Moving your dog to New Zealand from Europe part 2 (animal shipment)

When I said that collecting papers they require for a dog to enter NZ would be the most difficult part I was not exactly correct.

It took me recently about a month to find a safe way to ship dogs to Auckland from Helsinki.

As a side fact I have currently "adopted" friends' dog for a while. The animal is a White West Highland terrier, 8 years old cute girl, who is originally from Russia, has lived with me in Finland for more than half a year and has a Finnish passport. She will very soon finally meet her Russian family in Auckland!

So yes, I'm traveling with two dogs.

To cut a VERY long story short I just briefly mention that I pretty much called all airplane companies who fly to NZ from Helsinki and Germany: Finnair, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean airlines, Malaysian airlines - were among of them. All these companies do not allow dogs on board or as a checked luggage. They offer only one option which is cargo. When you ask for details they forward you to a third cargo company. 

The only company that seems to transfer animals by themselves is Singaporean airlines. However, they have recently stopped to ship any kind of terriers because dogs of these breeds died too often during the flight..

Stress was approaching my top level when finally I found contacts of two companies that specialize in shipping dogs on long distances: one in Frankfurt (Germany) and one in Helsinki (Finland). They were either advised by people who used their services before or by NZ qarantine facilities.

In fact, the Finnish company was not new for me, I have been in contact with them previously when we were planning to move in August.

Price-wise both companies offered almost the same service, however, the German company would require me to ship dogs to Frankfurt by myself (even though they claim they can do it on their web page)

A sales manager, Mattias Sjöberg, from the Finnish company, Travel Cargo - Pet Express, a division of Airport Travel Cargo Finland Oy, was just so much more friendly and helpful, that i made my mind to ship dogs through them in the end.

The price of service totally depends on the size of dogs and needed containers. In our case it was supposed to be around 3000e for both animals.

Included in the price:

Receiving at Helsinki-Vantaa airport during normal office hours (weekdays 8-17), cargo documents, AVI-fee, cargo to Amsterdam, receiving in Amsterdam, 1 night boarding for 2 dogs,  Kennel sealing and legalisation of certification B, cargo via Hong Kong to Auckland as free arrival uninsured.

General conditions:
1. Receiver pays any additional release/terminal charges in Auckland
2. Shipper is responsible for all needed documents both export and import (vaccinations, import permits, health certificate, suitable transportation boxes ac.cording to IATA regulations)
3. Offer is subject to space and availability, changes in freight charges, and subject to force majeure conditions
4. In Air Cargo 1m3 equals 167 kg and charges are based on either volume or actual weight.
5. Subject to prepayment or as agreed (credit card payments are ok).

But really, nothing, exactly nothing, went easy about shipping and preparing dogs.
The biggest problem was that the flight could not be booked  more than 21 days before the departure. Also I didn't know from the beginning the booking quarantine in NZ and receiving a Permit to Import must be done before booking dogs flight. When I found it out it was already a bit late and i almost all went gray trying to speed up. Succeeded with all papers in time.

BUT then there came another surprise, we couldn't ship the dogs through Amsterdam anymore.
The reason was that the international airport in Amsterdam doesn't have an international bio security room for dogs and they must be transferred from the airport to another facility. This fact somehow made it impossible to go through Amsterdam. However, after we changed the flight already I have finally received an answer from MAF that in fact they don't care and it's up to a government vet in Holland if he signs papers. I still didn't exactly understand if it's okay or not, but fortunately, our shipper has changed the flight already. Actually it was changed twice as there were no places on the first plane anymore. Just to add, the whole new flight thing cost almost 3000 more and the shipper suggested to cover these costs as the change in the regulations regarding Amsterdam was not my mistake. I mean that's what I call human relations and Finnish honest service.

As an important update I have to point now that one of the dogs, Chiquita has been just forbidden to import to NZ due to not ABSOLUTELY perfect blood results of particular kind. You can read more about it in the post about preparing dogs for export. So from now on I talk about shipping one dog, Yuki, Westhighland white terrier. Chiquita, Yorkshire terrier, stays in Finland for a while to undergo additional tests and repeat already made ones (sic). Hopefully she will be in NZ in the middle of March already. I will add her part then.

To be continued

Stressed, very stressed,
Lena

October 2012 Helsinki

Moving your dog to New Zealand from Europe (paper work)

It was not really a question if my DOG was moving to New Zealand. It was a question if WE move there until I found that it's possible to bring a dog along.

 

This post is for happy owners of a pet, those who love it as a true member of a family and want to share every joy with the loved ones.

Please note, my experience is different from yours, if you bring a pet from outside EU.

Important links:

The best start of your research, anyway, is the following document:

biosecurity.govt.nz

FAQ from the MAF web page (the MUST to read):
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/node/2932/related_faqs

If you bring your friend from Russia, please, take a look at the topic on my favourite forum:

Ввоз собаки в НЗ

The post will be updated step by step until I freely hug my girl in Auckland.

You can do it,

Elena

15.01.2012 Helsinki, Finland

UPDATE:

Hello all,

It took half a year for me to be able to write an update here. I was waiting for Chiquita's vaccinations to become old enough to renew them, and making a clear plan of the following steps meanwhile. Now let's go straight to the business without colorful pictures but pure facts and my personal experience instead.

First of all, Chiquita's background:

• 2 years when moving to NZ
• 2 kg, standard Yorkshire terrier
• Country of origin - Russia. Moved to Finland when she was 2,5 months. Traveling to NZ as a dog from Finland
• Microchip installed in Russia (27.07.2011) You must be sure to submit proof of microchip implantation date with your import permit application.  This can be in the form of a microchip certificate with implantation date,  a vet letter confirming the microchip number and implantation date (source MAF web page)
• Tattoo made in Russia when born
• No special diet or health problems.  

Name and address of the clinic where we have received vaccinations and the Finnish passport:
Vallilan Eläinääkäriasema: http://vallilanelainlaakariasema.fi/etusivu/
Was chosen at first because of the close location, but turned out to be a really good place with kind and  professional staff. They know what they do there!

Our calender is based on the official guide:
Official guide (in the end of the document there is a very helpful table for you)


Leaving day JANUARY 30th 2013

Checklist aka calender

1) FINNISH PET PASSPORT (note: should be obtained before rabies vaccination)
19.3.12
16 euros
Takes about 5 minutes
Contains following information:
Name of the owner and his home address in Finland,
Name, breed, date of birth of the dog,
Information about microchip and tattoo (tattoo is optional)
Information about all vaccinations and tests (to be put successively)

2) RABIES (note: should be made more than 6 months, less than 1 year before moving to NZ)  
19.3.12
66 euros
Takes about 5 minutes
Drontal or other complete gastrointestinal worm treatment for dogs should be given 10-14 days prior to rabies vaccination. In Finland you can buy Drontal from the normal human pharmacy and give it to the dog at home (about 6 euros).
IMPORTANT: You need to understand a difference between a primary vaccination and a booster. Difficult it sounds but easy it is.
Primary: first rabies vaccination given to a dog (usually after dog's teeth have changed, around 8 months), it MUST be repeated. 2d vaccination is given not less than six months and 1st, not less than one year prior to shipment.
Booster: basically, 2d vaccination given after the primary one (which consists of two itself, see above)
Should be given not more than one year prior to shipment.
Still not clear enough? See a paragraph from the MAF page:

What is considered to be a 'booster' rabies vaccination?
When two (or more) rabies vaccinations have been given consecutively according to the duration of immunity of the vaccine.
Example
1st vax 24 January 2008 - (Rabdomun - 3 yr duration of immunity)
2nd vax 20 January 2011 - (Rabdomun - 3 yr duration of immunity).
The 2nd vax is considered a booster provided the pet was microchipped prior to or at the same time as the previous vaccination. If the pet was not microchipped on or before 24 January 2008, then the 20 January 2011 vaccination would be considered the primary vaccination. Consequently, you would need to wait at least 6 months after the 20 January 2011 vaccination before you could export your pet to New Zealand.
Note: Booster vaccinations must be given within one year of shipment, and primary vaccinations must be given between 6 months and one year of shipment.

3) RABIES TITRE TEST (not less than 3 months before the leave, not more than 24 months) not later than November 1st, better September-October
12.10.2012 
70 euros vet clinic fee + 90 euros actual test examination from the government clinic = 160e
Received results in about a week. Both Finnish and English copies

IMPORTANT: I DO RECOMMEND TO DO THIS TEST AS MUCH IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE.

You can make the test in any vet clinic in Finland, however the blood will be then sent to the official goverment laboratory, EVIRA, which analyses the blood that a vet clinic forward to them.

Rabies titre test shows how well animal produces antibodies to kill rabies. As I understood, they dilute blood many times to see what's the minimum consentration that can still fight the rabies. The generally accepted minimum is 0.50 IU/mL.

The test itself is just a basic collection of blood from an animal paw, something like at least 100 ml. Even though our test was collected on Friday, it was not a problem for the vet clinic to send it on Monday, because they freeze blood kind of.  

Now why you must leave more than 3-4 months prior to deparure to make the test. Many dogs, especially small ones, show low results! It can be because of avaccination that was not good/srong enough, or just because the animal itself did not produce antibodies well for natural reasons, or basically it can be anything.
A doctor in our vet clinic told me that some dogs have to get these tests more than 3 times before they show enough antibodies! If your dog has a little antibodies, you make a new vaccination against rabies, wait 1 month and make the rabies titre test again. It takes so much time! Be sure to make this test in advance (not more than 2 years beforehand though)

4) INTERNAL PARASITE TREATMENT (1st 30 days before leave, 2d 4 days before leave)
January 2d, January 28th

5) EXTERNAL PARASITE TREATMENT (1st 30 days before leave, 2d 2 days before leave)
January 2d, January 30th 

6) HEARTWORM TEST (30 days before leave)
 January 2d

7) HEARTWORM TREATMENT (4 days before leave)
 January 28th

8) BABESIA GIBSONI TEST with negative result (16 days before leave)
January 16th

9) BRUCELLA CANIS TESTING with negative result (16 days before leave)
 January 16th

10) LEPTOSPIROSIS (for 14 days 30 days before leave)
January 13th

11) EXAMINATION (2 days before) 
January 29th

12) IMPORTER BREED DECLARATION January 29th

13) CATEGORY 3: MODEL VETERINARY CERTIFICATE A FOR CATS AND DOGS FROM SPECIFIED COUNTRIES WHERE RABIES IS ABSENT OR WELL CONTROLLED
 January 29th

14) PERMIT TO IMPORT (at least 10 days in advance,  recommended - at least six weeks before shipment )
December 1st or before
167NZD=105e
If you are traveling with more than 1 animal you need 1 permit to import for all of your pets.
In order to receive a permit to import you need to have the following:
• Complete and signed permit application form

• Booking for an approved transitional (quarantine) facility
  Recommended to be arranged at least six weeks before shipment
• Proof of rabies vaccine (and if this vaccine is a booster, the most recent vaccine prior to the booster) and a copy of the rabies titre test, with microchip numbers on all vaccination and treatment records, laboratory results, and certification.
• Confirmation of date of microchip implantation.

15) ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF ARRIVAL (72 hours in advance at least) should be sent to MAF
latest January 28th
Must include following information:
• flight/ship number
• date and time of arrival
• consignee’s name and contact details
• species and breed
• number of animals in consignment
• country of origin
• quarantine facility booked (if applicable)
• bill of lading (if known) and
• whether importer/agent is on board same flight

TO BE UPDATED AND CONTINUED

Nobody said it would be easy,
Elena
27.07.2012 Helsinki, Finland