[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