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Things to know before travelling with your dog

Thinking of taking Buddy, Max, Lucy or Lola on you next family vacation? Make sure you do your research.

Actress Amber Heard learned this the hard way while travelling to Australia recently with her Yorkies, Pistol and Boo. Failing to claim the dogs with local authorities upon arrival, the actress was warned that the dogs would be put down if they stayed in the country since she didn’t follow the strict Australian quarantine policy.

Though Heard quickly returned to the U.S., she has since been issued a summons by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions to appear in court facing penalties of up to 10 years in jail or $265,000 in fines.

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Here’s how to avoid getting yourself into a mess like this:

Before you leave

Before you cross the border, the government suggests you have your vet fill out a Canadian International Health Certificate. The form basically states that your pet has received all of its vaccinations, is clinically healthy and free of any external parasites.

Some countries require you to fill out their own version of the health certificate, so make sure you consult with your destination country to find out what they prefer.

Flying

If you’re travelling by plane, check with the airline to see what their pet regulations are and if they do in fact permit pets on board.

Air Canada allows pets on the majority of flights offered by their providers, although there are rules when it comes to how they travel. If you want to have your pet with you at your seat, it will cost between $50 and $100 each way and they must fit inside specific carrier dimensions with a maximum weight of 22 lbs (both dog and carrier). If your pet doesn’t fall into that category, there’s an option to travel with the cabin baggage for $105 each way. Again, weight and carrier restrictions apply. You’ll also need to register your pet in advance of your flight – otherwise you risk being turned away at the gate.

Similar restrictions apply to flights with WestJetAir Transat and American Airlines.

Vaccinations

A common requirement for domestic pets, including cats and dogs, is that they be up to date on their vaccinations.

Travelling to the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “require that dogs imported into the United States are healthy and are vaccinated against rabies before arrival into the United States”

Travelling to Mexico

The Servico Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria requires the following:

  • an original Certificate of Health

  • a clean, bedless carrier or container

  • a daily ration of loose, balanced pet food

Travelling to the U.K.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency requires the following:

  • a microchip

  • a rabies vaccination

  • a pet passport or third country official veterinary certificate

  • a tapeworm treatment (for dogs only)

Quarantine

As Heard discovered, the quarantine of cats and dogs is a common practice in a handful of countries–Australia being the most prominent. The Department of Agriculture has an extensive website outlining the strict conditions in place for the import of domestic animals that visitors can reference before attempting to bring their pet into the country.

For most travellers, the most concerning part of the 14-step guidelines for cats and 19-step for dogs is the quarantine. Currently there is a minimum 10-day quarantine so that authorities can verify that all of the pre-arrival steps have been followed correctly but should any concerns arise, this can be increased to 30 days or longer.

The best advice is to check (and then double check) with the governing body at your destination to see what’s required well in advance of your trip.