Warning - Flying dogs into Canada from US

[livingdustmops]

This is a crosspost from another dog forum and I have not verified this information but felt members should be aware if true. If members in Canada knows this is not true or can shed some light on the subject..yea

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Flying dogs or cats into Canada from the USA just got very very
messy. (info edited from another list below)

Dog was bought as a companion animal. Owner called Canada Customs to
find out what documents were needed. Were told only health
certificate and bill of sale so the government could collect their
15% tax's. And don't forget Identification for the person picking up
the dog. Sounds easy.

Well, when we went to pick up the dog they take all the information,
ask some normal questions, take all your personal information and ask
you to go sit down. Found out the normal routine that has very
recently been implemented is to run your name, address, drivers
license etc through the internet and see if you really are bringing
the dog (or cat) in as a companion or if it should be listed
commercial.
NOTE: Regardless of the paperwork you have in your hand, the Canadian
Government has the right to see the situation in their own shades of
grey.

Turns out the buyer has a business selling leads and collars. Since
they "may" take this dog and put a collar on him, take his picture
and use him for advertising, he is now considered commercial and not
a pet and he was actually refused entry into the country and was
deported back to his breeder because no one thought to consider him
commercial since he was a family pet only. Talking with the airline
staff, over the past month this is becoming a very normal situation
and more and more dogs and cats are being refused entry into Canada.

We were told one puppy that arrived last week was a gift from a
breeder to a relative for the child's birthday. Dog has birthday
cards in the crate and a bill of sale explaining the birthday gift.
We didn't get into great details but in the end the government
charged the family $2000 before they would allow the dog into the
country.

If you are shipping dogs or cats into Canada, make sure the person
picking up the animal has NO ties to an animal related industry, or
dog or cat site on the internet. They can not sell pet products,
breed, board, train, photograph pets etc. If they do, and running
your information through Google ties you to a pet related industry in
any way at all, they will label you commercial and deport the animal.
We know for sure you need an import license to bring in a dog or cat
commercially. We also know you can not apply for the license once the
animal is in Canada. We also know that commercially they can now
charge you taxes based on what they "assume" the animal's value is to
you as a commercial animal, not the value you paid for him.

This changes the way we bring animals into Canada. Any animal coming
in for breeding is commercial, picking the animal up at the airport
after it has been bred, is commercial. So breeders beware.

This is a complete shock and utterly devastating to the families
involved. The government has covered every possible avenue to label
animals commercial. Just so no one else has to go through this same
horrible situation and have a poor puppy or kitten locked in a crate
for all those hours to be shipped one way only to be shipped back
again with no out of crate time at all! Please cross all your "t"'s
and dot all your "I"'s and don't let this happen to you.

PLEASE CROSSPOST

[kitty]

This is terriable news!

[dezertblu]

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Publication 11283
October 2005



Dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued, in either English or French, by a licensed veterinarian, which clearly identifies the dogs and shows that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. This certificate should identify the dog, as in breed, color, weight, etc., plus indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), serial number and duration of validity (up to 3 years). Please note if a validity date does not appear on the certificate, then it is considered a one-year vaccine.

There is no waiting period between the time the dog is vaccinated for rabies and the time it is imported into Canada.

If the above requirements are not met, an inspector will order the owner to have the dog vaccinated for rabies within a period of time specified in the order and to provide the vaccination certificate to an inspector, all at the owner's expense.

* Note: Rabies vaccination or certification is not required if the dogs are less than three (3) months of age.

SPECIAL PURPOSE DOGS: Service dogs that are certified as a guide, hearing or other service dog are not subject to any restrictions for importation where the person importing the dog is the user of the dog and accompanies the dog to Canada.

[dezertblu]

PETS TRAVEL SCHEME EXTENDED TO USA AND CANADA


The successful PETS Travel Scheme is to be extended to dogs and cats from the United States and Canada, Animal Health Minister Elliot Morley announced today.

From 11 December, people coming to this country from the USA and Canada will be able to bring their vaccinated pets without having to put them into six months quarantine. However, until an approved route from North America is available and official certification agreed, animals will have to go into short stay quarantine, usually only for two to three days, whilst the microchip and paperwork are checked.

Announcing the extension to North America, Elliot Morley said: "I am proud to be associated with the Pet Travel Scheme. Since we introduced the Scheme in February 2000 over 75,000 dogs and cats from Europe and rabies-free islands have used the Scheme to enter the UK without having to go into six months quarantine.

"When we introduced the Scheme we recognised that there was significant demand from people in the USA and Canada, and indeed UK travellers, for those two countries to be included in the Scheme. We were cautious about doing so, but did undertake to consider again whether or not to include these countries in the Scheme. We have now done this.

"We have carried out several scientific assessments of the risk of importing rabies if the Pet Travel Scheme was extended to USA and Canada. These assessments concluded that the risk of importing rabies into the UK by extending the Pet Travel Scheme to the USA and Canada was low.

"I know that some people feel that we have been too cautious in our approach to including the USA and Canada in our Pet Travel Scheme. But we were not prepared to take such a significant step until we were sure, on a sound scientific basis, that there would be no significant increase in the risks of importing rabies if the Scheme was extended to those countries.

"We now have this assurance and I am therefore very pleased to announce that the Government has decided to extend the Pet Travel Scheme to USA and Canada.

"Because of the many close links between our countries many people in the USA and Canada have the opportunity to come and live and work in the UK. But some refuse because they cannot bear to be separated from their cats or dogs for the six months they must stay in quarantine.

"I am delighted to say that the legislation giving effect to this change has been laid before Parliament today and will come into force on Wednesday 11 December. From that date, dogs and cats from the USA and Canada which meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme will be able to enter the UK without going into quarantine for six months.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that all the conditions applying to the Pet Travel Scheme must be complied with if an animal is to avoid six months quarantine. We have prepared explanatory leaflets for pet owners and US and Canadian vets. These are available from my Department and are on our Website."

Discussions with airlines for approval of routes into England and with the authorities in the USA and Canada about appropriate certification to accompany such animals continue. Until these are in place, qualifying animals will have to go into quarantine for a few days until it is confirmed that they do meet fully the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme. If they do then they will be released from quarantine as quickly as possible.

The UK has been free from rabies for many years and wishes to remain so. The Pet Travel Scheme rules are strictly applied; it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make sure their animal meets all the conditions of the Scheme and that the owner has all the documentation to prove this. Travelers from the USA and Canada must bring their documentation with them.

In the UK and Europe most microchips and scanners comply with ISO Standards. The USA and Canada have different microchips. Owners of animals identified with non-ISO microchips may experience some difficulties in demonstrating that their animal has been microchipped. Such owners are advised to provide their own scanner.

[Tophersmom]

I'd be very curious as to what airport the first situation took place. I've known many, many people who have had dogs flown in from down south (U.S) and have had no problems at all. Duty is paid by the purchaser or receiver on the price stipulated by the breeder or seller, and the only paperwork required is the bill of sale and vaccination (rabies) certificate. It's usually pretty cut and dried.

It's so sad that the poor animals had to go through all those hours on a flight and back. (as someone who flew a pup who ended up waylaid due to freezing rain, I can definitely empathize).

To me, it sounds alot like the Target situation...a person wielding alot of power having a bad day and taking it out on those who don't deserve it.

As far as the 'gift' situation goes, and as one who lives on the border and deals with customs regularly, I know that if the gift is a substantial one, (and sometimes even if it's a small one) there will always be duty, GST and PST applied. Given that there was no bill of sale or dollar amount attached to the pup by the sender, duty, PST and GST would have to be applied using an 'average' price or a price stipulated by Canada Customs. Two thousand dollars is quite high, though if it is factual, this would be in Canadian Dollars and equal out to quite a bit less in USD. (One also must take into consideration that Yorkie prices up here are on average higher than in the US... usually around $1500.00+) This could have been avoided had the breeder attached a dollar amount, even 200.00 for example. GST, PST and duty would have had to be paid ONLY on that amount.

[livingdustmops]

I am curious also but unfortunetly when these are issued as cross post it is difficult to get to the original poster. I just felt that if there was some truth in this members should be aware. Having lived in MI most of my life and going in and out of Canada all the time I was pretty surprised by the crosspost.

[SnowWa]

LivingDustMops -- I agree with some of the posts -- I live in Washington State and a lot of us are going back and forth to Canada and even sending things back and forth.

The only thing we have really ever had to be very concerned about is the "health of any animal - rabies shots, etc.," of any animal being moved from one country to the other.....and meeting whatever requirements are in effect regarding this issue.

Buying/selling, etc. between the two countries does often involve "duties" but we rarely run into any problems in these areas.


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Your post sounds like a lot more regulation and trouble than either one of our countres even wants to get into....... Using the Internet (googling - for instance) is a highly unreliable way to get any information about anyone.....
I can't imagine anyone resorting to this - or having the time or even wanting to bother with it.... It's totally unreliable... not anything anyone would want to use for the purposes you described.....

Carol Jean

[livingdustmops]

Originally Posted by SnowWa

Your post sounds like a lot more regulation and trouble than either one of our countres even wants to get into....... Using the Internet (googling - for instance) is a highly unreliable way to get any information about anyone.....
I can't imagine anyone resorting to this - or having the time or even wanting to bother with it.... It's totally unreliable... not anything anyone would want to use for the purposes you described.....

Carol Jean

Carol Jean - I am not someone that just surfs (googles) the internet looking for silly stories to post on this forum. This CrossPost came from a Yorkie Rescue/Dog Fancy/Breeder Forum that I am part of and it was requested we CROSS POST this to other reputable organizations. Maybe since you are not part of a rescue/breeder internet link you would not be aware of information that is shared between the groups to help each other out and alert each other to situations that could be harmful to an animal(s). I posted this because we have members in Canada who purchase Yorkies and we have breeders on YT who sell/ship to Canada.

As a side note, we CROSS POST when animals are stolen and try to, at a grass level get the word out so we can have as many dog people looking and made aware of what has happened. Stolen dogs have been found through these efforts. We also CROSS POST about animal abusers (names are included), puppy mill busts, new laws that affect rescue and breeders alike. I could go on with the value of CROSS POSTS and the effort many of these reputable organizations do to help the animals but hopefully you get my point. You are right I don't have the time to dig into each CROSS POST that comes my way but I have learned to believe in their value. Is all of the information correct..No.. but it is a way to communicate across many different levels information that can be helpful and in a very short time. If in this case this CROSS POST alerted one person who was shipping or buying a puppy that was going into Canada to cross their T's and dot their I's then I did my job. Helping animals.

[red98vett]

As someone who knows Cindy - as a friend - and a HUGE FRIEND TO DOGS - I know when she posts - it's strictly to help animals -

she is a wonderful human being and her Rescue History speaks for itself - IF she saw this somewhere I just know it was on a valid site - and posting questions like this happen ALL THE TIME HERE - That's what's great about this site - we can ASK Questions and someone out there Usually has answers.....

how many other posts do we see where someone DOES use google and posts a 'rumor' ? It's usually cleared up ...but to state the original poster here posted something 'unreliable' is really not very nice. We have crossposts all the time - they're most ALWAYS to help in some way as the net is so big - word gets out quick.....and since we have lots of Canadian members - I think this was interesting....who knows who this would help ?

[txshopper73]

Cindy, we all know that you are a huge advocate for dogs. I appreciate all of your posts and they as they are very informative. Keep them coming whether they are from experience, googled or cross posted.

[Sherry Lynn]

I'm with you on this one Villette/Kimberley. I don't feel you need to defend yourself, Cindy. All of the good, selfless work that you do for rescues and the wealth of reliable information that you share with us, speaks for itself.

IMHO underestimating the value of information found on the Internet (whether found via Google or other available search engines) is an absurd and antiquated opinion. I think that anyone with such a mindset might find it in their own best interest to reprise their assessment.

[Gazou]

2 of my dogs come from U.S.A . and I never had problems . Tomorrow , I'll go to the airport to pick up a little one coming from Illinois and I am sure that I'll not have problems .

[Sherry Lynn]

Originally Posted by Gazou

2 of my dogs come from U.S.A . and I never had problems . Tomorrow , I'll go to the airport to pick up a little one coming from Illinois and I am sure that I'll not have problems.

Congratulations on your new addition!! You must be wonderfully excited!!!!!

I don't think that the crosspost is saying that everyone is going to have problems. I think the point here is to make people aware of the possiblities. If the information helps just one person, it is information well-shared.

Have fun with your new baby, and please share pics!!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by Sherry Lynn

I'm with you on this one Villette/Kimberley. I don't feel you need to defend yourself, Cindy. All of the good, selfless work that you do for rescues and the wealth of reliable information that you share with us, speaks for itself.

IMHO underestimating the value of information found on the Internet (whether found via Google or other available search engines) is an absurd and antiquated opinion. I think that anyone with such a mindset might find it in their own best interest to reprise their assessment.

LOL Sherry L ! Are you an attorney in your other life ? LOVE the way you said that ...and I agree - we all can choose what information we see and take it for what it is - ONE may not find it helpful - whereas another may find it VERY helpful. That's the beauty of posting on boards - we hear about things we normally wouldn't.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by livingdustmops

This is a crosspost from another dog forum and I have not verified this information but felt members should be aware if true. If members in Canada knows this is not true or can shed some light on the subject..yea

Wow Cindy, re-reading the FIRST THING YOU SAID with your post, I am shocked to see the reactions you've gotten here. I thought this was something very interesting...and who's to say those that may be affected by it can't look into it further themselves? We're all big girls and boys, right?
I think it to be very positive that the YT members here took what you said to heart and researched the matter further...why didn't you do the same? Geez, you'd think you were busy taking care of the breed's less fortunate resue cases or something?
Don't feel bad...you posted information that could potentially affect many people here...information that, like you said, IF true, others should be aware of. IMO, you do for this breed one of the hardest things imaginable and what I know can be truly heartbreaking. You are a very good, strong person for that and you have more than earned my respect...and that of others I'm sure.
The information you posted, if nothing else, gave a reminder to everyone to be sure to have your ducks in a row before crossing a border with an animal. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!