Emigration to New Zealand of our pets
Ofcourse do we want to take our pets with us to New Zealand. As New Zealand has very tough regulations we have to make a lot of preparations before our pets are allowed to enter the country. The most important agency you have to deal with is MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) which is very strict in protecting New Zealands nature. For more information look at the website of MAF Biosecurity New Zealand.
Our pets who are travelling to New Zealand
After much consideration we decided to take the
following three animals of us to New Zealand:
Ross
Princesse
Stinky
Tania has found a new home in The Netherlands (with Frank & Natascha) and Melisa
is too old and too ill to undergo the stress of such a trip.
Steps we have taken so far
By now it will be clear to anyone that we
have to take many (paperwork) steps before we enter New Zealand to live and work
there in the end. That's why we keep a kind of 'diary' with our progress.
That's why we surfed on the
internet to find out what we have to do to get our animals into New Zealand.
We found out that the most urgent thing to do now is to take a bloodsample
of each animal that has to be tested for rabies antibodies as this test has
to be done at least 6 months (and maximal 12 months) before arrival in New
Zealand. Another difficult thing is to choose which animals we're going to
take with us to New Zealand as the whole procedure to emigrate an animal is
costly as well. Certain is that we take Ross with us and that Melissa stays
behind. About the others we have think about it.
Today we visited the vet to take a
bloodsample of the dogs Ross and Princesse and the cat Stinky. This was not
as easy as it seemed as Princesse was vaccinated last week and according the
MAF Health Standard document there has to be at least 3 weeks in between.
Also Ross had to be microchipped as he only had a tattoo but also according
the MAF document he had to be microchipped before his most recent vaccination (last
July). So all the bloodsamples were placed in the fridge while we contacted
MAF directly about these problems.
MAF responded by email directly. The 3 weeks waiting-period doesn't count for
Princesse as she has received a booster vaccination and the 3 weeks are only
necessary for an initial vaccination. Also Ross doesn't have to be
revaccinated as he was identifiable by his tattoo during vaccination as long
we could proof that the dog with the tattoo is the same as the dog with the
microchip. Both numbers will be mentioned on the new ownership certificate.
So all bloodsamples are being send to the labatory today to be analysed.
We received by mail the results of all three bloodsamples
of our animals and all of them are above the minimal amount of rabies anitbodies.
Today we received an email with more
information (
) from
Canterbury Quarantine
Services where our animals have to stay for at least 30 days. Because of
the special conditions and the compulsory weekly visit of a MAF-vet this is
not cheap at all, but we think that our animals are worth it. Hopefully we
can reduce the costs a bit because both our dogs are staying in the same kennel
but roughly it cost us NZD 4700 (~EUR 2300) for the three animals. This are
only their costs from the moment they have landed in New Zealand!
Today we got the response from
Immigration New Zealand which we were looking for for a long time: we are
allowed to emigrate to New Zealand. Finally can we start the preparations
for the emigration of our pets. And it's about time as their bloodsamples
were taken on 12-11-2008 and are only valid for one year. So the animals
have to arrive in New Zealand before 11-11-2009 (to be on the safe side as the
documentation
(
)
of MAF is mentioning the date of departure as well as date of arrival in NZ,
which in our case are 2 days difference). It should be possible but
it will be tight. And then to think that last November we were worried about
the minimal 6 months waiting time!
Futhermore we decided that we take the dogs
Ross and Princesse and our cat Stinky to New Zealand. Tania has found a new
home in The Netherlands (with Frank & Natascha) and
Melissa is too old and too ill to undergo the stress of such a trip.
Today we made a reservation per email at the
Canterbury Quarantine Services in Christchurch. As this is the only
quarantine facility on the whole South Island we don't have much choice.
Also the choice in dates are very limited but we will wait and see if it's
possible.
We were lucky as today we received an email
that they have space available for our animals from 10-11-2009 until 10-12-2009.
For the dogs there was only one unit left available but the dogs are allowed
to stay together (on requested and granted by MAF in advance only) which was
our intension anyhow. We only have to fill out the official application and
email it to them together with all the relevant pages from the passports of
the animals, which we did it the same day.
The official confirmation from Canterbury
Quarantine Services was in our emailbox this morning.
Also did they send us all kind of offical Customs and MAF forms. The first
thing we have to do is get an Import Permit from MAF for our animals. When
we were filling out this
form
(
)
we discovered that also our vet has to sign this form as well. Also the vet has to sign a
declaration
()
that our dogs are not mentioned a list of forbidden breeds in
New Zealand. So we went to the vet the same afternoon after we had translated
all declarations into French (with some help from the computer) as their
English is limited but our vet was in on Monday again.
Also it became obvious to us that it's about time to find a shipper willing
to fly our animals to NZ. A good source is the website of the IPATA
(Independent Pet and Animal Transport Association) and after the weekend we
have to make some calls to their members here in France.
This morning we went to our vet to get the
declaration signed which was no problem at all despite the fact it was written in
English. During the weekend we had discovered that this was not sufficient
as the declaration had to be signed by a official vet as well. With help
from the internet we found out that in France this is a vet from the DDSV (Direction Départementale des Services Vétérinaires).
So we had to go to Cahors but as Jeannette had an appointment in the afternoon in Rodez where
also the DDSV was located; but not of the
Lot, the departement where we live, but of the Aveyron, a neighbouring
department, we went to Rodez. To get a signature for a 'standard' declaration this
shouldn't be a problem at all............ we thought!
When we arrived at the DDSV office there was no vet available to sign the
declaration as they all were in a meeting. Secondly the animals (and we as
well) were not living in the Aveyron but the most important problem was that
the declaration wasn't written in French. So we had to go without a signature and we
were forced to visit Cahors anyhow.
In the afternoon we visited the DDSV in Cahors.
Our reception was competely different to yesterday's in Rodez. It was very
relaxed here and when the vet told us that she just had booked a holiday to New
Zealand for next February we were chatting as longtime friends. So to get
the necessary signatures and stamps was no problem at all en before we left
she wrote down her name as we have to come back here before our animals can
depart and she was willing to help us then as well.
That evening we finished the application for the import permit and sent it
to MAF by email.
In the meantime we received the first
quotations for transporting the animals to New Zealand and it seems to cost
us quite a bit. Also we were busy today with making a schedule for our vet
with what has to be done when with which animal, and that appears to be an
awful lot. To make things a bit easier for us (and for our vet as well) we
have now a bi-lingual version (English/French) from the procedures on the
MAF-form (
).
It appears to be quite a job to arrange the
trip for our pets to New Zealand (much more than our trip!). The quarantine is
booked from 10-11-2009 onwards but there are only flights from Paris to New Zealand
on 09- and 10-11-2009 with an arrival 2 days later! The flight of the 09th is already
fully booked. On the flight of the 10th there is still place available for
our pets but we can't make a reservation because we don't have the MAF
import permit yet. This can take up to another week (with the possibility
that this flight then is fully booked as well; so our pets Rabies-tests will be expired with
all the consequences!). So we send an email to MAF and explained them our whole situation and asked them to issue us a
permit asap.. That's all we can do right now. Also the shipper can send our
pets only to Auckland so we have to arrange our pets arriving in
Christchurch but that only a tiny problem we sort out later.
This morning when we woke up we found the MAF
import permit in our emailbox. So we have to contact the shipping agent
asap. in order to get a reservation on the flight on the 10-11-2009.
Hopefully we're not too late and there's still place available!
After made a lot of calls the last couple of
days the transport of our pets is now arranged. Problem was that there was
only one flight available, on 10-11-2009. Not that the flight on the 9th was
fully booked but the airline policy is that they only take one shipment of
live animals per flight (due too quarantine regulations). Fortunately we
didn't know this before as we would have worried much more then. But there
was not made another reservation in the meantime so our pets are now flying
to New Zealand on 10-11-2009 and arrive there 2 day later. We have to
deliver the animals at Paris Airport (CDG) which is not around the corner.
Also are the animals flying to Auckland and did we have to contact a
shipping agent over there to clear Customs and arrange the onward flight to
Christchurch. This flight can only booked 2 weeks in advance but with about
10 flights a day this shouldn't be a problem.
Although Jeannette was looking around for
someone to leave Melissa with, the call last week came quite as a surprise
when Patricia called. She had heard from our search and was quite willing to
take Melissa in her house. As we know Patricia we know that she will look
after Melissa very well. As she has 3 other dogs already, which is good for
Melissa, it didn't take long for us to decide. So we brought Melissa
to her today and straight away it went quite well between the four so we
left her behind with a very good (though very sad) feeling.
Tonight Patricia called to inform us that
everything was fine with Melissa. She was already really close with one of
the other dogs and they were even sleeping together. But she was still
looking around for Jeannette. But we are sure she will settle in very well.
Today we went to the vet with all the pets
for our '30 days before departure' visit. Bloodsamples were taken from each
of them, the dogs has to deliver even 5 samples each! Also they received a
recommended vaccination. As a faecal test had to be analysed as well the
last couple of days Martin was very busy collecting those samples by
following the pets through the garden (at night using a torch) and
collecting the samples when they were delivered as it wasn't done on
command. But all the samples are collected now and are sent to several
laboratories throughout France for testing.
Today we went shopping to buy the crates for Princesse
and Stinky. For the cat it was no problem but for Princesse we didn't had
too much choice. Especially because not all crates are aproved to take on
planes. There was only one crate available which was minorly damaged so we
bought it with a discount.
Furthermore we filled out all the papers needed to clear Customs when the
pets arrive in New Zealand and sent it to a shipping agent who can now book
the flight to ship the pets from Auckland to Christchurch.
All the lab-results were back and today our
next ('14-days-before-departue') visit to the vet was planned. All results
were OK except the Leptospirose value of Princesse was too high; but this
was as expected as she was recently vaccinated against it. But a second
bloodsample was needed to confirm this. Martin had followed the dogs through
the garden the last couple of days as they had to deliver their second
faecal sample today for analysing. Finally all animals had to take a tablet.
Hidden in some food the dogs ate it quickly but Stinky ate only the meat and
left the tablet untouched, so she was given another medicine in her neck.
Early in the morning we went with the dogs to the vet, the cat had a day off today.
The only thing they had to do today was to give a bloodsample for their
final test, this time for Babesia Gibsoni.
Today the vet called us to tell that she had
received back all the lab results already. The Leptospirosis value of Princesse was
the same as for the first test so that was OK. Furthermore the (second)
faecal test for all animals was negative again, as well as the Babesia
Gibsoni values for the dogs. So now all tests are finished successfully and
that's a big relief!
We also prepared the crates for the trip today which meant putting diapers
and blankets in the crates, attached the bowls to the door and put stickers
on the crates with all the relevant information about the trip.
The last visit to the vet was scheduled for today. For the
animals it was not too difficult. Only some tablets and sprays had to be
given to kill all internal and external parasites and when the tablets are
put in some meat it's quickly eaten.
But then the real job for us only begon: the paperwork! The vet had to enter
all the testdata, lab-results and given medication in a document and that for
three animals. In no-time there were documents everywhere and we had a hard
time sorting everything out. Finally everything was entered and we took
everything back home. The rest of the day was spent with checking, scanning
and printing all the paperwork and we found some missing details like
addresses and also the birthdates for all animals were wrong.
At the end of the day we went back to the vet to finalise the paperwork and
was our paperwork (almost) complete for our visit to the DDSV-vet in Cahors
on 09-11-2009. We only have to get three International Health Certificates from
our vet before.
Today we had (finally) our last visit to the
vet in preparation of the emigration of our animals to New Zealand. Martin
had discovered a missing signature which was corrected by the vet quickly
and she issued an 'International Health Certificate'
for all three animals. Herewith all documents were completed and filled out.
The next step was our visit to the DDSV (an official Government vet) where
all the documents had to be endorsed. A formality you would think but...
despite that we made an appointment well in advance we received last Friday
afternoon at 5:24 pm. a fax stating that we couldn't visit them on Monday
morning as there was no vet available then to sign the documents and if we couldn't pass by on Tuesday
morning. This was not possible and after a phonecall we could visit them
still on 11 am. to our big relief. So we drove straight to Cahors where we
were well received. First we had to call the shipping agent who told us that
the signature the vet placed next to all the modifications in the documents
wasn't enough and that they had to be stamped as well. But as we were at the
DDSV they could stamp them as well. So stamps were placed everywhere, in
total more than 90!!! and also every page was personally signed by the
director as well. With that many stamps it couldn't go wrong anymore and
we drove back home satisfied.
Back home we emailed all the documents to the shipping agent and they called
back soon that our vet forgot to state where their chip was located so again
we had to return to her. She was surprised to see us again and she entered
the location of the chips quickly.
We were completely done with all the documentation: the last three days we
were working on it almost continuously!
At 7 pm. we left to Paris with all the crates and animals after we had some
sleep. It was very quiet on the motorway and after a little nap we entered
Paris and everything went well until a section of the ring road around Paris
was closed at nights for maintenance in some tunnels. A detour was not
signposted so we drove around, a bit lost. Also our tank was almost empty
and if you don't know where you are you have a little problem. Finally we
found a petrol station and that was a big relief. Soon we got back on the
ring road again and found hardly any vehicle on it. Soon we found out why:
the ring road was closed again! We were guided to the inner ring road after
which we drove to the airport fairly quickly where we arrived at 3:45 am. at
the office where we had to deliver the animals and we had a short nap in the
car putting all the blankets we wanted to put in the crates over us.
Shortly after 7 am. we woke up and saw that there was already
someone in the office. So Martin had a last long walk with the dogs before
we assembled the crates in the office. Despite all the stickers we already
put on the crates they put much more on them and all the documents
were copied.
Ross was very relaxed and walked around the office as it was our kitchen back
home.
Princesse was more nervous and needed a lot of cuddling. When Martin left to
visit the toilet both dogs became very restless until he arrived back.
At 8:15 am. the animals were put in their crates inside a van for their last
check at a vet. We took some photos of them before they started their
journey to New Zealand and we could return home.
For us saying goodbye to the animals was very difficult. The animals who
were always around us had started a long, stressful journey in which they
had to stay in their crates for about 40 hours! without leaving (because of
quarantine regulations).
De trip back home was much easier despite the heavier traffic as the
ringroad around Paris was all open now. After a long drive we were back home
at 5 pm. and that was a hard moment as now we were missing the animals with
the little things you're so used to do with them. But we're glad it's only for a couple of
weeks before we see them back again... on the other side of the world.
Just before we got back home we got a call from the shipping
agent that our animals had left France as scheduled.
At 1 am. (1 pm. in New Zealand)
we phoned to the Quarantine in Christchurch to ask if the animals had
arrived already. They had and had just left their crates. Ross was happy to
leave the crate but Princesse initially wanted to stay in the safety of her
crate after all that she had experienced the last two days. But when they
filled the bowls with food her decision to leave the crate was quickly made.
They all survived the journey well and especially Princesse was very happy to see Ross
back. In Auckland the import procedure at MAF took a little bit longer as
expected so they missed the 9 am. flight but got on the 10 am. flight to
Christchurch.
The animals are now safely in New Zealand and have started their 30 days quarantine period.
After we had arrived in Christchurch yesterday we could visit
our animals today in the quarantine station just outside Christchurch. After
being registered and having covered our shoes we were allowed to visit the
animals and they really went crazy when they saw us. They couldn't get
enough cuddling. We noticed that Ross couldn't believe that we (finally)
were there. We spent an hour cuddling them before we were able to leave.
Also the cat was very happy to see us but she was not as enthusiastic as the
dogs.
They wanted to come with us when we had to leave them behind. Fortunately
they only have to stay here only a couple more days before their quarantine
period is over.
The last couple of days we visited the animals every day of
which they were very happy about but today was the big day that they were
allowed to explore New Zealand on their own. So we were already at 9 am. at
the quarantine facility to pick them up.
Despite the colder weather today they had washed the dogs of which we were
thankful for because they had been in a (relatively) small kennel for over a
month without been able to leave it.
Needless to say that the dogs were very happy to say goodbye to the
quarantine facility, even if this meant that they had to stay in a even much
smaller space: the back of our car, for the long trip from Christchurch
to Invercargill.
On our way we stopped a couple of times to let the dogs run a bit, not too
much as their muscles were not used to run anymore. But they enjoyed it very
much and we enjoyed of having finally all our animals back around us again.
All together it was a very long, costly and sometimes
even stressful process but looking back it was absolutely worth all the
hassle!!!