Pets in Cargo Flying International to UK

Hi Sophie,

Small world - I also used to live in Hamilton, and flew with my cat from Toronto to London-Heathrow on British Airways last June! Is your vet by any chance Blue Cross Animal Hospital?

Anyway, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. Fax?!?!? And when it comes, I can tell you, it's terrible quality! Also, you're right, there is one staff member in particular at the BA World Cargo desk in Toronto who is not always very pleasant on the phone. (Can't remember the name, I think it might start with an "M".) I can say, however, that I had a bit of a disaster the day of my flight and he was very accommodating.

About the form they will send you, it's basically just a regular certificate of health confirming that your cat doesn't have any infectious diseases. They'll also send you a customs form to complete and a form with the dimensions of the kennel and cat.

By the way, note that BA won't accept a pet booking more than 4 or 6 weeks in advance (I can't remember the exact amount). And I think the veterinary certificate that you give to them can only be about a month from the date of departure, so you have lots of time. Just speak to your vet and ask to book a checkup sometime around then, as well as a second booking for the tick/tapeworm treatment.

One thing that BA World Cargo should tell you now is which flights they will take pets on. As I recall, it's only the very early morning flight from Toronto or the flights that leave after 6pm or so, I think only Monday to Friday. This is because of the hours of operation of the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. This information will help you choose which flight to book. At the same time, check with your vet to find out if there's a particular day of the week that they're not open, because you need to see them at least 24 hours but no more than 48 hours before the flight for tick/tapeworm treatment.

Hi Jennifer

Thank you for your helpful response. I have also read some of your other comments on here which are helping me to clear the fog regarding how to go about things. I very much appreciate your sharing your experience.

I know the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Hamilton - I am using the Cat Clinic (on mountain) for the PETS proceedure. I will be able to get the Third Country Vet Certificate after 11th August.

The info you gave me regarding the booking forms is very useful. At this point I just want to book my cat a place on the same flight (I already booked my flight without being told about specific planes by BA World Cargo..but the flight is after 8pm on a weekday so fingers crossed). The guy told me that to book the cargo place I needed to complete the 'forms'..I quizzed him because if I need to send him copies of Vet docs. then I need to contact the Vet first as I don't have any. He said I didn't need the Third Country Certificate (yet), just some records of vaccinations so that they could confirm we were on 'the right path'. Maybe he just wants to confirm that we had the rabies vaccination and bloodtest done before he puts a booking in the computer, to be sure we are not time-wasters? Perhaps when the forms come it will become much clearer - I hope so! I think just talking to that guy made me panic and my head swim!!! BTW he didn't mention a 4-6 week booking period, so I will find out about that, he said he was already making bookings for next year(?)

If I have other questions later on, is it OK to pose them to you via this site? Many thanks again.

Hi Sophie,

I'm glad to be of any help. By all means, do ask me anything at all on this site. I wish I could send you my e-mail address, but I'm loathe to post it on a public forum. If you have a suggestion, let me know.

About the 4-6 weeks, maybe I'm misremembering, or maybe that's the earliest they'll "confirm" the reservation. I do recall there being something in the paperwork that was contradictory, and I think it did have to do with the booking date vs. the vet exam date. I still have every last scrap of paper to do with the whole process, so I'll hunt through and see what I can find about that. (In my case, doing things too early was never an issue. I made all the flight arrangements very late as I was waiting on some documentation of my own and didn't know when exactly I could fly - I was so caught up in the process for my cat that I didn't pay enough attention to my own paperwork!)

Upon reading your second message, I think you're right, I did need to fax BA the copies of the vaccination record right away, and I think I also included the parts of the 3rd country vet certificate that had already been completed. (Since I left the flight arrangements to the end, I already had the CFIA vet endoresement and everything else except of course the tick and tapeworm signature.)

Anyway, as I said, I'll dig out my file and let you know what the paperwork says about booking, etc.

"Talk" to you soon!

Jennifer

Does anyone has any advice to fly with dogs from Argentina to the Us? Continental told me I need a broker?? to do that and I have to call Argentina for that they dont take care of that from here they are only responsable of flying from the Us to anywhere in the world if you are flying from outside the Us you should talk to different numbers outside the Us.
Hope someone can help me!
Thank you!

sofia in Baltimore, Maryland said: Does anyone has any advice to fly with dogs from Argentina to the Us? Continental told me I need a broker?? to do that and I have to call Argentina for that they dont take care of that from here they are only responsable of flying from the Us to anywhere in the world if you are flying from outside the Us you should talk to different numbers outside the Us.
Hope someone can help me!
Thank you!

If you're traveling with the dog, contact Delta or American. Delta - small dogs can fly in the cabin ($150), big dogs in the hold ($550); Delta won't put animals in the hold May 15th-September 15th. American won't have dogs in the cabin on latin american flights, but will have them in the hold ($150) provided that the temp is 20F-80F (75F max for snub-nosed dogs) at both ends of the itinerary. 12-hour maximum flights

Flew our dog in the hold from London to NY a week ago on American for $150 (British Air wanted 1,800 pounds for the same thing; cargo companies wanted more), had some sleepless nights of extreme worry but thankfully she was fine though her tail didn't go up for 24 hours. Only do it for a permanent move, not a temporary stay (too much angst). Good luck!

Thanks Corinne yes it will be a permanent move and as you Im not sleeping good anymore thinking about it. I will try other companies and see what happens I just thought continental was the best for flying pets, but thanks for your advice!

they were (and still may be), but Continental insists on doing it all through their cargo division now (more expensive).

American does cargo also, if you're not flying with the dog, but if you are flying with them, then it's the same conditions, same plane, and much less money. I made a reservation daily on aa.com while monitoring the forecasts (didn't want to buy a ticket and then can't fly due to temperature). Once you have the exact date, contact the airline immediately to let them know you'll be flying with the dog. They need to arrange to not have as much dry ice in the hold (? fumes, perhaps).

Message for 'Jennifer formerly in Canada'...

Hi Jennifer, I was wondering if you had a record of the product used by your vet to treat your cat for Flea/Ticks before you travelled on PETS? I have a long list/database given to me by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). My vet doesn't have any 'licensed' products for the tick treatment and is going to try and get something suitable. I am going to ring around the other vets here in Hamilton to see what they use. If you had a record of the product they used on your cat I would appreciate it! Defra won't recommend a specific product and nor will CFIA.

BTW I sent my paperwork to Manny at BA World Cargo and he said 'yes, booked' and that was about it. I am letting it lie for a bit now until nearer my flight and then I will get onto him again. I don't like to phone him as he makes my head explode!

Hi Sophie,

I'm sorry I've been out of touch. Manny's the one I remember at Air Canada. There's something about his demeanour on the phone, but he is actually quite pleasant in person. (I had a disaster on the day of my flight - left the 3rd country vet certificate in the photocopier and didn't realize it until we'd already driven 50km to the airport. As a result, we were very, very late, but Manny was very nice about it.)

For the tick treatment, our vet used Pfizer Revolution 45 mg - I believe this is one of the few that is okay for cats. For the tapeworm treatment, our vet used Bayer Droncit (praziquantel). Blue Cross recommended including photocopies of the full pharmacological insert for both products so that if there were any questions, the officials at the Animal Reception Centre would have the information at their fingertips.

Good luck - you must be getting excited!

Jennifer

Sophie in Hamilton, Ontario said: Message for 'Jennifer formerly in Canada'...

Hi Jennifer, I was wondering if you had a record of the product used by your vet to treat your cat for Flea/Ticks before you travelled on PETS? I have a long list/database given to me by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). My vet doesn't have any 'licensed' products for the tick treatment and is going to try and get something suitable. I am going to ring around the other vets here in Hamilton to see what they use. If you had a record of the product they used on your cat I would appreciate it! Defra won't recommend a specific product and nor will CFIA.

BTW I sent my paperwork to Manny at BA World Cargo and he said 'yes, booked' and that was about it. I am letting it lie for a bit now until nearer my flight and then I will get onto him again. I don't like to phone him as he makes my head explode!

Hello again Jennifer,

Thanks for the flea/tick product info. Just to make life more complicated they are now saying you can't use Revolution for PETS from Canada!!! I was really praying you would say something else ;-)

Seriously, how many hoops can you jump through??? I've just emailed the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre to see if they can advise me. Ideally I'd like the vet to use drops rather than a shampoo! The vets manager freaked me out by telling me how potentially lethal these tick treatments can be :-( The clinic I'm using are pretty clueless about the PETS proceedure, so I am checking and double checking everything including the products.

I'm glad to hear Manny (now famous) is nice in person. I am sure it is just communication difficulties. I'll let you know how I get on...

ps. not excited yet, just stressed by bureaucracy!

Hi Sophie,

That's really frustrating that Revolution is no longer accepted (and why just from Canada???). It's very hard to find treatments that are safe for cats. Check with Blue Cross - they told us they have a lot of experience with international pet travel, and even have a veterinary technician who serves as their resident expert in that department. Because of their downtown-west location, their client list includes a lot of international students from McMaster and Columbia College travelling back and forth with pets. They also apparently have a close working relationship with CFIA (over on Main West, just before the bridge), so they may be able to get some answers that way too.

Best of luck - there must be some way, and hopefully the hoops won't continue to stack up!

Jennifer

Sophie in Hamilton, Ontario said: Hello again Jennifer,

Thanks for the flea/tick product info. Just to make life more complicated they are now saying you can't use Revolution for PETS from Canada!!! I was really praying you would say something else ;-)

Seriously, how many hoops can you jump through??? I've just emailed the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre to see if they can advise me. Ideally I'd like the vet to use drops rather than a shampoo! The vets manager freaked me out by telling me how potentially lethal these tick treatments can be :-( The clinic I'm using are pretty clueless about the PETS proceedure, so I am checking and double checking everything including the products.

I'm glad to hear Manny (now famous) is nice in person. I am sure it is just communication difficulties. I'll let you know how I get on...

ps. not excited yet, just stressed by bureaucracy!

Hi,

I'm moving back to Sweden from Japan in the winter and I want to bring my cat with me, but I have a couple of questions. On such a long flight (roughly 10h) I'm worried about my cat's toilety needs, since he goes very often at home, more than I've seen in any cat so far. So, is it possible/allowed to take your cat (if it's travelling in cabin) with you to the toilet, spread out some newspapers/diaper sheets and have him do his business there? I suspect that it's not allowed and it would be hard to have him to it on the spot, but I'm just trying to find solutions here :)

Second of all, the airline I'm looking at says it allows your pet and kennel total to be 6kg. How harsh are they on these rules in reality? Say that I show up at the airport and weigh the cat and kennel in at 6.5kg, what would happen? Would I be denied boarding, or will there be an excessive luggage fee? If anyone knows anything about this I'd be very happy for any help at all!

Does anyone know how the customs agents are when you get to Us and check the pets?, are they aggresive what kind of behavior should I expect? do they check them for a long time? i have no idea how is the process, I know it depends on each agent but I just wanted to have some ideas, Im getting ready to go back to Us from southamerica with my 3 dogs for the first time my dogs will be in the US and just wanted to be ready, hope someone can give me some ideas, thank you very much!

sofia in Asunción, Paraguay said: Does anyone know how the customs agents are when you get to Us and check the pets?, are they aggresive what kind of behavior should I expect? do they check them for a long time? i have no idea how is the process, I know it depends on each agent but I just wanted to have some ideas, Im getting ready to go back to Us from southamerica with my 3 dogs for the first time my dogs will be in the US and just wanted to be ready, hope someone can give me some ideas, thank you very much!

I had no problem at JFK. Keep the dog kenneled until you get through customs. The agent didn't check over my dog. Peeked in, looked at the paperwork, and we were on our way. Very pleasant.

thank you for your answer I hope is the same with me :)

UK, the only country in EEA, does not allow pets to travel by air in the same aircraft as their owners; however, you can easily drive in in your car by either train or sea. DEFRA statistics show numbers of pets entering the UK in the last 1.5 years by use of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS): Air - 25,077; Sea - 122,079; Rail - 94,638. The excuse they make for that is that ferries and trains do not generally have a cargo facility. Guess why only less that 1 out of every 10 pet owners send their pet by cargo air? Sending your pet by cargo means, you part with your beloved pet for like 3-5 days, are you able to explain to your pet why they need to spend all that time in a cage? Moreover, air cargo way is like 5 times in price of your own ticket. To me it looks like the UK requirement that pets enter the UK as 'manifest cargo' is more of an exception than a rule and, more importantly, is civilised cruelty to animals and discriminative against people with lower income, unnecessary restricts travel for pet owners, who would love to spend their holidays abroad with their loved ones. Do you agree with me?

troyss in Los Angeles, California said: what have you seen happen? I have a 6lb chiuaua who must fly cargo to south africa , i think it could be traumatic for her. some people say little dogs travel in cargo all the time others say dont do it, the humane society does not advocate them traveling and rather to find the pet a good home instead. some say the cargo air is controlled and some say not. is there any airline that is more pet friendly and has a better trac record of safety for pet traveling on their planes?

I travelled with my pets in the cargo hold which is heated and pressurised from UK to USA - The pets who are 9 and 10 years old were fine - I travelled with American airlines who were excellent but now that I want to take them back home I am experiencing all sorts of problems and the prices I am being quoted seem very expensive

I travelled my 3 pets like checked baggage from Argentina to Us, is like 11 hours flight with United, they have the same oxygen like we passengers have, they arrive ok of course one way trip they were stressed and nervious for a few days I only recommend if you have no choice , but Im so glad my dogs are with me now I missed them so much.

two elderly cats from Madrid Spain to Philly or Newark. Any comments on Continental?? Or any alternative airlines?? Would prefer cabin to cargo ....

Here's my experience flying internationally with a dog checked as cargo during hot summer months:

In July 2005, I traveled with my dog from Frankfurt, Germany to Atlanta, US. Because July is a hot summer month (airlines have pet traveling restrictions for hot summer months) the pet travel agency I worked with advised me to "ship" my Border Collie as Cargo. That's what we did. I was flying Delta and my dog was booked for the Lufthansa flight that left 30 minutes prior to my flight. I arrived in Atlanta and it took me almost an hour to make my way to Delta Cargo (located on opposite side of airport). My dog was doing fine, she was in her kennel but it was very hot in the cargo hall and I don't know how long she'd been waiting there. I let her out of her kennel and she ran behind the next bush to do her thing. Overall, she did fine but the flight and heat were stressful for her. I wouldn't do it again. I would not fly during the summer months and not as cargo.

On another note, does anyone have experience flying internationally with two cats? I'm flying Delta Atlanta - Stuttgart, Germany and back.

I am living in Madrid, but returning to Chicago for the holidays and in hopes to bring my Weimaraner back with me to Madrid. I am on AA and have a direct flight from Chicago to Madrid. I am hoping to bring my dog on the plane / in the cabin for the flight as a "therapy dog." I am not willing to fly him in cargo. Can someone provide the details of the doctor's letter needed and the pet passport information? Thank you!!

It appears that when one person understands whats going on and explains, the next person still doesn't understand how it works.

Domestic animals ONLY can travel in a cabin under certain weight restriction and IF you follow certain guidelines (pay the fee, keep them in a crate, etc) and even then, they can say NO for any reason they want, such as, another animal will already be in the cabin OR a medical condition that was highlighted by another passenger through res and it blocks the booking of it.
NO GUARENTEES.

An animal is only placed in a pressurized and heated cargo bin that doesnt contain any hazardous goods in it, like dry ice, etc. Check with the airline website about that airlines policy, but this board isnt the reliable source because every airline is different, and NO AIRLINE PLACES AN ANIMAL IN AN UNPRESSURIZED, FREEZING bin, no matter what you are thinking of.

Jennifer (formerly from Toronto, ON) in United Kingdom said: Hi Julie in Nashville and everyone else:

Okay, I did fly with my cat on British Airways from Toronto to London about 2 weeks ago. It was stressful but everything turned out okay.

Dear Jennifer,
I'm hoping this finds you! My partner and I are relocating from Toronto to London, UK in the next few months and we have to find a vet in Toronto to perform the health requirements and paperwork for the PETS scheme. One of my cats went through the same process while living in L.A. when I relocated to the UK (the first time), however we used a vet who did not have previous experience and this turned out to be a bad experience for our cat, Jimi, once he arrived at Heathrow (DEFRA's paperwork wasn't done properly so Jimi was held for another 2-3 days while they administered another rabies shot, etc. -- was quite trauamatic for all of us as we didn't know if they would enforce quarantine). This time, we have 2 cats and a dog so will travel by sea across the Atlantic from Brooklyn to Southampton -- it will take 7 days total but hopefully all will be comfortable... And they permit around 4 visitations per day for quite good durations, so I'm hoping the animals will stay calm and reassured during the trip (as you can see, I'm quite nervous and transporting them...).
Can you please get in touch regarding the vet you used for your cat here in Toronto? Would be very grateful. Many thanks!

Cheryl D in Toronto, Ontario said: Dear Jennifer,
I'm hoping this finds you!

Hi Cheryl,

As you can see, I'm now living in Italy - a much easier move for my cat, btw :)

At the time that I moved from Canada, I was actually living in Hamilton (but working in Toronto). The vet practice I used in Hamilton was the Blue Cross Animal Hospital on King St. W. If it's too much of a hassle for you to go all the way there, they may at least be able to suggest someone in Toronto. Another thought is to find a vet near an int'l school or one of the universities; my vet in Hamilton said they figured it was their proximity to McMaster and an int'l high school that resulted in a lot of students with pets coming to them for travel needs.

HAVING SAID ALL THAT... I am not 100% certain, but I seem to recall a DEFRA regulation stating that the 3rd Country Vet Certificate has to be completed in its entirety in a single country. That means you wouldn't be able to do the microchip, rabies shot, and official gov't endorsement in Canada and then have the tick and tapeworm done in the US (this must be exactly 24-48 hrs before departure). I really, strongly urge you to check this, otherwise you could have even bigger problems than last time.

Out of curiosity, why is it that you don't want to fly with all three pets? At one point, it looked as though I was going to be returning to Canada from the UK (instead of moving to Italy), and I did look into taking the Queen Mary. I'm honestly not certain, though, that my cat would have been better off stuck in a small pen for a full week on a rocking boat vs. 10 hrs on a plane.

One last thing: your vet last time must really have been incompetent! If he/she read the requirements, it should have been clear what needed to be done. I do recommend that, this time, even with an experienced vet, you become very familiar with the rules yourself to ward off any problems before they arise.

Let me know if you need any more info!

Cheryl D in Toronto, Ontario said: Dear Jennifer,
I'm hoping this finds you!

Dear Cheryl,

Further to my last message, I just took a look at the DEFRA website, and couldn't find any reference to a one-country rule, so perhaps I dreamed it up! Still, it wouldn't hurt to run your plans by DEFRA by e-mail; I found that they were quite good about replying to enquiries.

One thing I did find on the DEFRA website was this:

"If your pet enters on a sea route, you must obtain a letter signed by the Master of the Vessel or a representative of the shipping company to confirm that the animal did not leave the ship and was kept separate from other animals during the voyage."

That might mean that if you do go by ship, you may have to play with your pets one at a time, although I'm not sure how strict the ship staff would be about that.

Also, following up on ship vs. flight, when I looked into the Queen Mary, I asked Cunard to send me photos of their kennel, and I have to say, it looked pretty depressing... basically like the back section of a humane society, i.e. no natural light or stimulation.

If you really don't want to have your pets fly by cargo, another option might be to fly into another country in the EU (in the cabin), get the tick and tapeworm treatment done there by a local vet (and possibly switch your vet certificate to a Pet Passport), and then take a ferry to the UK. The one wrinkle, though, is that all the airlines I know of have a restriction of one pet per passenger for in-cabin travel. And of course, it would be dependent on your comfort and familiarity with another country's language and regulations.

Please let me know if you need any other info. I'm sorry if I came across as a bit curt in my last message; I ran out of characters, so I had to dispense with the pleasantries :)

Good luck! - Jennifer

P.S. I see you responded to one of my earliest posts; please see my later posts for more info about my experience.

Jennifer (formerly Canada, then UK) in Rome, Italy said: Hi Cheryl,

As you can see, I'm now living in Italy - a much easier move for my cat, btw :)

Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for the speedy reply! I think there was a miscommunication as we don't have any intentions of going to the US for any reason, I was referring to a past experience when I moved from Los Angeles to the England. We would finish all paperwork here in Toronto.

To answer your question, the Queen Mary II seems to be quite a comfortable experience for animals based on the prelim research I've done. The quarters are quiet, comfortable, and allow animals to have their own beds & toys from home, etc. They are very spoiled during the trip. I like the fact that they are supervised by the person in charge, and that there are substantial visiting hours where the animals can stretch their legs and spend time with their families. All in all, it's a better choice for our little guys. The 3 of them will be quite a comfort for each other. Also, our dog is very small and has a nervous disposition in new environments. She would be most comforted by the cat's presence, and seeing us several times a day, along with her belongings which carry the scent of "home".

After having flown my cat from Los Angeles to London via British Airways, and the resulting stress it caused him (including after effects of his health from said stress), my personal opinion is that flying our loved ones in cargo should be viewed as the last resort. Though, of course, I don't fault anyone who chooses this method as I understand we don't want to part with our babies. It's just not for us :). On the other hand, the QM II is something that many use several times a year when travelling back and forth from their homes in the UK to to Canada/US, and the experience tends to be a lighthearted one.

All the best to you and yours in Italy!

Jennifer (formerly Canada, then UK) in Rome, Italy said: Dear Cheryl,

Further to my last message, I just took a look at the DEFRA website, and couldn't find any reference to a one-country rule, so perhaps I dreamed it up! Still, it wouldn't hurt to run your plans by DEFRA by e-mail; I found that they were quite good about replying to enquiries.

Ah, I'll take that input onboard, thanks! Where did you email to obtain photos? I would like to see the photos myself but don't know of a contact email.

I like your advice re: flying to another EU country, then ferrying to the UK. Do you have any resources for more information on this option? Would a PET Passport still be necessary, or is the tick/tapeworm the only requirement? Would love to find more information on this option. Many thanks!

Cheryl D in Toronto, Ontario said: Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for the speedy reply! I think there was a miscommunication as we don't have any intentions of going to the US for any reason

Hi Cheryl,

Didn't you say the QM2 sails out of Brooklyn, NY? That means that more than likely you'll have to get the tick and tapeworm treatment done in the US, unless you're really only going to arrive in NY just before you sail out. As I mention in my second message, it does seem that I was wrong about the 3rd Country Official Vet Certificate having to be done in a single country, but do check it with DEFRA to be certain.

I definitely agree with you about the stress of flying cargo - my cat was clearly shaken after the experience. However, in his particular case, I suspect he would be equally traumatized after a week in a pen surrounded by (potentially) barking dogs. But he's extremely sensitive to being cooped up, and for other pets, that may be less of an issue. I've flown with him three times now in-cabin (London-Rome, Rome-Toronto, Toronto-Rome), and all three were excellent experiences from the point of view of his comfort and my anxiety.

Take care!

Jennifer

Cheryl D in Toronto, Ontario said: Ah, I'll take that input onboard, thanks! Where did you email to obtain photos?

Hi Cheryl,

Sorry, I posted my last message before seeing yours.

Back in June, I e-mailed UK.Reservations(at)cunard.co.uk with a request for more info about animal services on the QM2. They sent me 4 photos, prices, and details of visitation. They informed me of only 3 visitation times (07:30-09:30; 11:00-12:00; and 15:30-18:30), but perhaps there's been a change in policy.

As to flying into another country and then taking the ferry to the UK, my understanding is as follows, but please note that I am not an expert on it, having never done it myself:

If I am correctly informed, travel to all EU countries from Canada requires the microchip and rabies shot. To go from any country (EU or otherwise) to the UK, the 6-month wait and the last-minute tick and tapeworm treatments are required as well. What this means is that you're not going to save on any steps by transiting through another EU country, but you may at least be able to have a more comfortable journey. Basically, you would need to prepare the 3rd Country Vet Cert just as though you were going to the UK, but don't worry about the tick and tapeworm sections. Then fly in-cabin to France, for example. Get a vet there to administer the tick and tapeworm treatment, and then take a ferry from - for example - Calais to Dover. See www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/documents/eu-sea.pdf for the current list of DEFRA-approved ferry routes.

It's probably easiest to fly directly into a country from which you can take a ferry, but as an alternative, you could fly into a different Schengen Zone country in the EU and then go from there by car/train/plane/whatever to the country with the ferry. I suggest limiting it to countries within the Schengen Zone, as they are borderless, so there'll be less hassle.

Hope this helps!
- Jennifer

I am inviting you to join the cause on the Facebook 'Equal rights for UK-resident and UK-visitor pets!'

I am trying to get my dog from USA to Sweden. I am having a very hard time. American Airlines is telling me that London doesn't allow any animals through it's airport as cargo or anything else. I am connecting in London and American is telling my that they there is no other option with their arline to get to my destination. As the dog will be checked in as luggage I do not understand why it would not be able to go through London airport. Help??

England has very six month strict Quarantine Laws. Defra - www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/index.htm

You will have to go through another country, like France to get to Sweden.

I am English and have got my beagle all set to be able to enter the UK incase i have to move home , currently live in Florida.. Dogs ARE allowed into the UK you just have to follow the guidelines set out by Defa. Its a 6 month process as the UK is rabis free.. Quick out line is , dog micro chipped , rabbis injection given , blood drawn 30 days later to be tested , dog has to wait 6 month then after that can leave the USA once you've filled out the paperwork.. BA and Virgin Atlantic both ship dogs a cargo and is a direct flight from orlando.

Indeed if you dont follow these guides lines that are set out all across Europe even france and sweden as its a EU law your dog will be quarentined for 6 months and you will be fined $1000's of dollars..

Would you be willing to email me regarding this? We plan to move back to southeast UK this summer and have a service dog. My email is jadm52 at gmail. Cheers John

Hello Moo in Hampton, New Hampshire said: Would you be willing to email me regarding this? We plan to move back to southeast UK this summer and have a service dog. My email is jadm52 at gmail. Cheers John

we just moved from orlando to new hampshire, miss it much but gotta go where work sends us. im english also. cheers john

well due to the recent changes in the laws by the Cargo board there is now approval of new freight rates for dogs sdamll fogs theer will be 150$ and for big dogs depending on the breed the charges are as high as the 500 $,and there are some charges for other animnals as well.

www.10facts.com/article/Home/Pets/Dogs/French-Mastiff.html

RJ in Atlanta, Georgia said: What kind of dogs do you both have? It's obvious that you both love your "babies" as much as I love mine. And FYI, I HAVE flown them before despite the concerns that I've voiced here. It's just that I became an airline employee AFTER I flew them, and probably saw too much. That being said, however, there are always airline employees (such as myself and my husband) who will go out of their way to ensure the safety of pets. And here's a big plus - if your flight is only one leg, there is a much smaller chance that anything will happen, since they will be loaded at home and the next time they come off the plane they will be at their final destination. Also, winter is a better time to fly them - you can always stuff lots of blankets in their crates with them if they DO have to go in cargo. All that being said, if your babies are small, just take an airline that will let them go in the cabin with you.

I've been reading your posts and they are so very helpful! Thank you for sharing what you know. I have a 4 pound Chihuahua and I am sick over the idea of her going into cargo on our flight to England. We are military and moving there the end of August. To the best of your knowledge do you believe they will let her fly in the cabin with us? I worry cause she has seizures and takes medication twice a day for it, I think all the stress from being away from us and in cargo could bring on a seizure. Normally she is fine but who knows what the added stress can do.

If you like to email me directly that would be great and I would appreciate any information you can send my way. Thanks! RobinNGabster@aol.com

flying IN CARGO to the UK is a condition of the UK pet scheme and not a condition of the airline, this is the only way a pet can enter into the UK. Period.

Jennifer in Parker, Colorado said: We are relocating to the UK and have two small dogs that need to go with us.
They cannot go cabin when flying International.
I am terrified to have them fly in cargo. I worry of their stress and that they will get sick.
Please tell me your real thoughts on small dogs in cargo. It's from Houston or Dallas to Gatwick or Heathrow. IS IT SAFE? There are not too many complaints, but then again, not everyone complains.
Thanks,
Jen

My husband and I are also relocating to the UK next May with our two dogs. One is a Lab mix and the other is a little Bichon. I am just as scared as you at the thought of them flying cargo, but I have been told that BA is about the best to fly with, they really care about the animals that they carry. Don't give your dogs sedatives though, that is what can make them sick. Rather, put in a thick, warm blanket and companion toy, and water of course, and hopefully they'll sleep most of the way. I am starting to get my two used to their travel crates so they won't get stressed over being in something they're not familiar with. If anyone else has any advice about pets travelling cargo, please let me know, I couldn't bear the thought of something bad happening to my
"babies" in cargo while I sit above them in comfort.

Cheryl D in Toronto, Ontario said: This time, we have 2 cats and a dog so will travel by sea across the Atlantic from Brooklyn to Southampton -- it will take 7 days total but hopefully all will be comfortable... And they permit around 4 visitations per day for quite good durations, so I'm hoping the animals will stay calm and reassured during the trip (as you can see, I'm quite nervous and transporting them...).
[QUOTE]

Cheryl, have you made the move yet? How did it all work out, from paperwork to voyage?

We're planning the same trip with our three cats once we find a sailing with kennel space available!

For those who question whether cruising is less luxurious for pets, here is a blog about one cat's round trip transatlantic voyage. sebastian-at-sea.blogspot.com/ (Admittedly, he seems a much calmer cat than any of mine! I don't even think my sucky 17-year-old would let us dress her in a coat, no matter how posh the insignia.)

Kathleen in Saint Catharines, Ontario said:

Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for posting the blog. Sebastian seemed to do fine, though cats are so stoic that you can't always tell if they're stressed. We haven't set sail with the pets as yet, and we've changed our plan of action: We're flying with them in-cabin (Air Canada) from Toronto to France, will stay overnight in Paris to give them a rest, and from there will drive to an approved ferry route to travel onboard with them to England. Air Canada allows soft-sided carriers, and there are fabulous ones available that I recommend called "sleepypod air adjustable airline carrier"; Lufthansa permits hard-sided only, which seem much less comfortable. They will need the same paper work on the ferry as they might when travelling by sea or in the cargo hold. There are people we've found in England who specialize in scheduling vet appointments in France for people travelling between FR and the UK, so that will be taken care of for us for around £30 (this is for the tick/tapeworm treatment requirements no less than 24/no more than 48 hours before UK entry).
If we weren't do this, we would travel by sea and I'm sure it's a good option if necessary (i.e., if staying abroad long term or permanently moving).
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions as I have a lot of information at hand after months of research.
-c

I'm trying once more: Is here anyone who can recommend a vet in Toronto that has experience with DEFRA's Pet Passport process? Thanks!

How much is all this costing? I have heard a variety of numbers, and at my vet it's going to cost $350 for the shots and one microchip and $200 per test for the titer!! That's $600, and if it doesn't work the first time, the whole thing may have to be repeated. I'm okay with the $900 for their cruise, but this may just get ridiculously expensive, and I'm trying to figure out if I should comparison shop.

Kathleen in Saint Catharines, Ontario said: How much is all this costing? I have heard a variety of numbers, and at my vet it's going to cost $350 for the shots and one microchip and $200 per test for the titer!! That's $600, and if it doesn't work the first time, the whole thing may have to be repeated. I'm okay with the $900 for their cruise, but this may just get ridiculously expensive, and I'm trying to figure out if I should comparison shop.

"Comparison shop": How so? Do you mean between methods of transport (i.e., cargo hold, ship, in-cabin)?

Kathleen in Saint Catharines, Ontario said: How much is all this costing? I have heard a variety of numbers, and at my vet it's going to cost $350 for the shots and one microchip and $200 per test for the titer!! That's $600, and if it doesn't work the first time, the whole thing may have to be repeated. I'm okay with the $900 for their cruise, but this may just get ridiculously expensive, and I'm trying to figure out if I should comparison shop.

Hi Kathleen,
Off-hand, I'd say $350 for the shots and microchipping sounds high, but I think that vet fees for that sort of thing vary wildly. The $200 for the titer is I think around what I paid 3 years ago; part of the issue is that it is sent to the US because there aren't any Canadian labs that are approved by the EU. There is only a slim chance that anything should have to be repeated. Afterall, rabies shots should work! Just make sure that the vet checks the microchip every time your pet has any kind of checkup so that you can make sure that it is still readable.

There's no two ways around it: it's expensive to move pets to the UK. If it is just $900 for the cruise, that's a good deal; I paid about $1150 in 2008 to fly my cat in cargo on British Airways. However, I imagine that your cruise ticket costs more than a flight.

Good luck,

Jennifer

Cheryl in Toronto, Ontario said: "Comparison shop": How so? Do you mean between methods of transport (i.e., cargo hold, ship, in-cabin)?

Actually I meant vets. I checked another vet and was quoted $1500 for all three. It just seems excessive to me. I've heard numbers that are much lower for items like the rabies shots. For one thing, I know transportation of the blood sample for the titer is a big part of the expense, but if I'm testing three, I should only pay that transportation once. Also, has anyone checked the cost of the titer test at one of the other labs? If I'm sending the samples out of the country, does it particularly matter which country I send them to?

I hadn't considered taking them by air, but according to my TA, every transatlantic cruise voyage is completely sold out of kennel space!

So by travelling to another EU country first, your pet can travel with you on the flight? I will not put a 17-year-old in cargo! It leaves us with the logistics of two passengers and three cats, though.

Jennifer (from Toronto then UK and Rome) in Toronto, Ontario said: I think that vet fees for that sort of thing vary wildly.

If it is just $900 for the cruise, that's a good deal; I paid about $1150 in 2008 to fly my cat in cargo on British Airways. However, I imagine that your cruise ticket costs more than a flight.

It depends on the flight, but generally it's comparable, plus you get 6 nights of vacation with fine dining and entertainment. It would have been about $1,000 each plus gratuities of $11/day. Some flights cost that much and are far less comfortable! No jet lag, either.

Katrhleen in Thorold, Ontario said: Actually I meant vets. I checked another vet and was quoted $1500 for all three. It just seems excessive to me. I've heard numbers that are much lower for items like the rabies shots. For one thing, I know transportation of the blood sample for the titer is a big part of the expense, but if I'm testing three, I should only pay that transportation once. Also, has anyone checked the cost of the titer test at one of the other labs? If I'm sending the samples out of the country, does it particularly matter which country I send them to?

I hadn't considered taking them by air, but according to my TA, every transatlantic cruise voyage is completely sold out of kennel space!

So by travelling to another EU country first, your pet can travel with you on the flight? I will not put a 17-year-old in cargo! It leaves us with the logistics of two passengers and three cats, though.

Hi Kathleen,
I agree about your decision not to fly them in the cargo hold! Yes, if you fly in-cabin to another European destination you can then take the pets onboad an approved ferry route to England. We have 3 pets as well - 2 cats + dog - so we're recruiting a family member to accompany the 3rd pet. It's expensive, but our pet's wellbeing is most important to us and we want to make this as stress-free as possible. We only plan on doing this with them once so want to make it as smooth as possible. For cats especially, the faster the journey the better it is for them as they experience tremendous stress with change (as little as moving furniture around in your home, so imagine the impact of travel!). We are arranging our living arrangements ahead of time so that when we finally get "home" the animals will be able to settle in and relax after a long journey...
Best wishes!
c

Katrhleen in Thorold, Ontario said: Actually I meant vets. I checked another vet and was quoted $1500 for all three. It just seems excessive to me. I've heard numbers that are much lower for items like the rabies shots. For one thing, I know transportation of the blood sample for the titer is a big part of the expense, but if I'm testing three, I should only pay that transportation once. Also, has anyone checked the cost of the titer test at one of the other labs? If I'm sending the samples out of the country, does it particularly matter which country I send them to?

I hadn't considered taking them by air, but according to my TA, every transatlantic cruise voyage is completely sold out of kennel space!

So by travelling to another EU country first, your pet can travel with you on the flight? I will not put a 17-year-old in cargo! It leaves us with the logistics of two passengers and three cats, though.

Hi Kathleen,

It's too bad you are so far from Hamilton. I used Blue Cross Animal Hospital there (they were my regular vets), and they were excellent and very reasonably priced.

You don't have any choice in the lab the titer is sent to. There are no approved labs in Canada and only one in all of the US that accepts non-military samples for EU testing. From the DEFRA site, I gather that the labs in the EU won't accept samples fom "third countries".

As Cheryl indicated in her answer, airlines have a max one pet per passenger rule, so with your 3 pets, you would have to either make 2 trips or do as she is doing and recruit someone else to fly with you. By the way, I have heard that some airlines (can't remember which) accept only 2 pets per flight, so be careful with this.

As for age, my cat was 15 when he flew in the cargo hold with BA to London. He was clearly out of sorts for a few days and had a bit of a runny nose, but no major ill effects. However, since then he has flown in-cabin 4 times, and that was MUCH better for both of us!

Katrhleen in Thorold, Ontario said: So by travelling to another EU country first, your pet can travel with you on the flight? I will not put a 17-year-old in cargo! It leaves us with the logistics of two passengers and three cats, though.

Hi Kathleen,

I forgot to answer/clarify one of your questions: Yes, you can fly to another EU country first to avoid flying cargo. Then, you MUST take a ferry across the English Channel on an approved route from that country to the UK, i.e. you cannot fly (except via cargo, of course). The tick and tapeworm treatment has to be done in the country where you board the ferry, and the usual rules apply (exactly 24-48 hours before). I suspect that some EU vets would insist on issuing a new EU pet passport in order to do so, although that can usually be done on the spot. It sounds as though Cheryl has good contacts for that.

Bear in mind that the ferry ports in France, etc., are in the north and far from the major international airports, so you have to find a way to get from the airport to port to catch your ferry. I know that all of that extra time in the carrier in various vehicles (longer flight, plus train or car to the ferry port, plus the ferry ride) and a possible overnight in a hotel would have been very difficult for my cat to handle. I don't want to discourage you - I just want to mention some more things to consider. The fact is, I don't think there is a really good solution for moving pets to the UK as long as they have these draconian rules in place :(

Hope this helps,

Jennifer