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Photo by Chris Boland Foter CC BY-NC-ND |
Animal
Planet host weighs in on pet travel: Health records and crossing
the border
When you picture a family vacation do you see your pets there with you? Imagine the sun on your face and the sand beneath your feet- and your dog by your side. Does it seem attainable? Animal Planet host and Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner thinks that it is and he has teamed up with Petco to help pet owners prepare for a trip with their pets. Although it does require a lot of planning in advance and dedicated research, traveling with your dog or cat can be a safe and enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Schachner knows
this because he is living it. He and I interviewed over the phone May 6 while
he was in sunny Florida, US at the Trade Winds Grand Resort on St.
Pete beach with Hank. Hank is a 5 year old hound mix who is available for
adoption at the Humane
Society of Tampa Bay. Schachner himself is a foster parent to a poodle
and spaniel mix. Trade Winds Grand Resort is a pet friendly resort-
one of many that are converting to pro-pet throughout North America. Schachner
has traveled with pets many times and he knows that the first time going
foreign with Fido can be overwhelming.
“The very
first time is a very stressful time because it’s like travelling with a small
child for the first time,” Schachner explained. “Basically you’re in charge of
a living thing for the duration of the flight- which can be unpredictable.”
Schachner
says that the key thing that successful border crossing pet owners do that others
don’t do is start planning well in advance. Good research takes time for
Canadians wanting to visit places like summery, hot Florida where Schachner is.
“You know they say ‘measure twice, cut once.’ (Pet travel is) the same thing:
research twice, travel once,” said Schachner.
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Photo by cheesy42 Photo CC BY-NC-ND |
Documents and health records
“If you’re travelling from an
outside country into the US make sure you have your most up to date vet record.
That’s the number one thing they are going to look for- especially in customs,”
Schachner said. He also recommends having all vaccinations up-to date and
documentation proving that. Not only do vaccines keep your pet safe from
infectious diseases and bacteria that may be more prevalent in a foreign
country but the rabies vaccine is a MUST
HAVE when entering almost every country. It is a requirement of the US
Customs and Border Security that all dogs and cats entering the US have
current rabies vaccine and documentation that states the following:
“The rabies vaccination
certificate should include:
·
Name
and address of owner
·
Breed,
sex, age, color, markings, and other identifying information for the dog
·
Date
of rabies vaccination and vaccine product information
·
Date
the vaccination expires
Name, license number, address, and signature of veterinarian
Pet owners should check with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as their destination state or territory for additional requirements to import dogs.”
Can’t find your vaccine certificate? To get a copy of your pet’s current vaccine history owners must call the clinic that provided their pets with their most current vaccines and request a new copy. Since certificates with rabies vaccine documentation must be signed by the Doctor that provided the vaccine it may take more than 48 hours to be ready so don’t leave it to the last minute and don’t just walk off the street and expect one quickly.
The Government
of Canada provides pet owners with a Canadian
International Health Certificate to make crossing the border with your
pet easier. Schachner also recommends having an up-to-date pet ID tag in case
the animal is separated from its family while on vacation. The Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) also offers detailed requirements for
dogs, cats and exotic pets crossing the border. Different States will
have different risks for pets too- for instance Florida has a high percentage
of dogs with heart worm- as do some other states shown on the most current Heart
Worm Society map. Up to date parasite protection is a good idea but not
all medications may be allowed into foreign countries.
To get information about
bringing veterinary drugs into the US contact the FDA.
Research what restrictions the State you are visiting may have well in advance.
Schachner’s message is that preparation is key throughout the whole process.
“Do your research- I can’t stress this enough,” Schachner urges.
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