Pet Passport

[CaptainDavidB]

Hi Everyone,
New guy here, 58 years old, kids gone, gonna buy an older catamaran and take off. 100 ton masters, with sailing endorsement, have made a handful of offshore passages. Working Tugboat captain by trade.
Question is I have an 8 year old lab, she loves being on any boat, can't imagine going without her or waiting until she's gone. Have read horror stories about quarantines in some countries, I've read about pet passports, the big concern I see is the Rabies Vaccine. Any have any experience with clearing an animal in and out of customs? Thanks for all advice.

[OneLeggedParrot]

DITTO

-Similar situation here, not as many endorsements () but we've got a younger CAT, and going cruising -thinking about getting a small dog (our other one passed away not long ago). I know you will need all the papers for your animal's shots and any history relevant -they want to make sure you're not bringing in a diseased pet, and if you're not going to allow it onshore, even better (issues with being on the hard or at a dock is more common).

So far, it looks like each country has their own policies.

SO FAR THE BEST RESULTS I'VE FOUND ARE on NOONSITE.com

Noonsite -Countries
1) find the countries you want to know about
2) Scroll down the left side to "pets" and click to check out the info
3) also check out the rest of their customs/immigrations (etc) links.

For instance, for Tonga: Tonga —
-At the very bottom of the page headings, there's a pet section (so far all the countries on Noonsite have this same layout, but not all have a link for the sub-section you can click as of 2017/01).
In Tonga you'll need a "quarantine certificate" (what's that anyway, where to get it also?) or the dog may be destroyed (presumably you could say screw it and sail on, pending provisions- I mean, why bother anchoring or staying if they're going to euthanize your beloved pet- takes all the joy out of the place).

I don't recall where I found more info, but someone (maybe here) posted how and where to get these certificates (for Tonga), as well as what happened when their cat/dog got off the boat (there or in Fiji?)-as I recall, they had to pay the immigration/bio/customs officers who showed up at checking in something like 1200$USD or more "holding fee" BOND for their quarantine license", plus the officials "coming out the boat fees", then they couldn't come to the dock for a certain "Quarantine" period of time. In one case, when they did go to a dock, someone apparently let their dog off the boat one night then kept the quarantine/bio fee in an apparent scam- owners they said there was no way the animal could have gotten of by itself- and the local customs people got to then "keep" the 1500 local currency -and they lost their dog/cat and cash when it came time to sail on. Just a FYI to be on guard of ways locals might find to make more money when and how they can- after all you have a "YACHT" and must be "WEALTHY" -!

We're making a list of all places we're considering going, and checking each country via Noonsite and google and the forums as well. Noonsite seems the best resource so far, and developed nations have regular pages that show up on google.

SO FAR

1st world nations have more set policies that don't seem to change much, and can be looked up on their immigration/customs/entry formalities pages.
2nd/3rd world nations, and island countries seem to change it year by year, with some exceptions being that places like Fiji -which never allow you to have your animal on-shore without a lot of hassle, money and issues.

some additional resources: (might update as we find more- is there a sticky anywhere here on the forums? If not, might start a new thread?)

CITES Endandered Species and Fauna Countries: https://cites.org/eng

and just this, as an example of a modern nation -has special agencies:
Singapore: Home | AVA
& https://licence1.business.gov.sg/AVA...owLogin.action



Hope something useful here!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, David.

[Matt Johnson]

We spent a month in Miami getting a pet passport from the USDA for our cat to go to Europe. In the end, nobody wanted to see it. Next time we cross, we're just going to the Azores and having a vet issue a certificate there.... much easier than dealing with the USDA.

Your regular rabies and vet info is needed in the Caribbean.

Matt

[UNCIVILIZED]

Along with the pet's immunization record, it can't hurt to have "references" for your pet. Meaning letters from others attesting to the pet's manners. Both cruisers, as well as locals (officials, & otherwise) in the countries that your pet's visited. So that there's a written history that your dog isn't the sort to scare folks, dig up their yard, scare or kill livestock, etc. And having a pet of a breed known for earning it's keep could help too. Such as a Queensland Heeler being a shepherd. Along with being good with kids. Or just fun loving, & willing to play frisbee with most anyone. Plus you might even have your vet include a seperate official letter attesting to your pet having been spayed or neutered. Thus given most of the above, not only is the pet not a liability, but might be an asset. Kind of like kids generally are great boat ambassadors.