RUDY HAS ARRIVED

Rudy is finally here! After flying from Nashville to Atlanta to Los Angeles... he arrived in Sydney on Thursday. He has to stay in quarantine for 10 days but we were able to visit him yesterday. It was SO GOOD to see him! And he remembered us...which I was worried about. Poor little feller has been through a lot but we are very happy he is finally on this side of the world. Won't be long until we are all back together again!

As I've mentioned before, bringing an animal into this country is a LONG and EXPENSIVE process. There were a lot of steps we had to take and we had very specific time requirements:

Step 1: Confirm general eligibility
Timeframe: Before starting the export process

• Dogs must not be under quarantine restrictions at the time of export and can only be exported to Australia from an approved country.
• Pregnancy: Dogs must not be more than 30 days pregnant nor be suckling young at the time of export.
• Dog Breeds: In accordance with the Customs (prohibited imports) Regulations 1956, dogs of the following pure breeds are prohibited and not eligible for import into Australia:
  • dogo Argentino; fila Brasileiro; Japanese tosa; American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier; Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario.
    [For information about prohibited dog breeds, contact the Australian Customs by phone: +61 2 6275 6666 or 1300 363 263 (within Australia) or email.]
  • Hybrids : Any domestic/non-domestic animal hybrids (e.g. wolf-dog crosses) are generally not eligible for import.
    [For information about prohibited dog breeds, contact the Department of the Environment on 1800 803 772.]

Step 2: Verify existing microchip or implant a new microchip
Timeframe: A microchip must be present before you can start blood sampling for any pre export testing

• Dogs must be identified by a microchip that can be read by an Avid, Trovan, Destron or other ISO compatible reader.
• A Government Approved Veterinarian must scan the microchip at each veterinary visit. The scanned microchip number must be correctly recorded on all documentation.
• If the microchip cannot be read or is inconsistent across the animal's documentation, the animal will not be eligible for import to Australia.

Step 3: Check Rabies Vaccination
Timeframe: Dependent on vaccine validity

• Your dog must be vaccinated with an inactivated rabies virus vaccine in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• Dogs must have a current rabies vaccination record at the time of export that shows that an inactivated vaccine was given when the dog was at least 90 days of age.
• Dogs must be more than 12 weeks of age when vaccinated.
• The rabies vaccine must be approved for use in dogs by the Competent Authority of the country of export.
• Three (3) yearly rabies vaccinations are acceptable.
• Rabies vaccinations must be administered in an approved country.

Step 4: Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test
Timeframe: Between 6 and 24 months before export

For your RNAT test  to be valid, the following requirements must be met:

• Following a rabies virus vaccination, a Government Approved Veterinarian must scan the animal’s microchip and collect a blood sample for the RNAT test.
• The blood sample must be drawn in a Department of Agriculture approved country.
• The animal’s microchip number must be written on the blood tube and the laboratory submission form.
• The testing laboratory must be approved by the Competent Authority in the exporting country. It is acceptable to draw blood in a Department of Agriculture approved country and be tested at a laboratory in a different approved country.
• The laboratory report must be in English and completed on the testing laboratory’s letterhead. The report must include the animal’s microchip number, the blood sampling date, the signature of the person responsible for issuing the laboratory report, the location where the blood sample was taken and test result.
• A result of 0.5 IU/ml or more is acceptable. A result of less than 0.5 IU/ml is not acceptable and in this circumstance you may re-vaccinate and repeat the testing process.
• The department recognises the RNAT test result for 24 months from the date of blood sampling to the date of export. The animal must have a valid RNAT test laboratory report at the time of export. If the RNAT test is due to expire (i.e., greater than 24 months old) prior to the date of export, you must have your dog retested prior to the expiry date.
• The animal is not eligible for export to Australia until at least one hundred and eighty (180) days have passed from the date that the blood sample is drawn for the RNAT test (with a satisfactory result).

Step 5: The Official Government Veterinarian must complete the Rabies Vaccination and Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test declaration
Timeframe: Before applying for the import permit

• You must contact an Official Government Veterinarian in the country of export to complete the RNAT test Declaration. This is not the Government Approved Veterinarian (your preparing veterinarian).
• You must submit the RNAT test laboratory report and rabies vaccination certificate to the Official Government Veterinarian so they can complete the RNAT test Declaration.
• The RNAT test Declaration form is available at Application to Import Cats and Dogs.
• The microchip number, test result and blood sampling date must be consistent between the RNAT test laboratory report and RNAT test Declaration.
• You must ensure that the completed RNAT test Declaration states the name of the testing laboratory, not the submitting laboratory.

Step 6: Apply and pay for the import permit
Timeframe: After you have received the completed Rabies Vaccination and RNAT test declaration, and at least 42 days prior to proposed date of export.

Please ensure you allow at least 20 working days for the processing and granting of your permit application. It is recommended that you read How to complete the import application before proceeding.
How to apply

• You may submit your import permit application, as well as full payment  and all supporting documentation  by any of the following methods:
• • Online application using e-lodge  (You must scan and attach all supporting documentation).
  • Manual application - send a copy of your application and all supporting documentation to:
  • • Email to Animal Import Operations Branch
    • Fax to +61 2 6272 3110; or
    • Post to Animal Import Operations Branch: GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
• Additional charges may be applied if information required to assess the application is missing,  incorrect or if an application is put on hold.
• Import permits are valid for up to twelve (12) months from the date of issue.

Step 7: Book tentative post arrival quarantine accommodation at an Australian government quarantine facility and make travel arrangements
Timeframe: After you have received your import permit

See the Australian Post Entry Quarantine Facilities webpage for information on booking quarantine accommodation and arranging transport for your dog(s).
Please also note the following:

• The department does not place any restrictions on the airline you choose. However, the animal must travel as "manifested cargo" (not in the cabin) and in an International Air Transport Association (IATA) approved crate for dogs.
• IATA guidelines can be viewed at Traveller's Pet Corner.
• There are animal transport companies in most countries that can make arrangements on your behalf. Visit Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International, Inc for a list of animal transport companies worldwide.
• The department accepts no responsibility for animals that escape en route, and all transport costs are at the importer's expense.

Transiting

• During transport to Australia dogs may transit (touch down but stay on the same plane) in all countries (department approved or not).

Transhipment

• The department does not accept certification provided by non-approved countries, therefore, transhipment of animals in non-approved countries is not recommended. The department strongly advises booking direct flights to prevent mishaps occurring.
• You may require prior approval from the competent authority in the country of transhipment.

Step 8: Check general vaccinations
Timeframe: Dependent on the validity of your dog’s vaccination

The department recommends that your dog receives a vaccination that protects against Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para-influenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica and is valid for the entire post-arrival quarantine period.

Step 9: Check Canine Influenza virus (CIV) vaccination status (only dogs that are exported from the USA)
Timeframe: Between 12 months and 14 days before export

• Dogs exported from the USA must be fully vaccinated against canine influenza virus (CIV)  administered between 12 months and 14 days before export.
• Vaccinations must be valid for the entire quarantine period in Australia.
• All vaccinations must be administered in an approved country.

Step 10: Testing for Brucella canis (Brucellosis)
Timeframe: Within 45 days of export

• If the dog is desexed, no testing for Brucellosis is required (Note: Evidence of desexing may be requested by the Competent Authority in the exporting country or the Department of Agriculture).
  OR
• A blood sample must be taken by a Government Approved Veterinarian from the dog and tested with a negative result for Brucella canis using a rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), a tube agglutination test (TAT) or an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) within 45 days before export. The dog must also not be mated or artificially inseminated from at least 14 days before sample collection until export.

Step 11: Testing for Leishmania infantum (Leishmaniosis)
Timeframe: Within 45 days of export

A blood sample must be taken by a Government Approved Veterinarian from the dog and tested for Leishmania infantum using either an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) or an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) within 45 days before export. The test must produce a negative result.

Step 12: Testing, treatment or vaccination for Leptospira canicola (Leptospirosis)
Timeframe: Within 45 days of export

A Government Approved Veterinarian can either:

• fully vaccinate your dog against Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola, according to manufacturers recommendations, at least 14 days before export and the vaccination is valid at the time of export
  OR
• test a blood sample from your dog with a negative result at (less than 50% agglutination) at a serum dilution of 1:100 using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT), once within 45 days before export.

Step13: (only if your dog has ever visited mainland Africa): Babesia Canis Treatment
Timeframe: Within 28 days of export

If your dog has ever visited mainland Africa, it must be treated by a Government Approved Veterinarian with a single dose of imidocarb dipropionate at a rate of 7.5mg/kg body weight, or two doses at a rate of 6.0 mg/kg body weight given at least 14 days apart. Treatments must be by subcutaneous injection and given within 28 days of export.

Step 14: Internal parasite treatments
Timeframe: Two treatments at least 14 days apart, with the second treatment given within 5 days of export.

The dog must be treated by a Government Approved Veterinarian twice with an internal parasite treatment effective against internal parasites (nematodes and cestodes). The two treatments must be administered at least 14 days apart and within 45 days before export. The second treatment must be given within 5 days before export.

Step 15: External parasite treatments and Ehrlichia canis testing
Timeframe: Start external parasite treatment at least 21 days before blood sampling for Ehrlichia canis. Ehrlichia canis blood sampling must occur within 21 days before export.

• A Government Approved Veterinarian  must treat the dog with a product that kills ticks and fleas on contact at least 21 days before blood collection for Ehrlichia canis. To maintain continuous protection from external parasites until the time of export, you may need to repeat treatment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• You should discuss suitable external parasite treatments with the Government Approved Veterinarian.
• At each subsequent veterinary visit, the Government Approved Veterinarian  should thoroughly examine the dog for external parasites. If any ticks are found from the time of treatment referred to above until export, they must be removed and the preparation must be restarted, including testing for Ehrlichia canis
• A blood sample collected at least 21 days after external parasite treatment starts and within 21 days before export must be tested for Ehrlichia canis infection by an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). The test must produce a negative result at a dilution of 1:40. Testing done using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test will not be accepted.

Step 16: Pre export clinical examination
Timeframe: Within 5 days of export

The dog must be examined by a Government Approved Veterinarian or an Official Government Veterinarian and found to be free from external parasites and clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease within 5 days before export. You must take the animal and all documentation to this examination.

Step 17: Completion of Veterinary Health Certificate (Attachment A)
Timeframe: Within 5 days of export

The Veterinary Health Certificate is located as Attachment A to your valid import permit. It must be completed by the Official Government Veterinarian.
The following documents must accompany the animal on arrival in Australia. Copies can be used, but all documents must bear the original signature of the Official Government Veterinarian  and stamp of the Competent Authority  on each page:

• A valid import permit
• A completed Veterinary Health Certificate (Attachment A of the import permit)
• Ehrlichia canis laboratory report
• Leishmania infantum laboratory report
• Brucella canis laboratory report (if not desexed)
• Leptospira canicola laboratory report (if not vaccinated)
• Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) test laboratory report; and
• Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNAT) Test Declaration.

[It is recommended that you retain a copy of each of these documents.]
Any corrections made to the Veterinary Health Certificate  must be struck through, remain legible and be signed and stamped by the Official Government Veterinarian (NB: Correction fluid must not be used).

Step 18: Travel to Australia

• The dog must be consigned to Australia in a container that meets the standard required in the International Air Transport Association (IATA)  Live Animals Regulation Container Requirement 1.
• In most cases the animal will be checked in at the freight terminal, not the passenger terminal.
• The dog must arrive in Australia on, or after, 3 February 2014 and prior to the expiry date of the import permit.

Step 19: On Arrival in Australia

 I mean... really? So intense. And overwhelming. After the first couple of steps, it became too much for just us to handle. Especially when we were trying to move to another country ourselves! We didn't want to mess anything up- so we ended up hiring a  pet relocation company to handle the logistics of Rudy's move. 


As for the flight itself, he flew in the cargo section in a big crate. 

No food or water- just a dog and his thoughts. For 17+ hours. The airline doesn't allow pets to be sedated, so I'm sure he was a little nervous! We don't know how he did on the flight or anything but based on our visit with him yesterday, he did great. He seemed like his normal self. Maybe a little jet-lagged though :)

A big thank you to John's parents and grandmother who cared for Rudy during all of this. Couldn't have done it without them!

We get to pick Rudy up next Sunday. AND my parents get here for a visit on Saturday. So much to look forward to!