  a) He still needs to wait 6 mos before he can fly over
  b) He can fly over after 4 mos with the family but will need to go into a British Quaratine facility for the remaining 2 mos.
  c) It won't matter b/c his blood tieters will be high enough so he will be able to fly over in 4 mos and join the family?

B is correct.   Although  it will cost you about 300 punds a month for the quarentine.   thats about $500 at todays exchange rate.    I myself have to wait until sept for one of our dogs who came to the states, and was vaccinated before she came here, but she still has to do all the same as those who have never been to the UK.

I have to agree that B is the correct answer.  You can call DEFRA just to make sure.  Also have you already had the microchip put in?  Make sure that is done prior to any vaccinations and titer test.  Good luck!

Okay, can someone tell me where and how to get the tapeworm and tick treatment form we need 48 hours before from the vet?

Well thanks to KC I now have a Tick and Tapeworm Certificate in my grubby hands so if someone needs one PM me and I will zip it off to you!

Also, just just you know I have prices for transport on Virgin from Washington, DC.

There is a fee of $125 just to ship them.  This goes if you have one pet or two.  One fee for all the animals you are shipping. 

They limit the cargo to two animals at a time so you must call Cargo to check availability BEFORE buying your personal tickets.  Then buy the tickets then call cargo again. They can get special permission for more than two animals.

Added to the $125 is a per kilo fee based not on the animals weight, but on the area of the crate.  So... it's $11.87 per kilo for under 100 kilos and $6.81 for over 100 kilos.  For those of you with multiple pets -those pets can be considered together to get the 100 kilo rate.  It can be better to buy a larger crate to get the lower rate.

For a small, medium and intermediate crate at Petsmart she estimated us at 84 kilos or $997 (plus other fees.)

On top of this is a fee payable to the UK side for 215 pounds (again the price is good for one animal or multiple animals.)

*note this is the information I got over the phone so if anyone has any real life experiences that are different please feel free to let us know.

I hope this helps people get an idea of the cost.

For me it's worth it even though they are going to cost more than us to fly!

Vnice,

Spucky and I are flying from Boston to Heathrow on May 24th.  I have made a reservation with BA World Cargo, and the estimate is $750.  Spuck is about 12 pounds, and the carrier is 14" x 16" x 22".  The fee includes his transportation and the PETS fee.  When I get to Scotland, I'll give you a more accurate breakdown. 

Chris

Cheers Chris and safe flight if I don't get to wish you one before you go!

I am so glad to not have to go through the sealing thing!

Oh and FYI Virgin requires that your PET be at cargo 4 hours pre-flight. 

One suggestion for dogs is this:  Our doggies are not crate trained so we put their beds in their crates and are getting them used to being in them more often.  I also have been using treats to teach them the command "CRATE" and so far 95% of the time to get in their crates.

Of course they had to rebel and this morning went into the wrong crates....but hey...who says you can't fit a large dog in a small crate.

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Vnice,

Your babies are beautiful!  Is the bigger babe over his tummy upset, or that his sexy look?

I've kept Spucky's crate on the floor and always open.  He uses it to get away for some private time.  I changed his blanket recently and found a bunch of toys hidden under the blanket.

Thursday we are getting the PETS certificate, and Saturday Spucky is being wormed and ticked.  Thanks for the heads-up about the time to deliver him to the airport.  I'll call BA for their rules right now.

Chris