Crate Size

A wee bit more information...

I just called my USDA vet location, here:

     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

The woman I spoke with told me it is actually better if you do the USDA step after the 6-month interval.  And also, another piece I didn't know, but others might...  There is some 7001 form that you must get from the vet.  It's the piece required by the airline to certify that the pet is healthy enough to travel.  I knew that such a statement was required, but I didn't know that there was a specific form that had to be used!  She said that all vets usually have it, and it's what's required "to get your pet out of the US."

Hope these little bits are helping others get their beloved fur-babies safely to England!

~Teddy

The woman I spoke with told me it is actually better if you do the USDA step after the 6-month interval.

Technically you can't get it done any earlier than 2 months in to the 6-month wait, as otherwise your 4-month window will end before the 6-month wait will. I don't think it matters much if you wait the full 6 months or not (I did, but only because that's how the timing worked out)...as my USDA pointed out, all he has to go on is the paperwork you provide, and whether that's valid. The USDA endorsement has nothing to do with the current condition of your pets, for all the vet knows, your pet could be rabid/dead/whatever. (And the entire point of the 6 month wait is to ensure your pet doesn't contract rabies, which the USDA vet would have no way of knowing.)

And also, another piece I didn't know, but others might...  There is some 7001 form that you must get from the vet.  It's the piece required by the airline to certify that the pet is healthy enough to travel.  I knew that such a statement was required, but I didn't know that there was a specific form that had to be used!  She said that all vets usually have it, and it's what's required "to get your pet out of the US."

This is called the APHIS 7001 form (otherwise known as an international health certificate), and is an airline-by-airline requirement. Some airlines require it, some don't.

There is some 7001 form that you must get from the vet.  It's the piece required by the airline to certify that the pet is healthy enough to travel.  I knew that such a statement was required, but I didn't know that there was a specific form that had to be used!  She said that all vets usually have it, and it's what's required "to get your pet out of the US."

Not required by British Airways. But you do need something saying the pet is fit to travel.

Andy

Ah. I didn't realize the calculator does that. I was just blindly following it. Thanks for pointing that out!

I went back and double-checked. The online calculator uses the length of the dog plus *half* of the ground to elbow distance, not the entire ground to elbow distance, for the length of the crate.

Andy

My dog is 35 kg,  and he went into an Extra large vari-kennel just fine.  Basically, they want the animal to be able to lie down, head up with legs out in front, hence the half ground to elbow distance.  It is also impossible for them to turn around 360 without touching the sides of the crate - they need to be able to turn around comfortably in the crate.  Also, there must be a few inches of clearance above their head when they are standing up. 

See my post here about what we did with the kennels, water dishes etc..

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=63822.0