The whole thing feels so stressful and intimidating, but I will say that once it's all said and done--it wasn't nearly as bad as I had it worked up to in my mind. Pip traveled like a boss and everyone who was involved with his transport was very helpful and professional.
This is a timeline of what I did in order to move my Chihuahua/Fox Terrier mix, Pippin with me to England.
Timeline:
July 20, 2012 - Microchip implanted/Rabies vaccination (I had all of this done on the same day--as long as the chip goes in first, and your vet writes the chip # on the rabies certificate, you're gold. Just make sure that this is done at least 21 days before your pet is scheduled to enter the UK.) This cost me $53.95 for the chip and the shot.
I knew I wanted Pip to fly with me, so I waited until my spouse visa came through and I knew my specific travel dates before doing anything else (the EU health certificate is only good for 10 days, so it just made sense to wait).
September 4 2012 - Contacted my state USDA Veterinarian's office--they emailed me all of the forms that I would need to have Pippin's vet fill out (again--super helpful), along with instructions for filling them out correctly:
Aphis 7001Annex IISeptember 10 2012 - I took Pip to his vet, who gave him his health check-up, filled out the above forms, and also gave him his tapeworm treatment (this must be done no more than 5 days before entry into the UK and must also be annotated on the Annex II form). (Cost $100) All of the original forms MUST be signed by your state USDA vet, so as soon as my vet filled out the docs, we faxed copies to the USDA (my state office suggested we do this before I made the drive down to their office so we could correct any errors beforehand). We missed a few spots that required my signature, so we corrected them, and then I drove the originals down to the state capitol for a 3:00PM appointment with the USDA office, and they signed and notarized Pip's paperwork. (Cost $37) It was a 2 hour drive down, but the entire process in the state office took maybe 10 minutes and we were set!!
September 12 2012 - We flew out of ORD, so I took Pip to the cargo office for United around 4 hours before we were scheduled to leave. I handed over his paperwork and they weighed his carrier with him in it (28lbs altogether), and put 'live animal' stickers all over it. He can't wear his collar in the carrier, so we took that off and they taped it to the top along with a plastic container of extra food I brought (and they REALLY taped it--it wasn't going to go anywhere). I wrote all of his and my info on a sticker as well--including a request for them to offer him food again at 3:00PM. I was really stressed at this point emotionally--it's so hard to put your pet in someone else's hands! But, the staff were really friendly and so nice to Pip (and me), and there were other animals being given the same care, so I felt a bit better. (Cost $1351.05-ouch.) Once he was all set in his carrier (they can't have toys, but I put in an extra baby blanket with him--I'd been sleeping on it all the week before, so he had a familiar object with him.), I said goodbye to my little guy and went back to the terminal to check into the flight myself. (Cost for MY ticket? $80 + 30,000 miles--oh yeah--it was WAY cheaper to fly me than it was Pip. ahaha)
September 13 2012 - We landed at LHR at 6:00AM. Once I got through customs (no issues on entry at all--I had a super nice border guard who welcomed me "home" to my new country), and got my luggage, we left the terminal and went directly to the Animal Reception Centre--I KNEW we wouldn't get Pip right away, but hope springs eternal, eh?
I cannot say enough good things about the people who work there. I spoke to a very nice young man who told me he'd just gotten Pip off the truck and into his own kennel--he was being fed and watered and let to run and once all his paperwork cleared, I could have him. Unfortunately, that takes time, so rather than have me bouncing off the walls there, we left and did some errand running and came back a few hours later. All told, I didn't get Pip until nearly noon--but, he was so happy to see me and seemed so completely unfazed by the entire thing that I didn't care. I got his Pet Travel Scheme document all signed and stamped and he is now officially in compliance and here with me. (Cost: $0--all the fees were paid at ORD Cargo)
I know this is a bit long, but I wanted to post all of the details of what I did in case anyone else is stressing about moving their pet. All told, it was probably more stressful on me than it was on Pip. It's costly, but he is sitting by my side, snoozing as I type this, and I have to say, it was worth every cent.
