Please Help Me with PETS Scheme!!

Hi!!  I'm a newbie, and completely frazzled...   Just starting to plan for marrying my fiancée and moving to the UK.  I have a beloved small 12yo dog, and I need to get her to the UK with me.  I have read the UK gov't info on the PETS scheme, but still feel unclear.  As I understand it, the rough steps are:

1) Get dog microchipped.
2) Get dog vaccinated for rabies, with microchip number documented.
3) Get blood drawn to verify rabies titer, with microchip number documented.
4) Vet sends blood to one specific lab for testing.
5) Wait minimum of 6 months before traveling.
6) Get dog treated for tapeworms and ticks 48-24 hrs before check-in at airline.
7) Dog must be transported only on British Airways (from Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, in my case).

If this is not correct, could some kind, kind soul let me know?  If this is correct, then I need some clarification before I lose my remaining hair!  Please help -- I love my dog!!!

At what point is the blood draw done?  Immediately after the vaccination??  But wouldn't one have to wait for the vaccination to take effect??  And how does this relate to the 6 months requirement??  It would seem to make sense that the blood should be tested for vaccine effectiveness at the end of the 6 months, just before travel??

Also, in reading past topics, people are mentioning the USDA as if there is more than one lab for testing the blood...  Some have mentioned going in person to the lab (I think - if I understood correctly!).  I have a copy of EC998 saved on my computer.  Is this the form that the vet sends to the lab (USDA?) with the blood?  Then the vet also completes the form to indicate rabies titer result, plus the tick/tapeworm treatment, and gives it to me to take with pet to the airport on travel day???

If this seems confused, it reflects my muddled thoughts.  Hopefully, someone can give me some guidance, and if I don't understand, I can ask clearer questions.

Thank you to all the angels here who are sharing their experience - I'd be lost without this help!!

Cheer!
Teddy

Step one: BREATHE... deep breaths... deep breaths.. I know this seems daunting, but it really is not as hard as it seems.  (easy to say now that I'm done)

You have the basic steps correct, but before you start anything, you will want to call the USDA office in your state and ensure that your vet is accredited.

Steps 1 and 2 can be done the same day. 
The blood draw should be done about 4 weeks after the vaccinations.  The 6 month wait begins from the date of the blood draw.

There is only one lab that does titer testing - its in Kansas and has nothing to do with the USDA.   You cannot go in person, your vet will send the blood sample to them for you.   

The EC998 will NOT be sent with the blood sample.  It needs to stay with you to be filled out by your vet (or you can type it out for him and have him sign and stamp the necessary places) and then will be taken to the USDA office (not a lab) for a stamp.  You then take this form with you to the airport along with your rabies vaccination certificate, titer results and either a letter or form from your vet stating that your animal is safe to fly (British Airways only requires a letter, but will accept the form as well).

May showers of peace, exquisite joy, and endless blessings rain down upon you!!  I am trying to remember to do the breathing thing... INHALE.. EXHALE..

Thank you SO MUCH!!  So, if I understand correctly, it's really a 7-month wait from the initial vet visit?  I saw absolutely nothing on the DEFRA website about the USDA step.  I called my vet this morning and his clerk said he had the proper certification - however, she seemed to be totally clueless about the process. 

So, how do I find the closest USDA office? 

I can't tell you how much it helps to get even one tiny conundrum solved!!!  This whole business makes me feel totally stupid!   

Teddy - hoping to be living near Brighton some day in th enot too distant future 

You can probably google your state and "USDA vet". That's what I did to find my USDA vet (I think there's only one office per state, but I could be wrong).

Also, if you're flying from the DC area to Heathrow, British Airways (theoretically) flies from Dulles and BWI. When I shipped my pets over in April 2010, though, they weren't booking any pets on flights from BWI for some reason. You can also fly them with Virgin, which seems to be a bit more expensive (based on the quotes I got), but also gives you frequent flyer miles for your pets' flight (which could be a nice perk). (If you're heading for a different airport in the UK, though, you may be right that BA is your only choice.)

Finally, yes, it's about 7 months all-told. I started my pets in May 2009, they were officially "done" with it in December 2009, I did the EC 998 form in January 2010 and they came over in April 2010. (I could've done the EC 998/shipping in December but I wasn't yet ready to move.)

I think mirrajay covered everything else. Good luck!

Thanks so very much, equestrianerd!  I've located the USDA Vet, and if anyone else in Maryland is reading this thread, the USDA vet for our area with related info is:

    USDA, APHIS, VS
    1598 Whitehall Road
    Suite A
    Annapolis, MD 21409

    Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Eastern
    Hours for Health Certificate Endorsement:
    Monday - Friday 9:00am - 11:00 am and 1:00pm - 3:00 pm (appointment required)

    Office Email: VSMD@aphis.usda.gov

    Telephone Numbers:

    Main Phone: (410) 349-9708 & (301) 261-8072
    Fax: (301) 261-8113

It was the DEFRA website that made me think BA was the only flight option.  Ideally, I will be needing the flight to go into Gatwick when the time comes.

I can't believe how friendly and helpful everyone here is!! 

Thanks again!!
Teddy

Unfortunately, there are no approved routes from DC to Gatwick, so your dog will need to fly into Heathrow.

Too bad about having to go into Heathrow, then...  I've never flown into Heathrow, but I imagine it is so MUCH busier, and thus more of a hassle to pick up a pet there.  Though I was amazed at the up-and-down ramps at Gatwick, it is relatively easy to negotiate.

One more question on retrospect...  If I wait a month after vaccination to get my doggie's blood drawn, at what point do I go to the USDA vet to get a stamp?  Does the timing matter?  And what is the purpose of waiting 6 months after blood draw anyway?  Seems like a pet should be clear to travel at the point they've been ID'd, vaccinated, and tested to show they carry no rabies??  That is the last bit of confusion, methinks...

Thanks again!
Teddy

Heathrow is SO simple especially if you will be flying BA since you will come into Terminal 5.  Its very easy to find your way.  Remember though, that the Animal Reception Centre is not near the main terminal.  You will have to drive (or be driven) to it.

You cannot get the USDA stamp until after you have the results of the titer test.  Then the timing only matters if you are not going to leave very shortly after the 6 month waiting time is up.  The stamped EC998 form is only good for four months after the date its stamped, so you must move within four months of getting the stamp. 

I dont actually know why the 6 month rule is in place, but dont worry yourself trying to figure out the reasons - you'll probably drive yourself mad

The 6 month wait is because that's the incubation period for rabies.

It's to ensure that your pet doesn't get bitten by a rabid animal the day/week before it gets vaccinated (when it's too late), passes the blood test weeks later (due to being vaccinated), and then still ends up in the country rabid. By waiting the 6 months you prove that your animal is vaccinated and does not (and therefore cannot) contract rabies.

I echo mirrajay's statements about how easy Heathrow is for collecting animals. I would recommend driving home from Heathrow, though, since dragging your animal(s) via public transport would be a lot for them (and you!) that day.

Re: Heathrow being easy for collecting animals... Just goes to show how a worrier (me!) can do backflips with the imagintion.  I really thought one of the world's busiest airports would be a nightmare for that kind of thing.  But then again, perhaps that's exactly what would encourage efficiency?

Now this brings to mind a whole NEW question, though.  Probably should go into it's own thread, and doubtlessly has been answered a million times already.  Are pets actually allowed on public transportation?  They certainly aren't here - which is a nightmare for me, since I don't drive in this urban craziness of metropolitan DC, and rely on buses and subway.  What a delight it will be to be able to actually take my little doggie places with me!

I think I need to start researching general requirements for pet owners in the UK.  From my observations, pets there are so much more well behaved.  I saw many dogs off-leash [ er, off-lead, :-) ] along the beach at Shoreham-by-Sea, and while I know they were technically supposed to be on-lead, they were amazingly mannerly!!!  Seemed to me like dogs were also more welcome in shops than they are here.

So much anxious frothing, so much anticipatory excitement - how can one person bear it all??!!??

Cheers!
Teddy

Re: Heathrow being easy for collecting animals... Just goes to show how a worrier (me!) can do backflips with the imagintion.  I really thought one of the world's busiest airports would be a nightmare for that kind of thing.  But then again, perhaps that's exactly what would encourage efficiency?

The ARC (animal reception centre, I think?) building is pretty swank...comfy couches, air conditioning, magazines to read, etc. My boys' flight arrived at 9:30am, I was told at 10:30 that they'd gotten to the ARC 15min prior, and we were out the door by 11am, so it was pretty painless. (This was with them arriving on a Friday, I don't know if any days are particularly busy/quiet.)

Now this brings to mind a whole NEW question, though.  Probably should go into it's own thread, and doubtlessly has been answered a million times already.  Are pets actually allowed on public transportation?

I have dragged my dog on the tube, trains, and buses. One bus driver insisted we ride on the 2nd level, but otherwise no one's said anything (besides people he accosts mid-journey to love on him). The only catch is that dogs are meant to be carried on escalators (to avoid injuring themselves)...obviously this doesn't work with a 60lb dog. I usually wander around/ask staff to direct me to stairs/a lift, but sometimes we cheat and I take him (standing) on the escalator. He doesn't seem to mind.

I think cats are allowed as well (in carriers), but I haven't needed (or wanted) to drag my cat around London.

I saw many dogs off-leash [ er, off-lead, :-) ] along the beach at Shoreham-by-Sea, and while I know they were technically supposed to be on-lead, they were amazingly mannerly!!!  Seemed to me like dogs were also more welcome in shops than they are here.

I take my dog off-lead almost everywhere. Granted, this is mostly because he's weird on-lead and ends up tripping himself/me half the time, but no one's said anything about needing to put him on a lead. With a few exceptions, all the dogs we've met have been quite well-behaved and friendly.

I've visited Shoreham-by-Sea, and it's gorgeous and looks quite dog-friendly (the people we visited have 2 lurchers who had lots of fun at the beach).