Taking your Dog to America

We have a large-ish (30kg) Labrador Retriever that we bought in Cambodia and are taking home to the USA with us when we move back in late June, 2009.

The process of finding out what paperwork is required and how to do it, as well as discovering what airlines are reliable, has been difficult. Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Dogs larger than 10 KG can only travel in a pressurized cargo hold (at least on Thai Airways). Specifically, you can take a dog in the cabin if it is less than "10kgs including the container not exceeding the measurements (55length x 37width x 30height in CMS)".

2. Thai Airways flies planes in and out of Cambodia with a pressurized cargo hold. Korean, Dragon, Silk, and most others do not. Because of routings, we did not look into Eva Air or Malaysian. Maybe the next person can look into this and update this page.

3. There is really no problem with getting your dog into the USA: Basically, you need proof of rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States and the dog must pass a visual inspection upon arrival. There are special circumstances for dogs below 3 months of age who have not been vaccinated.) The US Government does not require a health certificate.

The instructions from the US Government Agriculture Department are here:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_pets.shtml

Further information from the Centers for Disease Control is here:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal/dogs.htm

However, for Thai Airways flights to Bangkok and onward to the USA, the following document( and procedures are required, and some of them are repetitive, creating a lot of confusion.

Here is a link to Thai Airways’ pet regulations:
http://www.prthaiairways.com/thaiair_4p/front/knowledge_detail.php?lg=en...

Common Incorrect Instructions that you may get: If your travel agent is not very experienced with this process, he or she may tell you the two following incorrect/false facts.
1. FALSE: You need an export license for your pet. This is not true for your pet, only for animals that are being transported for commercial purposes. If you go to the government office to ask for this, you will pay dearly. Don’t bother.
2. FALSE: You need a health certificate from a government office (the Office of Animal Health and Production). What you actually need is a certificate from a Veterinarian who is recognized by the government. Agrovet (Street 294 between 51 and 57) is recognized by the Cambodian government. If you go to the Government asking for this certificate, you will pay dearly (between $100 and $700).

If you want to fly Thai, ignore the incorrect instructions and do the following to book your dog to the USA.

Follow this sequence exactly to avoid headaches!

I recommend booking directly at the Thai Airways office on Mao Tse Tung Boulevard, right next to the Intercontinental Hotel. This will save you time and frustration, since travel agents don’t seem to understand the rules clearly.

1) Before you go to book your ticket (no matter when you are leaving), go to Agrovet and acquire the following documents:
a. Health Certificate for Small Animals In Transit
b. Certificate of “First Vaccination” against Rabies for Domestic Animals. This must have a serial number including the batch number of the rabies vaccine.

2) You must first book your ticket before you can make a reservation for your dog. If you go to the Thai Airways Office to book your ticket, you can do this all at once.

3) Take with you to the Thai Airways Office:
a. Health Certificate for Small Animals In Transit
b. Certificate of “First Vaccination” against Rabies for Domestic Animals. This must have a serial number including the batch number of the rabies vaccine.
c. Your vaccination history “book” if you have one (not clear whether this is required)
d. The dimensions (in cm) of the crate that your dog will occupy, and the approximate weight of the dog and the crate.
e. Your passport

4) Book your flight and make a reservation for your dog. Thai Airways will call you within 5 days to confirm your dog’s reservation. This appears to be a formality, but expect the call anyway.

5) Receive confirmation of the dog’s space on the flight.

Now your’re done with the “booking,” but HERE’S WHERE THE PROCESS GETS REPETITIVE!

6) Within 5 days of (before) your departure, GO BACK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN. Get a new “Health Certificate for Small Animals In Transit” dated less than 5 days prior to your departure. This is “Insurance,” as it may or may not be required by the airline, but you should play it safe. You don’t want any hassles at the airport. (This certificate, incidentally, is NOT required by the US government—only by the airline, and only “maybe,” but be safe).

For flights to the USA, you will pay for the dog as an extra piece of baggage (we were quoted between $150 and $200 by Thai)

I will update this page when we get through the process if there is anything else that is required of us!

Additional Suggestions that are not official (procedural) requirements:

Decorate the outside of the crate with a note to airline employees (in English and Thai) and with pictures of yourself and your pet. Apparently, this is effective in getting people to “look out” for your dog.
Don’t put food in the crate—the dog will end up covered in his/her own excrement.

Good Luck!