20 replies to this topic

[Gloria Atwater]

Howdy all ~

Since I know folks on these boards have imported dogs from overseas, I'm here to ask a question. A friend of mine is contemplating buying an import dog from the UK, but she's not sure how she wants to go about it. A few years ago she got an imported pup, and he arrived in good shape, but he was in that crate something like 18 hours, and had to endure a layover in Germany along the way. So, she's just wondering what options there may (or may not) be.

It's not hard to find information on the DEFRA website on how to take dogs to the UK. But I'm having a harder time learning options about bringing dogs from the UK to the US. Now, I know the days of bringing dogs back as baggage are long past, and that only certain airlines will even ship dogs overseas.

But what I'm trying to find out for my friend is this. Would it be at all cost-sensible for her to send someone (me) over to escort her prospective dog home to the US? Or would the dog be shipped as a parcel or whatever, regardless, and maybe not even be on the same plane as a human companion?

Can anyone advise?

~ Gloria

[DeltaBluez Tess]

I have Angie from Kinloch do all of my paperwork, etc....makes it really easy...

[Liz P]

My understanding is that it's much less hassel and potentially cheaper to fly with a dog than ship it unaccompanied. Cost depends on the size of the dog and if you can get a cheap ticket.

[Gloria Atwater]

Liz, I know that's how it used to be. I just wonder what may have changed and if anyone could advise from personal experience or first-hand knowledge. Everything is in flux since 9-11.

~ Gloria

[Tea]

Ok Gloria, if you go you gotta get a pup for me too!



And Talk to Angie she is great.

[Rua]

tbh I believe it all depends on the size of the dog. When we moved from England to the US we brought our 2 bc mix's with us. Neither was small enough to be allowed passage in cabin. Size, airline and such are all things you have to take into consideration.So they ended up flying ahead of us., but they handled the trip well. I think I might still have the documents from a company over there that handled it all for us. I will find it and post it here if that will help you.. Just need bit of time to find that particular folder. =)

[airbear]

I shipped a 5 month-old pup this spring from the UK using Skymaster, who operate out of the Manchester airport. IIRC, it was about $1200 to ship the dog direct to Canada. I think he was in the crate for about 11 hours altogether. The challenge is getting the dog to the Manchester airport, with the appropriate papers. If you contact someone who ships dogs frequently, they may be able to help you for a small fee. Kevin Evans did the paperwork for the pup I shipped, as well as got him to the airport.

[Liz P]

That is the information I was given as of summer 2011.

[Gloria Atwater]

Thanks, everyone.

I think my friend was hoping to *avoid* having to use an agent, and since the first dog she had shipped went from the UK to spend several hours waiting in Germany, before catching a flight to the US, she wanted to see if she could have more control over how things went.

Maybe using an animal-shipping agent is the only way, but if she could have someone on the same flight with the dog, even if it's down in baggage, I think she'd feel better. Anyhow, I'm still digging.

Lol, and Tea, if you pick the pup, I'll see what I can do. But I'm not getting any puppies for myself!

~ Gloria

[HillcrestBCs]

I am currently importing a bitch in whelp from Kevin Evans. It is not cheap, but I think it comes out to about the same if I were to buy a ticket to travel to Wales and then pay for shipping her back with me.
If you were to buy a ticket to travel to the UK, you would also stay in a hotel and pay for food and then the shipping of the dog back here. Even though it is possibly cheaper for the dog part of it, I don't think you really save that much overall.
I have not had to use an agent as Kevin is doing all of the booking etc.

Brittney

[Gloria Atwater]

Thanks, Brittney.

I do have friends over there with whom I can stay, so I wouldn't be out the hotel fees, but probably it would break pretty nearly even.

As it is, however, my friend is looking into the possibility of someone who lives in the UK bringing the dog to the US with him, when he comes over to California in February. So it may end up being a lot simpler, since she'd only have to pay the dog's shipping and part of the gentleman's one-way airfare.

Thanks for your input!

~ gloria

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

Ms. Atwater writes: Now, I know the days of bringing dogs back as baggage are long past, and that only certain airlines will even ship dogs overseas.

http://www.britishai...licy_comair.pdf

Donald McCaig

[Gloria Atwater]

Thank you, Mr. McCaig! I wasn't clever enough to find that. Thank you for rendering me better informed.

~ Gloria

[Tea]

ok Gloria



Got my pups all picked out!!!

[Eileen Stein]

Dear Doggers,

Ms. Atwater writes: Now, I know the days of bringing dogs back as baggage are long past, and that only certain airlines will even ship dogs overseas.

http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/travelprep/petpolicy_comair.pdf

Donald McCaig

I would be cautious about assuming that this link contains policies that apply to flights from the UK to the US. At a quick reading, it seems to be a policy governing flights within and from South Africa. I say this because Comair Ltd is a South African airline, the fees are quoted in Rands, it defines "domestic flights" as "flights within the Republic of South Africa," etc. It may be that British Airways has the same policies for flights from the UK to the US, but I think you'd need to look elsewhere to find out if this is so.

[Gloria Atwater]

Tea, you crack me up.

Anyhow, it's looking like my friend might be having someone bring the dog over with him, when he comes from the UK to California in February. So, much of this may be a moot point, after all.

~ Gloria

[Donald McCaig]

Dear Doggers,

I thank Eileen for the correction. I mis-googled.
Donald

I would be cautious about assuming that this link contains policies that apply to flights from the UK to the US. At a quick reading, it seems to be a policy governing flights within and from South Africa. I say this because Comair Ltd is a South African airline, the fees are quoted in Rands, it defines "domestic flights" as "flights within the Republic of South Africa," etc. It may be that British Airways has the same policies for flights from the UK to the US, but I think you'd need to look elsewhere to find out if this is so.

[Rudolph]

My dog was brought over from Argentina approximately 3.5 years ago.
He flew with an acquaintance of mine, in the cargo area (I was told that no dogs are allowed in the plane for international flights).
Traveling with someone was way cheaper than shipping him. (The ticket was only $150 vs. $1800 which I had been quoted from other sources.)
When she checked in at the airport, she showed his paperwork (certificate form vet saying he was healthy to travel and proof of immunizations), paid his "ticket," and a little over 12 hours later, they arrived in Chicago. The dog went through customs, but he did not have to be quarantined.

Hope this helps.

Tina

Howdy all ~

Since I know folks on these boards have imported dogs from overseas, I'm here to ask a question. A friend of mine is contemplating buying an import dog from the UK, but she's not sure how she wants to go about it. A few years ago she got an imported pup, and he arrived in good shape, but he was in that crate something like 18 hours, and had to endure a layover in Germany along the way. So, she's just wondering what options there may (or may not) be.

It's not hard to find information on the DEFRA website on how to take dogs to the UK. But I'm having a harder time learning options about bringing dogs from the UK to the US. Now, I know the days of bringing dogs back as baggage are long past, and that only certain airlines will even ship dogs overseas.

But what I'm trying to find out for my friend is this. Would it be at all cost-sensible for her to send someone (me) over to escort her prospective dog home to the US? Or would the dog be shipped as a parcel or whatever, regardless, and maybe not even be on the same plane as a human companion?

Can anyone advise?

~ Gloria

[Gloria Atwater]

Thank you, Tina! It's encouraging to hear a good success story.

~ Gloria

[DeltaBluez Tess]

I brought two pups over about 4 years ago. It was far cheaper to check them in a second bag than cargo.

However, now I have Angie (Kinloch) do all the paperwork. She might be able to hook up a ride back with a person, if given enough notice. I suggest emailing Angie and see want she can do or offer.