Every country has different import requirements. Some have quarantine periods as long as 180 days. Waiting or procrastinating with the import process of your pet could mean a delay in your PCS, quarantine at your destination, increased cost, or ultimately pet not being permitted to take your pet with you. This means it is very important to start the import process as soon as you know you are headed overseas.
In the past, the United Kingdom held to strict requirements compared to a more relaxed approach of the rest of Europe. This is no longer the case as of 1 March 2012. The European Union has standardized their import requirements for pets, adopting the same rules as the UK, requiring a 21-day waiting period after rabies vaccinations. Previously, the European Union did not adhere strictly to the waiting period. With the new rules, however, a veterinarian will be unable to legally endorse a health certificate not meeting the 21-day waiting requirement, and your pet could be placed in quarantine. Owners taking pets to the United Kingdom will no longer be required to have a Rabies Serology test done, (also known as a Titer-level test or a FAVN), saving them roughly $100 per pet.
We always recommend microchipping pets as young as possible. The first and foremost reason is lost pet recovery. Pets that go missing without proper ID have a 90% chance of never being reunited with their owners. Collars and ID tags are simply not enough. They can fall off, be slipped out of, or even maliciously discarded. Another important reason we recommend early microchipping is vaccine validity. Think of a microchip as a social security number for your pet. Without identification, there is no way to positively track what vaccines were given to a pet. Just as humans need proper identification to ensure they are whom they say they are. A microchip offers affirmative identification for your pet. Microchipping is also the first requirement for exporting your pet, and having one done early can potentially save you money should you get orders overseas. If your pet already has a microchip and you are unsure of the number, the company, or whether it is compatible for overseas, give us a call and we will scan your pet for no charge and provide you the information. Finally, we also recommend keeping your pet’s vaccinations up to date. Should they ever become overdue, they cannot be counted towards import requirements. Again, this could end up costing you more money and time.
When it comes to import requirements and preparing your pets for an OCONUS move, the Mountain Home Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility is knowledgeable, experienced, and the overall best value. Our microchips are only $25.00. We offer pet health certificate discounts for owners who are on orders overseas and, for most countries, can save you the hassle of going up to the USDA office in Boise to get your health certificates endorsed. We also recommend starting and finishing the process with the same vet clinic. This will save you the headache and hassle of trying to juggle all the different documents between clinics.
The Mountain Home Air Force Base Veterinary Treatment Facility is open Monday through Thursday 0800-1200 and 1300-1600, and on Friday 1200-1600. Our phone number is (208)828-2221.
