Can someone please tell me what I need to do to get a Jack Russell terrier pup home (ND) from Namibia? The father is a wonderful tracker and companion. Thanks!
Dave

Frankly, I don't think you will have too much trouble...even less so since he will PROBABLY be small enough to "carry on" rather than check as baggage. Airlines have weight restrictions on how big a dog can be to carry on and also remember that some airlines or planes within an airline system don't have the ability to take pets as cargo (lack of O2 in the cargo area given the design of the plane) so carry-on is just easier if possible. I would also avoid the UK like the plague on your trip. That route can be done with a pet, but matters get much more complicated and you just don't want to go there!

Also, some airlines do charge for the carry-on of a pet depending on their mood (The airline employee, not the pet). I also know people who have simply not mentioned the pet housed in a little carry-on when boarding and simply avoided the whole discussion and fee. Neither attendants on the flight nor TSA will be asking you for any pet paperwork...your only concern is the ticket agent and the agent at the gate. You should also remember that some airlines (if you switch carriers) will charge (or try to charge) for the pet on each intermediate flight..say between RSA and Frankfurt and/or Frankfurt and the US if you switch from the Namibian Airline to SAA and then to Lufthansa to get the US.

As far as logistics, a vet down there will just need to make sure the pup has all his shots and provide a vet certificate noting he is healthy. That vet cert needs to be issued within a particular numbers of days of departure and the CDC says that the vaccination must have been given 30 days or more prior to arrival ( www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/dogs.html ) This means, by the looks of things, that the dog must be at least four months old to travel since you apparently can't give them shots before three months of age. Also, though I have never run into this in my international travel with a dog, I don't know that I would mention to US customs on arrival that you bought the dog or collected it in Namibia. It might be best to just "imply" that he went to Namibia with you and had a new vet cert and shots (which were due during travel) done while you were there to make that sure return travel was easier. There is NO need to get Customs fussy about the "commercial" issues of moving a dog around relative to just the vet requirements.

Here is a web-site discussing the matter and I am sure each airline has a relevant site regarding their policies.
http://www.state.gov/m/fsi/tc/c10442.htm

Oh...in an an emergency, one sure-fire way to get a bigger dog on a "no-pets" flight is to fake blindness and declare him a "service animal". A "Friend of mine" pulled that one off once...even avoided the airline fee!

Thanks Ten!

Hope this isn't too late for you. We have imported Jack Russell's that Warwick Evans used in Zimbabwe and SA to chase leopards. We have used Sandi Williams at Moveapet in Port Elizabeth, SA
Her contact info is: sandi.williams@moveapet.co.za

She does everything--health papers, airline reservations, import permits, etc.

You just go to the airport and pick them up. Price is very reasonable.

In fact, it costs us about 1/2 to import from Africa than to ship to Africa.
Good luck
Jerry

Yip, Moveapet.

I have imported and exported terriers to RSA. Importing was a piece of cake.

Isn't is amazing how much easier it is to import them than to export. Also seems like about 1/2 the cost to bring them this way. Same planes, just going a different direction.