Taking Pets to the States

[oohpartiv 484]

Hey everybody!

Along with getting my hubby's papers in order (we're hoping for an early April interview!), we're also in the middle of getting our pets travel papers in order! Getting permission to take any animals out of Ecuador is a long, complicated process - there are only certain doctors in the country that can check them, then we have to go to the Ministry of Agriculture to get a permission slip, plus getting their vaccination records certified, blah blah blah. We have two dogs - a chihuahua and an English bulldog - and we'd really like to take both of them home with us when we finally get to go. We know what to do to get them OUT of Ecuador - but we're a little foggy on getting them INTO the USA. Does anybody have any experience with getting pets into the States? Are there any special requirements we should have ready? I know they'll have to go through a 90 quarantine - does this mean they'll be sitting in a cage somewhere without us for 90 days, or do we just give the customs agent the address where they will be for 90 days so they can check up on them...? I'm confused and a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out how to not only get my husband back home, but also our dogs. Any help is greatly apppreciated!

I'm going to throw some cute pictures of them in here for fun.

[bsd058 296]

CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol.

My wife and I brought our cat and dog into the US.

Use this: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/publications/travel/pets_wild.ctt/pets.pdf

Here are my little buddies...

[oohpartiv 484]

CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol.

My wife and I brought our cat and dog into the US.

Use this: http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/newsroom/publications/travel/pets_wild.ctt/pets.pdf

Here are my little buddies...

AWWW I love little animals. If it were up to me we'd have a zoo at our house! And thanks for the link! Definitely going to read up and get prepared.

[dianazoe1 0]

Cute doggies!

My husband didn't have any problems bringing his dog over from Austria. He had updated vaccination records with him (I think rabies is the main one they check for) and had no problems at all getting through customs. No quarrantine either. The biggest issue was the poor little guy being stuck in the little travel crate for 10+ hrs

[oohpartiv 484]

Cute doggies!

My husband didn't have any problems bringing his dog over from Austria. He had updated vaccination records with him (I think rabies is the main one they check for) and had no problems at all getting through customs. No quarrantine either. The biggest issue was the poor little guy being stuck in the little travel crate for 10+ hrs

I know, I'm worried about them being stuck in cages for hours, too. The chihuahua gets to travel as a carry on, so he'll be with us - but our bulldog has to go with the bags under the plane and I'm going to worry the whole time.

Good to know your husband's dog got in okay! I hope it'll be that painless for us, too.

[Caryh 5,206]

I know, I'm worried about them being stuck in cages for hours, too. The chihuahua gets to travel as a carry on, so he'll be with us - but our bulldog has to go with the bags under the plane and I'm going to worry the whole time.

Good to know your husband's dog got in okay! I hope it'll be that painless for us, too.

I believe your dogs will need to be examined for screwworm within 5 before leaving to. Don't miss that or they could be quarantined on arrival or denied entry. I'm not sure what they do if you miss that detail or do it with the wrong vet.

[bsd058 296]

I believe your dogs will need to be examined for screwworm within 5 before leaving to. Don't miss that or they could be quarantined on arrival or denied entry. I'm not sure what they do if you miss that detail or do it with the wrong vet.

Yes, this is on page 11 of the manual attached. Assuming the OP is from an area where screwworm is known to exist. There are special things to consider. All things to consider are in the pet manual.

Ecuador seems to be one of those places: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/equine/equine_import7day_sworm.shtml#ctbl

Edited February 19, 2013 by bsd058

[oohpartiv 484]

I believe your dogs will need to be examined for screwworm within 5 before leaving to. Don't miss that or they could be quarantined on arrival or denied entry. I'm not sure what they do if you miss that detail or do it with the wrong vet.

Thanks for the tip. I have a list of things I have to check for (thanks for the manual bsd! ) and screwworm is on it. I'm nervous about not having enough time once I get to the airport to have the dogs checked and let through to our connecting flight (we fly into Miami and then grab another flight to Baltimore). I guess I should just try to find a flight with a long layover, just in case. Hopefully everything will go fine, though. Thanks for the help!

[SAT 9,609]

If I was this guy.....

I would look at this guy and say...................

Mmm..........Mexican food....yummy........

[oohpartiv 484]

If I was this guy.....

I would look at this guy and say...................

Mmm..........Mexican food....yummy........

You'd think they wouldn't get along but I guess since they grew up together (be bought them together when they were both puppies) they're like best friends. The bulldog is very careful not to get too rough when they play. It's really cute. Now, my SIL's cat is another story altogether...

[SAT 9,609]

I know what you mean. The boxer next door and my Peke (God rest his soul) were old buddies......always looking for each other when they're out.

[Khaleesi 1]

Ive been researching a bit about flying with my fluffy kitty

and i've noticed that some airlines do not want to transport certain type of breeds when it comes to dogs, because they were considered dangerous

i think bulldog was one of them

check what airlines are available and affordable for ur possible days of travel and check their pet requirements

good luck !

[Khal_Drogo 50]

As required by law, I agree with my wife.

I found the restrictions for these airlines. I know they're not good news really, but at least you can be saved the hassle and find a safer, less hassle method for transporting your buddies:

Cannot check English Bulldogs on Delta:

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/special-travel-needs/pets/pet-requirements-restrictions.html

Cannot check English Bulldogs on KLM:

http://www.klm.com/travel/us_en/prepare_for_travel/travel_planning/pets/index.htm

Cannot check English Bulldog on United:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/restrictions.aspx

Cannot check English Bulldog on American Airlines:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/travelingWithPets.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=pets

Cannot check English Bulldog on LAN Airlines:

http://www.lan.com/en_us/sitio_personas/planifica_tu_vuelo/servicios_especiales/mascotas.html

Bulldogs are a fickle bunch when it comes to airlines. Without hunting for more links, I can say with 90% certainty he will not be able to be transported by almost any other airline as checked luggage.

As always, call the airline you'll be traveling with beforehand, see what they offer. But it's almost guaranteed that you'll have to fly him cargo separately

[oohpartiv 484]

Bulldogs are a fickle bunch when it comes to airlines. Without hunting for more links, I can say with 90% certainty he will not be able to be transported by almost any other airline as checked luggage.

As always, call the airline you'll be traveling with beforehand, see what they offer. But it's almost guaranteed that you'll have to fly him cargo separately

Oh man, #######, that problem hadn't even occured to me. And unfortunately those are the airlines we usually would use! (America, Delta, LAN). Thanks for bringing it to my attention, though! It's better to find out here than once we arrive at the airport.

[Khal_Drogo 50]

No problem. I tried finding out TAME's (I made sure to look up Ecuadorian airlines), but they were about as clear as mud when it came to that stuff.