Taking My Pets To The Us

[PennyFarthing123]

Has anyone recently taken their pets to the US. I have 2 dogs and a cat that I cannot leave behind and I am trying to get all the information I need to take them out of Thailand and into the US. These are animals that I have adopted over the years and are just mixed street breeds.

I don't want to get to the airport and find that I have not met the regulations and be denied their boarding, or get to the States and have them go into quarantine.

Any information or experiences will be appreciated.

PennyFarthing123

[cooked]

sounds like you need to contact a professional specialised company that does this kind of thing every day.

Just guessing, but I think that judging by the paranoid way that the US views any plant imports, pet import may involve quite a paper chase.

[PennyFarthing123]

Actually the US end is relatively simple according to what I have read. I just am not sure about the Thailand end. I read that All pets must be examined by the government veterinarian at the Customs and Animal Quarantine Office 3-7 days prior to departure (the vetcertificate is valid for 10 days from date of issue). This is in Bangkok. I can't see taking my pets to Bangkok 3 to 7 days in advance of flying out, but the trip to and from Bangkok is at least 3 hours each way.

I thought they just needed to be certified by a recognized practicing vet.

I am planning on getting the Pet Passports for each of them.

[Nienke]

For importing pets into the US you can find the info on the USDA website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_states.shtml

Make sure that in he US you can travel by plane with your pets as during a certain period of the year many airplane companies do not accept pets on board.

For exporting the pets need ot be microchipped vaccinated according the requirements of the US.

You need a health certificate and export permit from the Animal Quarantine Station which, for the OP, has to be done in BKK at Suvarnabhumi Ariport. In principle you can do this on the day of departure. Just make sure you have several hours to do so.
You need to bring:

pets in their travel crates

vaccines records and copies of those,

microchips cards,

copy of your passport,

flight details

[PennyFarthing123]

Thanks for the information. Looks like we will have to make two trips to Bangkok. One for the export permit and then when we fly out. It is such a long trip I wouldn't want to subject the animals to the extra time in the crates before flying. I don't look forward to trying to accomplish this with three animals but see no other option. Can't leave them behind.

[Nienke]

Thanks for the information. Looks like we will have to make two trips to Bangkok. One for the export permit and then when we fly out. It is such a long trip I wouldn't want to subject the animals to the extra time in the crates before flying. I don't look forward to trying to accomplish this with three animals but see no other option. Can't leave them behind.

Lead by example. Thank you for this!

Edited April 10, 2013 by Nienke

[mogandave]

Why can't you leave them? You'r not coming back?

[PennyFarthing123]

At some time I will be going back to the US permanently. With BEENTHEREDONETHAT gone my life here in Thailand is very lonesome. So will move back to be closer to my family.

Right now I am just trying to organize and sort things out for the future.

[ataloss]

#5 Thank you PF for caring, really caring about your pets. Wish there were more like you.

#8 I've possibly reached that decision too....'trying to organize and sort things out for the future' does indeed take time to discern all the implications.

Cheers

[Sheryl]

There is quarantine in the state of Hawaii, otherwise not.

As others noted, some vaccination etc requirements. But most of that would be required for the health certificate & export permit anyhow.

You'll find that the staff at Animal Quarantine at Swampy are quite knowledgable about the regulations of different countries. The US on the whole is comparatively east=y compared to many other places, Hawaii excepted.

[Suradit69]

There is quarantine in the state of Hawaii, otherwise not.

As others noted, some vaccination etc requirements. But most of that would be required for the health certificate & export permit anyhow.

You'll find that the staff at Animal Quarantine at Swampy are quite knowledgable about the regulations of different countries. The US on the whole is comparatively east=y compared to many other places, Hawaii excepted.

It's been a number of years since I did it, but I took my two Siamese cats from the US to southern Africa and after a number of years we all went back to the US.

On the return trip to the US I had a vet certify that they were rabies -free and got that stamped by the Ministry of Agriculture. Biggest problem was that we had to stop (in either direction) to change flights. Germany was no problem, but UK was a big problem. The airline was supposed to send them directly to the animal transit facility, but instead put them on the luggage conveyor belt. Some constipated customs official went berserk and called the police because I was putting the entire UK at risk. Fortunately the policeman didn't suffer from officialdom-complex, looked at the immigrations officer like he was a complete a--hole and helped me get them to the animal facility to await our on-going flight.

In Germany there was no problem at all.

In the US they came off on the luggage conveyor belt, customs looked at my paper work and no problem, no quarantine.

One fairly obvious concern is to make sure there is a pressurized compartment for animals in the luggage hold. On one trip with one cat that wasn't the case, but the airline allowed her on board with me (actually she had an on board reservation). Her carrier was at my feet throughout the flight.