[NAGDU] International travel with a guide dog

Wed Apr 5 18:30:00 UTC 2017

Ok,? thank you for this information. Is Europe the only overseas destination that would require a microchip?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 5, 2017, at 1:40 PM, David via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> When you get your pup, your guide dog school will microchip your dog with the chip that is used in the U.S.  You can ask them to chip it with the microchip that is used in Europe, as well.
> 
> David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL
> 
>> On 4/5/2017 10:40 AM, Miranda B. via NAGDU wrote:
>> Hi Alysha,
>> Thanks for sharing about your recent overseas experience with your guide
>> dog. I do have a few follow-up questions.
>> Who provides the microchip, and what is the average cost? Is there a
>> timeframe in which this microchip should be inserted prior to international
>> travel? Would it be a good idea to consider this microchip for future
>> international trips, even if one is not scheduled at the time of getting the
>> chip?
>> Also, what is the best way to learn about the laws inside the destination or
>> layover countries regarding public access, ETC? Does the below site detail
>> these laws?
>> Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, and have a wonderful week!
>> 
>> Best wishes, Miranda
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alysha via NAGDU
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 8:41 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Alysha <alyshaj at comcast.net>
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] International travel with a guide dog
>> 
>> Hi Miranda,
>> I just returned from a 9 day trip to Portugal with my guide dog, Xylon.
>> Overall, it was a good experience, and I am glad I brought him with me. Most
>> countries in the EU have the same requirements for entry with a dog,
>> although a few of them have additional requirements. This is a great website
>> where you can look up the exact requirements for traveling with a dog to
>> specific countries:
>> https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel
>> For the Portugal trip, Xylon needed to have been given a Rabies vaccine
>> while he was also microchipped. Since his last Rabies vaccine was given
>> before he got his microchip, I had to give him his next Rabies vaccine
>> earlier than I otherwise would have in order for him to go on the trip.
>> Also, I had to get an international health certificate filled out by my vet
>> within 10 days of entering Portugal, and I had to FedEx it to a USDA office
>> to be endorsed. The USDA will waive the fee for endorsing health
>> certificates if you submit an ID card showing that it is for a service
>> animal. One quick word of warning is that if you have a layover in another
>> country, you may also have to meet their specific requirements in addition
>> to those of your final destination. I originally planned to connect in
>> Heathrow, but their requirements were kind of crazy, so I got different
>> flights connecting in the US instead.
>> 
>> When I arrived in Portugal, I met with the vet at the airport who reviewed
>> my documentation and signed off on the paperwork. There is also a fee to
>> enter Portugal with a dog, but it was waived for us since he is a guide dog.
>> I again showed my Seeing Eye ID card as documentation to have the fee
>> waived.
>> 
>> Overseas flights can be hard on dogs because they must spend a long time in
>> very cramped quarters without being able to relieve themselves and with
>> restricted access to water. The longest leg of my flight was 8 hours, and
>> I'm not sure I would be comfortable putting Xylon through anything too much
>> longer than that. Luckily I was able to take him out to relieve during my
>> layovers, and he is a great plane traveler.
>> 
>> I had very few access issues in Portugal, and on the 2 occasions where
>> businesses were reluctant to let us in, the situation was quickly and easily
>> resolved. They have laws in place allowing people with service animals the
>> right to enter any public place, similar to the US. Everyone seemed to be
>> familiar with guide dogs and was very welcoming to us. However, people often
>> tried to pet him in harness, and my language skills weren't always good
>> enough to politely tell them to stop because he was working. I notified
>> pretty much everyone (hotel, tours, meeting facility, etc.) in advance that
>> I was bringing a dog. I don't typically do this in the US but wasn't as
>> confident with the laws in Portugal.
>> 
>> There are a lot of considerations that I would take into account when
>> deciding whether or not to bring a dog on a trip overseas, e.g. length of
>> the flight, your dog's tolerance of travel/breaks in routine, how easily
>> available your dog's food and safe drinking water would be, whether or not
>> the country is known to have a large number of loose dogs in the streets,
>> access to veterinary care if needed, access laws, cultural attitudes toward
>> dogs, quarantine requirements, length of the trip, etc. I don't know if I
>> can give a specific age at which I think a dog would generally be ready for
>> a trip like this, but I do think it's valuable for you to have traveled
>> multiple times domestically with your dog before going abroad. I would
>> personally really try to minimize the amount of time away from your dog in
>> especially the first year or two of your partnership. A 1-week trip would
>> probably be fine, but taking several 1-week trips without your dog will
>> likely negatively impact your working relationship. The longest I have left
>> Xylon is 4 days, and he's now 3 years old.
>> 
>> Anyway, just my 2 cents. Hope it was helpful, and best of luck to you in
>> whatever you decide!
>> 
>> Alysha
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miranda via NAGDU
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2017 8:24 AM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Miranda <knownoflove at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] International travel with a guidedog
>> 
>> Hi,
>> I am considering getting a guy dog, but I am also an undergraduate student
>> looking at internship opportunities overseas within the next couple years.
>> I'm wondering how practical it would be to get a guy dog prior to a semester
>> abroad, or if it would be better to wait until I graduate and would only be
>> traveling on a less frequent basis for more short-term opportunities (10
>> days-1 month). If traveling to a country that would pose undo hardship or
>> extreme complications, I have considered leaving the dog at home with my
>> husband for more of a short-term trip (10 days or less). In other words, the
>> practicality of taking a dog overseas would need to be considered on a
>> case-by-case basis.
>> If you've traveled overseas with your guidedog, where did you go and for how
>> long? What are some other factors to consider when traveling abroad with a
>> guy dog?
>> Thanks for your help, and have a wonderful week!
>> 
>> Best wishes, Miranda
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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