ADVICE ON PET IMNPORT LICENCE- please!

[Jackfruit]

From the UK-

Can you enlighten me and give me some pros&cons on the following...

bringing  a small dog to S'pore...is it a hassle?

Is it easier to go through a pet handler to export our dog to S'pore....OR  ..is it easier for us to do this via airline?

Approximate cost -just a ballpark figure ??

Do I j apply for an import licence through the Ministry of Agriculture in Spore....or does the airline do that?

Any feed back is greatly appreciated.....woof,woof!

[SoCal]

Hi there...yes you need some help ...but even that is not completely correct...which we found out the hard way.  I don't have all of the websites available that will give you the most information (they are on my computer that is being shipped as we speak)  but I can tell you it will cost about $1000 Singapore dollars...for air con...I have a cat, so I am assuming that is an option for dogs also?  We did not pay the extra money to have PetMovers be our agent...but, from our experience, it would have been well worth it.  If you don't have them as your agent, you will probably need someone on this end to get the permit, etc.  and you have to sign paperwork, etc. after you have arrived, which requires a trip completely around to the other side of the airport, and you have to stand in a line to get a badge to be let into this area of the airport...etc.etc.etc...and you have to pay for the pets ride out to the quarantine station, anyway.  I think things would go much smoother if you go ahead and "bite the bullet" and play their game...their way.  It will be easier on you and on your pet.  It is hot here...and think of your pets comfort level...especially if you are arriving within the next month or so.  I really do believe that you will get better service if you use them as your agent and you won't have any surprises...maybe just monetary ones.  The $1000 I quoted did not include the fee that they charge for being your agent...I am not positive, but $380 sounds about right?  It will be on their website.  You can only visit your pet from 2-4pm, everyday except Sunday and public holidays.  Unless you have a car, you will have to take taxi (and they aren't crazy about going way out there, sometimes act like they don't know where it is...it is 53 Julan Buroh Lane, which is off Julan Buroh Road)...You can take the MRT to Jurong East and then bus 79, getting off at Fishery Port Road (90cents)...do the taxi first so you know where to walk to.  If you can afford it, or if time is of an essence...take the taxi all the time!  You will have to call one when you leave, because you will NEVER get one back unless you call.  Probably gave you more info than you wanted...but, just trying to make your experience a little (a lot!) better than ours!!!  Good luck...it's worth it...

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 07-08-2001).]

[Dog lover]

I brought my Lab puppy back 2 years ago when he was 14 weeks old.  I did it all myself and he came BA, on the same flight as me.  I wasn't working and found it NO problem whatsoever to do it myself. I didn't find out about any pet mover so am not sure what they charge or whether it is worth it.  If you do it yourself, you need to contact the Primary Production Dept for an import license yourself. This license should not be issued until anout 2 weeks before you want to bring the dog as it won't be valid, you need to check with them. Also you can't book a place for your dog until 14 days before, with BA.  They were great at Heathrow.  My charge was around two hundred and seventy pounds for 22kg that includes the weight of the dog and the box, as they weigh both and charge per kilo. You also need to get in touch with MAFF in the UK for an export license and the specifications re dog box and vets visit before you leave.  I found it no hasstle at all. A friend of mine recently brought over a lab puppy and she found it fine to do it herself too.  BA was the best per kilo for money.  If you decide to 'do it yourself' and need any more advice/help etc. post again and I will reply.

[Dog lover]

Re the other end ie. Sing airport etc.  I did it all from the UK, but my husband picked us up at the airport and drove me around to the quarrantine place.  I suppose it was a little bit of a hassle but was glad that I was there to pick him up as soon as I could and know that he was ok after the flight. Do you have anyone who could pick you up at the airport?  Looking at the prices quoted and the fact that I was so anxious to see my dog, I would certainly do it myself again.  Seeing him come out of the airport on a fork lift truck and his greeting was SO worthwhile.  In retrospect I was so glad that I was 'in on it all', then again, I am a bit batty as far as he is concerned.  Which is why I would be happy to help others in a similar situation.

[jackfruit]

THANKS a bunch for all the info.

Ditto...me, too I'm crazy about my mate...the pooch!

I was trying to do it via KLM but have ben informed that KLM uk has stopped carrying live stock within Britain...and therefore cannot "ship out" pets to other countries...humph!  So they've said I've got a choice of two airports...Manchester or Heathrow,
I will be expected to  physically deliver our dog there and ship him out on their freight plane...but (of course there's a but!) freight planes don't always work around a schedule...glory be...the flight might be at 0530 or then again at 16.00hrs...which means he'll miss the connection at Schipol onward to S'pore.......which means  I have to make arrangements for him to stay overnight...this entails obtaining a permit from the Dutch agriculture authorities - ok, are  you still with me on this?!!   lol!

So...Monday morning I shall call BA  and sort out something with them.  I still have no date for  arrival in S'pore but as things are going...I'm going to need plenty of time to get it sorted out.

Your info is greatly appreciated.

[jackfruit]

Ooops!...forgot to ask-

you mentioned quarantine....help!  I thought dogs from the UK are exempt from that...

[Dog lover]

Yes, dogs are exempt from quarantine.  However once you collect your dog you have to visit the 'vet' inside the quarantine area and get them to sign him out, to make sure he is healthy and not a dangerous breed etc.  I did deliver my dog to Heathrow as he was on my flight.  I think he had to be there 5 hours before the flight to make sure that he wasn't distressed etc and was healthy enough to fly. My friend flew her dog out of Manchester with BA and said that her brother, who organised it from the UK side, had regular contact with a lady there who once she knew he was not a breeder, was so helpful and assured him that she would take care of the dog when he reached Heathrow.  Also it's best if they don't arrive on a Sat or Sun as they will have to spend the weekend in quarantine as the office is shut. The number for BA that i rang was their customer service dept. at 0345222787.  BA will provide you with a Captain's certificate, which is one of the requirements.  I had the faxed info (ie the licence no.) from the Primary Production Dept and my husband brought along the originals when he picked us up. Will you be arriving with your dog or on a separate flight? I think that if you decide to do it yourself and are on the end of e mail, fax, telephone etc. then 2 weeks should surfice.  Forgot to mention that if you have time and plan to take your dog back  to the UK it is worth getting him chipped (which might be a requirement now in Sing) and a rabbies vac. and blood test which you have to waite until 28 days after the vaccination to do.  I mention this as we might return next year and I paid a small fortune to get his blood sample sent back to a UK MAFF approved lab.  Just a thought!

[Dog lover]

Sorry but I had another thought.  The day after my dog arrived, I took him to the vet for a health check.  This was fine but they gave me heart worm tablets which is what dogs here require and is worth starting straight away. Let me know if you require any other info

[jackfruit]

Thanks D/L,

Your info has helped clarify many of our worries.
He  is already microchipped....and up to date on his shots.

Yes, I'm hoping to have him on the same flight so I think that at this point I'll have to use BA to avoid the stopover in Amsterdam and all that hooha w/overnight permits etc.,
I'll keep the day of arrival in mind and make sure we arrive mid week...
However, in regard to your possibe return, can I just add that if and when you do return from Asia, your dog might still have to undergo quarantine.  It's all still very confusing because as it stands now, you can take your dog (if it's microchipped) to continental Europe  and bring it back providing   you have a vet from the country you were visiting give it the  "all clear" and issue a certificate...(maybe deworm it?  not sure).  I read that if the pet is coming in from Australia  or from NZ, no quarantine other than a check up will be required, so am not too sure about S'pore.

Will keep you posted on my progress...(I hope!)
Cheers