What You Need To Know About Moving With Your Pets To The United States

Overview:

• No quarantine for dogs & cats coming into the US from anywhere in the world (except Hawaii)
• Current rabies vaccination required
• Health certificate dated within 10 days of the flight
• No Import Permit required
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Whether importing pets into the United States for the first time, or simply making a domestic move within the country, the health requirements for your animal companions are relatively simple when compared to those of the vast majority of other countries.

The first step, assuming that you own a dog or cat, is to ensure that your pet is up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations. While this is not always "required" for domestic moves, many airlines and drivers will refuse passage to non-vaccinated animals. When importing a dog or cat into the United States from another country, however, a valid rabies vaccination is required. It is necessary that dogs and cats receive the rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to entry into the US, with the exception of puppies or kittens younger than three months old or pets originating from areas considered to be free of rabies. Dogs and cats coming from areas not considered free of rabies must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate. If a vaccination has not been performed, or if the certificate is invalid, your pet may be admitted to a place of the owner's choosing immediately upon arrival into the US, in which a rabies vaccination must be administered within four days after arrival to the final destination. Your pet will then need to be confined at said location for 30 days following vaccination. It is also recommended to have all other vaccinations current, such as DHLPP for dogs and FVRCP for cats, in the event that your pet comes into contact with any other animals while in transit.

Next, your pet will need a health certificate issued by your local vet (or an international health certificate if traveling from another country). This certificate is issued once your vet performs a brief physical to ensure your pet's health prior to travel and is required by all airlines. The health certificate needs to be issued within 10 days of departure or else it is considered null and void. It is also important to note that all pets entering the US are subject to inspection at ports of entry for evidence of infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

Exotic pets such as snakes, turtles, fish, birds, etc. often require additional documentation and travel crate arrangements. For example, nearly all birds entering the US require a CITES import permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They may also need:

• An International Health Certificate (issued within 10 days)
• An USDA Import Permit (VS Form 17-129)
• A Fish and Wildlife Services Certification
• A 30-day quarantine in an USDA Animal Import Center at one of these locations:

New York, New York
230-59 Rockaway Blvd., Suite 101
Jamaica, NY 11413
Phone: 718-553-1727
Fax: 718-553-7543

Miami Animal Import Center
USDA-APHIS-VS
6300 NW 36 Street
Miami, FL 33122
Phone: 305-526-2926
Fax: 305-526-2929

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles International Airport
11850 South La Cienega Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: 310-725-1970
Fax: 310-725-9119

Remember, exotic pet moves are tailored to individual species, so it is important to contact the USDA and US Fish and Wildlife to ask for any import requirements they might have in place.


These are some of the issues to take into consideration when planning a move to, or within, the United States. With advanced planning, you will be able to save yourself, and your pet, from a lot of stress and hassle!

Oringally published on ezinearticles