Dog Shipment (JFK to HK)

[HKNewbie7007]

Has anyone specifically shipped their dog from JFK to HK ? I am going to try and attempt this myself because I dont' see the value in these companies doing it for me for $2,000USD. So, has anyone done so and done it on their own ? I just want to make sure I'm not missing any steps in the process. I know all the shots needed but wondering if anyone has any last second advice as far as the airports are concerned ?

Also, I am going to HK ahead of my pup and wondering how do you select the airline for your dog ?

Do you need to get in touch with the USDA ahead of time at JFK ?

Thanks for the info and anything that I might be missing. I am willing to PM anyone who's flown out of JFK and shipped their pet on their own.

[Guinness18]

Hey there, I am moving to HK on March 2nd and my dog is coming behind me on the 6th. We are both flying Cathay Pacific out of JFK. I am using an export company b/c my company pays for it, but i have been very involved in the process. From everything I hear Cathay is the best(for both pets and people). You will need to go to the vet within 10 days of flying. The vet will give you a certificate which you then need to bring to the USDA to get stamped before flying. They do not take appt's, only walk ins. Let me know if you have any other specific questions and i'll see if i can help.

[rebekah]

We used an import company and honestly with all the paperwork we just felt it was easier. We moved two cats from Chicago to HK, and it went very smoothly, they arrived unscathed and unshaken.

[hello_there]

Cathay has a good reputation for shipping pets safely. We were very happy with them. Try to find a nonstop flight also. You will need to get a USDA stamp before shipping (I think it can be done any time after the vet check 10 days before flying) on the import application. If you really are going to do this yourself just make sure to dot all your Is and cross all your Ts. Even small mistakes can land your pet in quarantine. There are posts on this forum detailing the procedure very specifically if you do a search. If you can't find them, PM me.

I am also suprised that you are being quoted $2000 for the import service. Does any portion of that include airfare? We paid around $400 for a couple animals, exclusive of airfare, which was the expensive part for us.

[rebekah]

Also, if you do have a layover, try to make it in Amsterdam (our cats were sent through there) they have a pet hospital or somesuch there, check the pets, calm them down, let them out, etc. is what we were told, and as I said, my incredibly skittish cat and the other one arrived incredibly calm. Also, sedation is not recommended, as they wake up partway through the flight and are very confused, which can cause greater anxiety, or if they have a problem, no one knows...OR they can be groggy and appear ill at arrival, causing possible quarantine.

[RachelFarris]

Hi!!

I use Continental almost weekly to ship pets from Newark (EWR) to HKG. They have a 15 hour direct flight and keep pets in climate control the entire time via their PetSafe program. They will also go over all of the import requirements with you. You will need an import permit number before you can make the booking.

The best part of Continental is the fact that they do not have temperature restrictions (thanks to their PetSafe program).

Continental PetSafe - 1-800-575-3335

I also would like to echo the sentiments of others that HK is VERY particular about how the health certificates are filled out. It is important to make sure all of the dates are correct and match the back up documents (rabies & vaccination records). There should be no scratch outs on the documents and if there are, make sure your vet initials them. Quarantine can be costly and difficult to navigate, so it is best to avoid it. Pet relocation companies exist (and charge $2000) because they see to it that all of these documents are combed over carefully prior to your pet's departure.

It is sort of like highlighting your own hair -- you can do it for my cheaper, but the results may not be as good as a professional salon and you may have problems. It is all a matter of time & resources.

Happy travels!

RF