customs clearance charges - Page 2

Hey Stephen, Last year when I imported an 8 week old pup, they handed me the information regarding the CDC requirements. My information was forwarded to our local animal control who actually came out and made sure the dog was at my house. Not a huge deal, but no way around it for a youngster. The quarentine applies till 30 days after the shot. Gimme10mins, I would definately pay to have someone clear your pup - I wouldn't let it stay overnight. I assume they would have someone meet the flight in Atlanta, clear the pup and then put it on it's next flight which you would probably only have to pick it up at baggaga. I wouldn't let the pup stay overnight!

Customs does NOT require the pup to be vaccinated for rabies if you sign the CDC form that says you WILL have the pup for 30 days and assure it will be vaccinated. I just did this and some posters are incorrect about quarantine issues. If you use a customs clearing broker in Atlanta, it will probably be the one I just had to use. Try to have the pup shipped to some other airport closer to you by direct flight. If that is impossible, try to ship the pup to some other airport other than Atlanta. For example, in Denver, if the pup arrives before 5 p.m. you can do the leg work to clear the dog yourself. If the pup arrives later and has been shipped through Atlanta, for example, then there is no customs officer on duty in Denver past 9 pm *(and they are only at the terminal and not in the cargo area) and that means you end up having little choice but to use a broker. My last import cost me $250 through this broker and then they forgot to send the correct paperwork with the dog so that I had to call in the middle of the night to get someone to go back to Atlanta to fax the proper paperwork. If you like, email me privately. I can send you the form you need for the CDC rabies issue and help you with direct information about how to minimize your heartburn. If you can go directly to an airport during hours when customs officials are present, you will minimize your stress by legions! schwarzenberggsd@earthlink.net

When i brought my male back from Germany in September the customs charge at Boston Logan Airport was $25 U.S Dollars. I had no problems with customs you just need to have all the paperwork and shot records in order.

in our club we have imported about 6 dogs this yr. If you go to customs and say anything other than its a pet you will have to pay. no matter what they ask say its a pet and you didnt pay anything for it. If you say i'm going to show, train, track, teach, breed or anything else they will charge you. Make sure there is no receipt of your purchase in the file while you travel over to customs. Remember its a pet and only a pet. A millitary friend of yours sent it you because he couldn't keep it anymore or whatever. Just remember if say anything other than free and its a pet they will make you pay. ceddy

Anyone know how late customs is open in Atlanta?

Hi, regarding the shots i can say the following: if a pup is send over to the US UNDER the age of 12 weeks, there are no rabies shots required. If you send a pup over to the US that is OVER the age of 12 weeks, rabies shots are rquired and have to be given to the pup AT LEAST 30 DAYS before the pup enters the US. That is from Germany to the US. Regards Ulli Dresbach

I picked my puppy up at Dulles airport from Frankfurt .....It cost 30.00 ..........Rodd

atlanta is open till 5pm brittany. if your dog stays over night it will be 100 dollars. Ceddy

sorry betty

Here's a direct cut-and-paste from the U.S Customs website on the issue of rabies vaccinations for dogs: Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before entering the United States. This requirement does not apply, however, to puppies less than three months of age* or to dogs originating or located for at least six months in areas designated by the U.S. Public Health Service as being rabies-free. The following procedures pertain to dogs arriving from areas that are not free of rabies: A valid rabies vaccination certificate should accompany the animal. This certificate should be in English or be accompanied by a translation. It should identify the animal, the dates of vaccination and expiration, and be signed by a licensed veterinarian. If no expiration date is specified, the certificate is acceptable if the date of vaccination is no more than 12 months before the date of arrival. If a vaccination has not been performed, or if the certificate is not valid, the animal may be admitted if it is confined upon arrival at a place of the owner's choosing. The dog must be vaccinated within four days after arrival at the final destination, but no more than 10 days after arrival at the port of entry. The animal must remain in confinement for at least 30 days after being vaccinated. If the vaccination was performed less than 30 days before arrival, the animal may be admitted but must be confined at a place of the owner's choosing until at least 30 days have passed since the vaccination. Owners of dogs that do not have a valid rabies certificate are required to fill out and sign a "Notice to Owners & Importers of Dogs" at the port of entry, which is submitted to the quarantine station that oversees the port of entry. Be aware, the quarantine station follows up with the owner's local health department, to ensure the vaccination takes place. So it is essential that the owner complies with these requirements. An owner's home can be the "place of the owner's choosing." *Young puppies must be confined at a place of the owner's choosing until they are three months old, then they must be vaccinated. They must remain in confinement for 30 days. Dogs that arrive in Hawaii or Guam, both of which are free of rabies, are subject to the state's or territory's quarantine requirements, in addition to whatever other Public Health Service requirements, above, apply.