Comments on: Clawing through the red tape: The formalities of importing a pet http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/ ...in which two dreamers simplify their lives and move to Paris Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:52:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-22456 Joe Kissell Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:52:58 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-22456 <p>@Carol I'm afraid I don't know what the Canadian counterpart to the USDA is, but my suggestion is to ask your vet. Good luck!</p> @Carol I’m afraid I don’t know what the Canadian counterpart to the USDA is, but my suggestion is to ask your vet. Good luck!

]]> By: Carol B. Forte http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-22454 Carol B. Forte Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:43:04 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-22454 <p>Thanks for your blog. You have put some of my concerns at ease. WE are taking our two cats to France - Lyon from Oct-March from Canada. This is a test run for future winters in EU. Might you know of a similar agency in Canada such as the USDA where we can get our pet passports validated? Very interesting about the rabies shots - had no idea they were of different types now. I will send your blog URL to our vet. She will no doubt find it helpful too. Best regards. C. B. Forte, Niagara</p> Thanks for your blog. You have put some of my concerns at ease. WE are taking our two cats to France – Lyon from Oct-March from Canada. This is a test run for future winters in EU. Might you know of a similar agency in Canada such as the USDA where we can get our pet passports validated? Very interesting about the rabies shots – had no idea they were of different types now. I will send your blog URL to our vet. She will no doubt find it helpful too. Best regards. C. B. Forte, Niagara

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-19442 Joe Kissell Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:04:27 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-19442 <p>@Josee Good luck! I'm glad you've found some of this material helpful, and by all means, please look us up once you get here!</p> @Josee Good luck! I’m glad you’ve found some of this material helpful, and by all means, please look us up once you get here!

]]> By: Josee Allen http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-19441 Josee Allen Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:43:29 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-19441 <p>Thanks SO much for your website. We are hoping to move our furry children to France soon and like you are worried about the cost, transport, vaccinations and paperwork. Your site is such a help and I feel happier already! Enjoy La Belle France - hope to meet you there one day !</p> Thanks SO much for your website. We are hoping to move our furry children to France soon and like you are worried about the cost, transport, vaccinations and paperwork. Your site is such a help and I feel happier already! Enjoy La Belle France – hope to meet you there one day !

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-8644 Joe Kissell Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:59:45 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-8644 <p>Audrey:</p> <p>(français) Je suis désolé! La nouvelle adresse URL pour trouver un vétérinaire officiel de l'USDA est la suivante: <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/" rel="nofollow">https://vsps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do?method=display</a>. Si aucune des fonctions énumérées est proche de vous, contactez le plus proche pour voir si il ya un autre bureau de plus près que vous pouvez utiliser.</p> <p>Notre vétérinaire a marqué les trois points que vous avez mentionné "pas nécessaire". Je pense que ceux qui ne sont requises que pour les autres types d'animaux, ou si l'animal montre des signes de maladie.</p> <p>Vous pourriez également trouver utile de lire cette FAQ sur le site Web de l'USDA: <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml</a>.</p> <p>(Et, je m'excuse de mon mauvais français - avec un peu d'aide de Google!)</p> <p>(English) I'm sorry! The new URL for locating an official USDA veterinarian is: <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/" rel="nofollow">https://vsps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do?method=display</a>. If none of the offices listed is close to you, contact the nearest one to see if there's another office closer by you can use.</p> <p>Our veterinarian marked all three of the items you mentioned "not required." I think those are required only for other kinds of animals, or if the animal shows signs of illness.</p> <p>You might also find it helpful to read this FAQ on the USDA Web site: <a href="http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml" rel="nofollow">http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml</a>.</p> <p>(And, I apologize for my bad French - with some help from Google!)</p> Audrey:

(français) Je suis désolé! La nouvelle adresse URL pour trouver un vétérinaire officiel de l’USDA est la suivante: https://vsps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do?method=display. Si aucune des fonctions énumérées est proche de vous, contactez le plus proche pour voir si il ya un autre bureau de plus près que vous pouvez utiliser.

Notre vétérinaire a marqué les trois points que vous avez mentionné “pas nécessaire”. Je pense que ceux qui ne sont requises que pour les autres types d’animaux, ou si l’animal montre des signes de maladie.

Vous pourriez également trouver utile de lire cette FAQ sur le site Web de l’USDA: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml.

(Et, je m’excuse de mon mauvais français – avec un peu d’aide de Google!)

(English) I’m sorry! The new URL for locating an official USDA veterinarian is: https://vsps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do?method=display. If none of the offices listed is close to you, contact the nearest one to see if there’s another office closer by you can use.

Our veterinarian marked all three of the items you mentioned “not required.” I think those are required only for other kinds of animals, or if the animal shows signs of illness.

You might also find it helpful to read this FAQ on the USDA Web site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_faq.shtml.

(And, I apologize for my bad French – with some help from Google!)

]]> By: Audrey http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-8642 Audrey Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:21:44 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-8642 <p>Hello,</p> <p>Je suis française et vis aux États Unis avec mon fiancé depuis presque un an. Nous voulons rendre visite à mes parents cet été pour un mois et prendre notre chat avec nous. J'ai regardé le certificat vétérinaire et plusieurs choses ne sont pas claires. Les sections: "Test Sérologique Antirabique", "Traitement Contre les Tiques" et "Traitement contre Echinococcus" portent toutes la mention "si nécessaire". Qu'est-ce que cela signifie? Dans quels cas cela est-il nécessaire? Enfin que signifie "vétérinaire officiel"? (Le lien que vous donné ne fonctionne plus).</p> <p>Désolé de vous écrire en français mais je fais toujours des petites fautes en anglais qui m'agacent. Merci mille fois pour votre blog, il est très bien construit et très intéressant! Merci d'avance pour votre réponse :)</p> Hello,

Je suis française et vis aux États Unis avec mon fiancé depuis presque un an. Nous voulons rendre visite à mes parents cet été pour un mois et prendre notre chat avec nous. J’ai regardé le certificat vétérinaire et plusieurs choses ne sont pas claires. Les sections: “Test Sérologique Antirabique”, “Traitement Contre les Tiques” et “Traitement contre Echinococcus” portent toutes la mention “si nécessaire”. Qu’est-ce que cela signifie? Dans quels cas cela est-il nécessaire? Enfin que signifie “vétérinaire officiel”? (Le lien que vous donné ne fonctionne plus).

Désolé de vous écrire en français mais je fais toujours des petites fautes en anglais qui m’agacent. Merci mille fois pour votre blog, il est très bien construit et très intéressant! Merci d’avance pour votre réponse :)

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Joe Kissell Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:32:31 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-455 <p>Em: Wow, that does sound quite daunting. Good luck! For what it's worth, we had a really good experience on Northwest, but of course we had just the one pet to worry about.</p> Em: Wow, that does sound quite daunting. Good luck! For what it’s worth, we had a really good experience on Northwest, but of course we had just the one pet to worry about.

]]> By: Em Bryant http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-451 Em Bryant Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:04:50 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-451 <p>Hello- We're moving to France and bringing pets (3 dogs, 2 cats). We've researched everything extensively: The Queen Mary 2 is booked for a year in advance (if they would even let us use 5 of their 12 kennels) and we don't want to turn them over to strangers to travel as cargo. We have looked thoroughly into everything, including chartering a plane. We found an "empty leg" flight returning to Paris from NY, but it's about $100,000! The whole thing is disheartening. We have found that Air France is pet friendly and we'll be charged just an excess baggage fee for each animal. Seems like someone with a transatlantic jet could make a living just flying people and their pets around....Wish us luck, Em</p> Hello- We’re moving to France and bringing pets (3 dogs, 2 cats). We’ve researched everything extensively: The Queen Mary 2 is booked for a year in advance (if they would even let us use 5 of their 12 kennels) and we don’t want to turn them over to strangers to travel as cargo. We have looked thoroughly into everything, including chartering a plane. We found an “empty leg” flight returning to Paris from NY, but it’s about $100,000! The whole thing is disheartening. We have found that Air France is pet friendly and we’ll be charged just an excess baggage fee for each animal. Seems like someone with a transatlantic jet could make a living just flying people and their pets around….Wish us luck, Em

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-377 Joe Kissell Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:31:18 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-377 <p>Patricia: Thanks for your story! Feel free to quote from our blog (a link to the original would be appreciated). Other than the stories we wrote about here, nothing particularly funny or interesting happened with our cat on the way to France. I will say that she has adapted very well. She seems to prefer French cat food, and is also picking up the language - she hasn't spoken a word of English since we got here!</p> Patricia: Thanks for your story! Feel free to quote from our blog (a link to the original would be appreciated). Other than the stories we wrote about here, nothing particularly funny or interesting happened with our cat on the way to France. I will say that she has adapted very well. She seems to prefer French cat food, and is also picking up the language – she hasn’t spoken a word of English since we got here!

]]> By: Patricia http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Patricia Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:45:22 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-376 <p>Hi Joe: I think I might have written to you before...I love your blog. I, too, moved to France, along with my husband, three teenagers, and one cat. Our dog joined us on Christmas eve. Why did we do this? Sheer insanity, plus your reasons: a simplified yet more interesting life. In addition, we wanted to stop, or at least slow down, time. Our thinking was this: Time goes by more slowly when you are doing something you've never done before. Every day in France, it seems, we are doing something we've never done before. In any case, I'm currently writing an article about bringing, and keeping, pets in Europe (for expats.)Would you mind if I quoted something from your blog? Or do you have a funny/interesting anecdote to share regarding your cat either on the flight, in the airport, or in France? Thanks, and I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Patricia</p> <p>By the way, the same thing happened with our cat: Oodles of paperwork, raw nerves, (I'm sorry, you forgot to dot the I's, so the cat must go back to the states.) and lots of $ spent. No one looked at us or asked to see our mountain of paperwork when we entered France. Hey, if we hadn't checked off all the boxes, I am sure there would have been more scrutiny and we would all have been sent packing.</p> Hi Joe: I think I might have written to you before…I love your blog. I, too, moved to France, along with my husband, three teenagers, and one cat. Our dog joined us on Christmas eve. Why did we do this? Sheer insanity, plus your reasons: a simplified yet more interesting life. In addition, we wanted to stop, or at least slow down, time. Our thinking was this: Time goes by more slowly when you are doing something you’ve never done before. Every day in France, it seems, we are doing something we’ve never done before. In any case, I’m currently writing an article about bringing, and keeping, pets in Europe (for expats.)Would you mind if I quoted something from your blog? Or do you have a funny/interesting anecdote to share regarding your cat either on the flight, in the airport, or in France? Thanks, and I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Patricia

By the way, the same thing happened with our cat: Oodles of paperwork, raw nerves, (I’m sorry, you forgot to dot the I’s, so the cat must go back to the states.) and lots of $ spent. No one looked at us or asked to see our mountain of paperwork when we entered France. Hey, if we hadn’t checked off all the boxes, I am sure there would have been more scrutiny and we would all have been sent packing.

]]> By: gipsy http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-238 gipsy Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:00:11 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-238 <p>Lufthansa goes through Frankfurt, and then on to Bordeaux so that might be an option I suppose....at least I'd only have to collect them once!! OR I could fly into Paris and drive down from there..Was warned about collecting animals from the larger airports though, as they said it was a much simpler process from the smaller ones...(This girl took NINE cats and a dog to France with her..Brave heart!!!) Anyway thanks for the info... and by the way, my two cats look like yours!!!</p> Lufthansa goes through Frankfurt, and then on to Bordeaux so that might be an option I suppose….at least I’d only have to collect them once!! OR I could fly into Paris and drive down from there..Was warned about collecting animals from the larger airports though, as they said it was a much simpler process from the smaller ones…(This girl took NINE cats and a dog to France with her..Brave heart!!!) Anyway thanks for the info… and by the way, my two cats look like yours!!!

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-235 Joe Kissell Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:19:59 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-235 <p>gipsy: You'll have to call whatever airline you're using to find out their policies. Usually, if you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight, you go through immigration and customs at the first airport. But only the airline would be likely to know for sure.</p> gipsy: You’ll have to call whatever airline you’re using to find out their policies. Usually, if you’re connecting from an international flight to a domestic flight, you go through immigration and customs at the first airport. But only the airline would be likely to know for sure.

]]> By: gipsy http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-233 gipsy Sun, 11 Nov 2007 18:42:49 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-233 <p>Hello I am soon to be traveling the same route to France, complete with three suitcases and three animal cages, one dog two cats... Can you tell me that if two flights are involved, do they direct the animals on, and I pick up at the last destination??Or do I have to clear Customs at the first touch down, ala the US?</p> <p>I am going to be living down in the Charente but am not sure of the airport I'm going to just yet..Would like Poitier but was told animals can't fly into there,,(why???)so might be Bordeaux...</p> <p>Any advice?</p> <p>Very helpful account of your experience by the way..My Vet has been telling me he has to do a blood test on all of them, but now I can tell them its no longer necessary!!</p> <p>Cheers!</p> Hello I am soon to be traveling the same route to France, complete with three suitcases and three animal cages, one dog two cats… Can you tell me that if two flights are involved, do they direct the animals on, and I pick up at the last destination??Or do I have to clear Customs at the first touch down, ala the US?

I am going to be living down in the Charente but am not sure of the airport I’m going to just yet..Would like Poitier but was told animals can’t fly into there,,(why???)so might be Bordeaux…

Any advice?

Very helpful account of your experience by the way..My Vet has been telling me he has to do a blood test on all of them, but now I can tell them its no longer necessary!!

Cheers!

]]> By: Joe Kissell http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Joe Kissell Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:33:03 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-151 <p>Sally: We flew on Northwest, which is the most pet-friendly airline we could find. I don't know if they'll let you bring more than one pet in the cabin, but it's worth asking. Be sure to call them well in advance of your flight, because they have limits on the number of animals allowed in the cabin on each flight. But if they say no, call back in another week or two - the story could change, as it did for us.</p> Sally: We flew on Northwest, which is the most pet-friendly airline we could find. I don’t know if they’ll let you bring more than one pet in the cabin, but it’s worth asking. Be sure to call them well in advance of your flight, because they have limits on the number of animals allowed in the cabin on each flight. But if they say no, call back in another week or two – the story could change, as it did for us.

]]> By: sally http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/comment-page-1/#comment-150 sally Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:28:47 +0000 http://trufflesforbreakfast.com/2007/07/23/clawing-through-the-red-tape-the-formalities-of-importing-a-pet/#comment-150 <p>... oops.. yes so far I have not found an airline that will allow them in the cabin cheers</p> … oops.. yes so far I have not found an airline that will allow them in the cabin cheers

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