We have two dogs. When we were asked to come to the UK, we accepted and then panicked about the dogs. We had talked about the possibility of going to the UK a year or so before so we knew a little bit about the process and we had an idea that it was not going to be an easy process. THAT is an understatement! And luckily for us the laws changed January 1, 2012!
In January, the UK came in line with the rest of the EU and stopped the mandatory 6 month quarantine. That was good news for us! The procedure that used to have to be followed was quite a lengthy one. You had to have the international micro-chip implanted and then all the shots done. On top of that you had to have blood drawn with in a certain window of the shot and then the dog had to wait 6 months from the date of the blood draw. It was all changed January 1. The shots had to all be done with the micro-chip and then the animal could come 21 days afterward with all the correct paperwork. The paperwork, proved to be another headache!
One of the first things that I did was ran my dogs to the vet to get the initial prep work done and got all their shots up to date. It was then that I learned the Cricket should not go because of her Cushings disease. Then we talked about things. We talked to rescue, we talked to people about taking them for the year, we asked for friends for help on Facebook. I have done Fox Terrier rescue and after my recent experience with them, I would recommend to stay away from that particular organization. In talking to the organization, they were very helpful, at first. But then when things changed and we found a way to keep Chip and bring him with us, I got the nasty treatment. Really? I THOUGHT that the goal was to keep dogs out of rescue, but what do I know (actually a lot!)? I will recommend that if you adopt from rescue, make sure that they are reputable. There are so many out there right now and they have good intentions, but some of them have a god like complex when it comes to the dogs they are there to help. Reputable rescues have a board of directors and operate under good ethics. Ask around and do some leg work before you adopt, or better yet, go to a shelter. In the end, we did the best thing, we kept Chip with us instead of turning him into rescue.
My mother and father in law took Cricket and we found a place that deals in long term boarding in Indianapolis for Chip. We put Chip there and I asked my cousin, Jane to take him to the airport for us, to which she happily agreed. Phew!
What a fiasco it ended up being. Thankfully, Jane is a very determined and patient woman! The paperwork was the first issue. I had my vet do all the paper work that they could. But, before he could come over, more paper work had to be done and he had to do another trip to the vet. All the paperwork also had to be taken to the USDA and signed as well. Jane got it all done with the help of the boarding facility and got him to the airport. Continental has an excellent pet travel program, I would definitely recommend them and I will use them again. They sent him in a controlled climate cargo area. And because they personally met and specifically escorted him to his plane changes, I did not have to worry about any weather issues (many airlines will not ship animals when it is too hot or cold). They used to have the worst record for transporting pets but have really worked to be one of the best in the industry.
Continental declined to send him in the first attempt because the vet had crossed one thing out on the form. That meant that Jane had to get it all redone. Oh my! That was a full day of another vet visit and then another trip to the USDA for Jane. All I could do is sit here an wait and feel really bad that Jane has had to redo all of this. Lots of gnashing of teeth for sure!
All the paperwork was done and Chip was rebooked on the flight for the following week. Poor Jane then has another snafu! Third time is a charm though, right! Yesssss! It surely was! With the Continental Cargo program, we were even able to follow his progress though the airports.
Chip landed in the UK, Saturday, Jan 28th, at 6am in the morning. We left home just after 8pm and got to Heathrow almost at 10am. We waiting about an hour and then they released him to us. Happy Days! All in all my puppy sat in the airport about 29 hours. I swear that as we were waiting for him, I heard him barking in the holding area!
As for Cricket? She is a pampered, little princess staying with my mother and father in law. She apparently loves to dress in cute little t-shirts like her other fur companions (who knew!)! She has also proved to my mother and father in law just how smart she is, as she managed to figure out how to open the cabinet where the dog food is being stored to help herself to food. She has lost the extra weight she gained with the Cushings and she is being treated with meds and is in good health. She even got her teeth cleaned recently and I think that she had a few teeth removed as well. Not bad for an "old" gal. Cricket is 10 years old now.
We are so happy to have our Chippy back and while we miss Cricket, we are glad that she is being taken care of so well. We were wondering last night if she would want to come back to Chip's rough playing (he used to grab her by the tail and swing her around) and the non-princess treatment that she will get back at home! (she never had doggie clothes at home, I just can't be bothered!) :)
In January, the UK came in line with the rest of the EU and stopped the mandatory 6 month quarantine. That was good news for us! The procedure that used to have to be followed was quite a lengthy one. You had to have the international micro-chip implanted and then all the shots done. On top of that you had to have blood drawn with in a certain window of the shot and then the dog had to wait 6 months from the date of the blood draw. It was all changed January 1. The shots had to all be done with the micro-chip and then the animal could come 21 days afterward with all the correct paperwork. The paperwork, proved to be another headache!
One of the first things that I did was ran my dogs to the vet to get the initial prep work done and got all their shots up to date. It was then that I learned the Cricket should not go because of her Cushings disease. Then we talked about things. We talked to rescue, we talked to people about taking them for the year, we asked for friends for help on Facebook. I have done Fox Terrier rescue and after my recent experience with them, I would recommend to stay away from that particular organization. In talking to the organization, they were very helpful, at first. But then when things changed and we found a way to keep Chip and bring him with us, I got the nasty treatment. Really? I THOUGHT that the goal was to keep dogs out of rescue, but what do I know (actually a lot!)? I will recommend that if you adopt from rescue, make sure that they are reputable. There are so many out there right now and they have good intentions, but some of them have a god like complex when it comes to the dogs they are there to help. Reputable rescues have a board of directors and operate under good ethics. Ask around and do some leg work before you adopt, or better yet, go to a shelter. In the end, we did the best thing, we kept Chip with us instead of turning him into rescue.
My mother and father in law took Cricket and we found a place that deals in long term boarding in Indianapolis for Chip. We put Chip there and I asked my cousin, Jane to take him to the airport for us, to which she happily agreed. Phew!
What a fiasco it ended up being. Thankfully, Jane is a very determined and patient woman! The paperwork was the first issue. I had my vet do all the paper work that they could. But, before he could come over, more paper work had to be done and he had to do another trip to the vet. All the paperwork also had to be taken to the USDA and signed as well. Jane got it all done with the help of the boarding facility and got him to the airport. Continental has an excellent pet travel program, I would definitely recommend them and I will use them again. They sent him in a controlled climate cargo area. And because they personally met and specifically escorted him to his plane changes, I did not have to worry about any weather issues (many airlines will not ship animals when it is too hot or cold). They used to have the worst record for transporting pets but have really worked to be one of the best in the industry.
Continental declined to send him in the first attempt because the vet had crossed one thing out on the form. That meant that Jane had to get it all redone. Oh my! That was a full day of another vet visit and then another trip to the USDA for Jane. All I could do is sit here an wait and feel really bad that Jane has had to redo all of this. Lots of gnashing of teeth for sure!
All the paperwork was done and Chip was rebooked on the flight for the following week. Poor Jane then has another snafu! Third time is a charm though, right! Yesssss! It surely was! With the Continental Cargo program, we were even able to follow his progress though the airports.
Chip landed in the UK, Saturday, Jan 28th, at 6am in the morning. We left home just after 8pm and got to Heathrow almost at 10am. We waiting about an hour and then they released him to us. Happy Days! All in all my puppy sat in the airport about 29 hours. I swear that as we were waiting for him, I heard him barking in the holding area!
As for Cricket? She is a pampered, little princess staying with my mother and father in law. She apparently loves to dress in cute little t-shirts like her other fur companions (who knew!)! She has also proved to my mother and father in law just how smart she is, as she managed to figure out how to open the cabinet where the dog food is being stored to help herself to food. She has lost the extra weight she gained with the Cushings and she is being treated with meds and is in good health. She even got her teeth cleaned recently and I think that she had a few teeth removed as well. Not bad for an "old" gal. Cricket is 10 years old now.
We are so happy to have our Chippy back and while we miss Cricket, we are glad that she is being taken care of so well. We were wondering last night if she would want to come back to Chip's rough playing (he used to grab her by the tail and swing her around) and the non-princess treatment that she will get back at home! (she never had doggie clothes at home, I just can't be bothered!) :)
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