If I brought my dog to the USA on a pet passport would it need to go into quarantine?

Question

my husband (who is American) and I are moving to the USA in 2009 and we want to bring my 7 year old golden lab with us. We cant find out if we need to put her into quarantine for 6 months if she has a pet passport. She wouldnt do well in quarantine as she was beaten to near death by her previous owner.

Answer 1

I am guessing that you are from the United Kingdom? Is that correct?

If so and you say your dog as been issued with a pet passport, this means that the dog as already been chipped, vaccinated against rabies and had his blood tests back.

If this is also correct then the United States does qualify for the PETS scheme, meaning dog will not need to be put into quarantine, providing all of the above is done and you have all of the veterinary paperwork with you that proves this.

Between now and then, just make sure that your dog is up-to-date on all it's vaccinations and the paperwork is properly up to date.

If you have any further questions you should either contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (the website can be found below) or contact your vet.

You can also get more information State side from the 2nd and 3rd links

Answer 2

In essence yes, but dogs from the USA can now come in via the Pet Passport scheme (see the DEFRA website) which means they do their 'quarantine' over there. They don't need to go into a q.kennel in the UK. However, if any part of the Pet Passport requirements are not right, they will be held in a quarantine facility in the UK. So make sure you have everything in place before you bring/send a dog over. It takes roughly the 6 months they would have spent in kennels, but obviously, as they can stay with their original owner, it's much kinder!! Add - The relaxation in the UK q.rules does not only apply to 'competition dogs'. btw.

Answer 3

The answer you already received was awesome. And web sites to boot!