Pet Passport??

I'm not mirrajay, but I'll take a stab at this.

You can take them to a local vet for the final tick/tapeworm treatment. It does not have to be the same vet that did the rest of the paperwork.

Yes, do that. No, it does not certify the animals healthy to travel (that would be done when you get the tick/tapeworm done). It does show that the vet certifies that the bloodwork/microchip/vaccine have all been done.

48 hours before check-in for the flight (48hrs before flying would work, too, but not 24 since that's 20 hours before check-in).

I believe the airline checks your paperwork before boarding. The part they'll care about is whatever health certificate they might want, though (APHIS 7001, letter from your vet, whatever). That's what says your pet shouldn't keel over while on board.

If you're flying with them, or picking them up at Heathrow, I don't see why you'd need an agent. I haven't looked into Delta, though, as they're not an option from the city I'm using. The UK folks will want to see all the paperwork - rabies certificate, EC 998 form, etc. You should be able to hand all this in to the airline when you check the pet(s) in so that it travels with them.

Good luck!

Wow, thank you so much for this!!!  I noticed that you didn't mention anything to do with the USDA.  I have a read in some of the threads that they need to certify something?

Thanks again!!!

Sorry, I assumed that had already been done.

In order for your pets to travel, you'll need to take your documentation (EC 998, microchip proof, rabies certificate, FAVN form) to your state's USDA office to get them to sign off on the EC 998 (section V, if I remember correctly - my form is in the US with my pets).

In NC, it cost about $120 to do 2 pets..I think it was $110 for one and $8 for the second pet. Also took about 1 1/2 hours because they weren't so observant of the fact that I had made an appointment to come in.

You can do that at any time, really, but once the USDA stamps their date on it, it's only valid for 4 months after that date.

I would recommend getting the USDA signoff asap (unless you don't plan to fly your pets before July), and then you're free to book their flight and do the tick/tapeworm visit.

And yes, you'll need to send your forms to the US to be with your pets - they definitely won't accept photocopies or anything. (And they won't accept your word that you have the paperwork here waiting for them ).

We spoke to somebody at Heathrow today and they said that Delta don't have an 'agent' and that we would need to book an agent so we called JCS Livestock Services.

I used JCS Livestock (or James Cargo as they are sometimes referred) also.  Everyone needs an "agent" to recieve the animals.  In my case, BA contacted them for me and it was all included in one price paid to BA, but is sounds like Delta may require you to set that yourself. The agent picks up your pet from the plane and brings them to the animal reception centre, which is quite a ways away from the airport terminal at Heathrow. 

I used JCS Livestock (or James Cargo as they are sometimes referred) also.  Everyone needs an "agent" to recieve the animals.  In my case, BA contacted them for me and it was all included in one price paid to BA, but is sounds like Delta may require you to set that yourself. The agent picks up your pet from the plane and brings them to the animal reception centre, which is quite a ways away from the airport terminal at Heathrow. 

Oh!  Thanks for correcting me.  I didn't realize that there was possibly another step in there (so shouldn't have said anything.  Eep.) that Virgin had handled for us.

 

Hey all, we're just filling out the EC998 to be sent to the vet in Philadelphia.

Would it be acceptable to type the information on to the form and email it to the vet so that she can sign and stamp it or does the form need to be completed in ink?

Sorry if this sounds like a silly question but we just don't want to waste any more time with this and email would be awesome if possible.

Thank again for all your help. 

Would it be acceptable to type the information on to the form and email it to the vet so that she can sign and stamp it or does the form need to be completed in ink?

I typed all the information onto my forms for 2 reasons:
- wanted to make sure they would be legible
- wanted to make sure they would be in blue ink (though I don't think the vet signed in blue, so possibly a moot point)

No one had an issue with it, and I waited less than an hour to collect my boys at Heathrow (after they landed), so possibly having things typed sped things up a bit (though that's purely conjecture).

I'm sure this is obvious, but make sure your vet prints out the forms and then signs them, since I doubt the officials would accept a printed copy of a digital signature (if she had a signature image file and photoshopped it in or something). I'm not saying you/your vet would do that, just wanted to clarify.

I typed all the information onto my forms for 2 reasons:
- wanted to make sure they would be legible
- wanted to make sure they would be in blue ink (though I don't think the vet signed in blue, so possibly a moot point)

No one had an issue with it, and I waited less than an hour to collect my boys at Heathrow (after they landed), so possibly having things typed sped things up a bit (though that's purely conjecture).

I'm sure this is obvious, but make sure your vet prints out the forms and then signs them, since I doubt the officials would accept a printed copy of a digital signature (if she had a signature image file and photoshopped it in or something). I'm not saying you/your vet would do that, just wanted to clarify.

Thank you for your help.

It seems that we cannot type on the EC998 Form as it is in PDF format.  Unfortunately we do not have Adobe Writer program.

Do you think it would be acceptable for us to fill out the form in ink and send it via email after scanning on to the computer?  Obviously then the vet would be able to print it off and place her original signature on there.

Thanks again as always.

It seems that we cannot type on the EC998 Form as it is in PDF format.  Unfortunately we do not have Adobe Writer program.

I used a (free) PDF annotation program (Skim, if you're on a Mac). It allows you to add notes to a PDF document and then print it out with those notes. There's also a Word doc version of the form, I'm not sure where I found it but I could e-mail it to you if you PM me your address.

Do you think it would be acceptable for us to fill out the form in ink and send it via email after scanning on to the computer?  Obviously then the vet would be able to print it off and place her original signature on there.

I think that might be suspect, since it would probably look like a scan and could make DEFRA concerned.

I used a (free) PDF annotation program (Skim, if you're on a Mac). It allows you to add notes to a PDF document and then print it out with those notes. There's also a Word doc version of the form, I'm not sure where I found it but I could e-mail it to you if you PM me your address.

I think that might be suspect, since it would probably look like a scan and could make DEFRA concerned.

Thank you, we already found an online PDF editing programme.

The vet has asked us to fax it to her...do you think that would be equally as 'suspect'?

I can check with her, if it's ok to email the completed form to her I guess but just in case she doesn't have a PDF reader, we would need some other speedy way of getting it to her.

Also, the EC998 Form is asking for the batch number of the Rabies Vaccine.  The Rabies Vaccination Certificate that was issued by the vet has a Serial Number or five numbers and a letter...would this be the batch number?

Thanks again!

The vet has asked us to fax it to her...do you think that would be equally as 'suspect'?

I think if you have the time and can mail it, that would probably be best.

Also, the EC998 Form is asking for the batch number of the Rabies Vaccine.  The Rabies Vaccination Certificate that was issued by the vet has a Serial Number or five numbers and a letter...would this be the batch number?

Yes, that's what I put in for the batch number and no one questioned it.

I think if you have the time and can mail it, that would probably be best.

Yes, that's what I put in for the batch number and no one questioned it.

Your assistance is completely priceless.  Thank you!!

At the top of the EC998 it has a field for 'serial Number of the Certificate.  What is this??

Thanks again!!!

You don't need to fill that line out.  The USDA will do it for you.

OK, so we emailed the completed EC998 form to the vet today and this what we said:

Hi Cxxx,

Please find attached completed EC998 Forms for both our cats.

You completed the microchip and rabies vaccination in August 2009, you then drew the blood from both cats and sent it for the titer test.  As discussed in our previous emails, we would appreciate if you could sign and stamp both forms so that we can send them for endorsement by the USDA.

We have received the blood titer results that you sent to us, so if you don't have a copy readily available, we would be happy to email that to you also.

Please let us know of any extra costs incurred for postage so that we can call the surgery to pay over the phone.

If you have any queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.


Her response has worried us as it seems to be different to what we have been told here.  It went like this:

Hi!
 
Unfortunately, this isn't the correct form. I know you worked hard on it! It needs to be on two sides of a single sheet of paper (this is three pages long because it is from a journal). The information needs to be entered in ink that is not black (blue or another color).
 
Who is going to do the tick treatment and the dewormer? Will it be done here? The reason I ask, is there is a procedure that needs to be done with the help of the state veterinarian to make sure it is valid. We charge $139 for international certificates since they are so detailed, and if filled out wrong (like this one) the cats would have to stay for 6 months in quarantine. For the parasite treatment, it needs to be done by an accredited veterinarian 48 hours or less before travel, and then faxed to the state vet.
 
Here is where I found a lot of information that you may find helpful.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_exports_pets.shtml
 
Let me know how you would like to proceed. Any accredited vet can fill this out if there is one closer to you. I am happy to help in any way I can. If you'd like me to get fill out the correct form, I can do that no problem. Once filled out, you send to the state vet for him to sign off. Then the final version is faxed to him after doing the parasite treatment and he make sit official. Make sense?
 
Thanks!


This is the form that we completed and emailed to her:
European Union (EU) Veterinary Health Form 998

Are we missing something...or is the vet??

Thanks.

The first paragraph of your vet's email is correct. The form shown below is the wrong one.  The form should be 2-sided and should be done in blue ink (although mine was typed and signed in black ink and accepted).  
Here is a link to the proper form in word rather than a PDF: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/sanco10767r4_en.doc

The second paragaph looks like rubbish to me.  The state vet does not need to do anything with the tick and tapeworm treatment.  It looks like she/he thinks you need an additional certificate and you do not - the tick/tapeworm treatment is listed on the EC998 form and simply needs to be filled out and stamped/signed by your regular vet.

Thank you very much for your help mirrajay!!

The form states: V. RABIES SEROLOGICAL TEST (when required)
I have seen an official record of the result of a serological test for the animal, carried out on a sample taken on (dd/mm/yyyy) ________________, and tested in an EU-approved laboratory, which states that the rabies neutralising antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.

OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN OR VETERINARIAN AUTHORISED BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY* (in the latter case, the competent authority must endorse the certificate)

and also: ENDORSEMENT BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY (Not necessary when the certificate is signed by an official veterinarian)


Would I be right in thinking because it states 'I have SEEN an official record...etc, etc' that we don't need the vet that carried out the tests and blood work to sign ans stamp it?  We could ask any other approved vet to do it for us as long as we have showed them the seriological test results?

Thanks again1