Moving a dog to Japan... Questions

[ladybugsbw]

I have friends moving to japan for a 3-5 year military commitment. They have a super awesome schnauzer, who is 7 and they desperately want him to join them. They are looking for options aside from shipping him in cargo on the airlines. Does anyone have any suggestions that I can pass their way?

Thanks so much!!!

[cnigh]

Not many options, it’s either by plane or boat. If it’s a mini dog they might be able to keep it with them in a carrier. They would have to call the airlines to see what their rules and regulations are.

[Rackonteur]

They will need to learn not only the airlines’ regulations but those of Japan on importing pets (like Hawaii, it’s islands).

Importing pets into Japan (includes info about source countries and quarantine regulations):
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-petsi.html

One of the links from the above site:
http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

[Pep_n_Ann]

If they are going to be living on base, the Japanese regulations might not apply. The family support people on the base would be a good place to start.

[JanM]

They need to look at the U.S. Forces Japan information about importing of animals. If the animal is too big to be in a carrier under the seat, then the dog will have to ship in the animal shipping area of the aircraft. I hope that there is time to arrange the animal’s transportation and import, because depending on the destination, there can be quite a few items that need to be addressed before shipping an animal. The base or post veterinarian’s office will be a great resource for them.

[JanM]

Here is the U.S. forces Japan veterinary regulation, which has to honor the Japanese quarantine rules for shipping animals in from countries that are not rabies free:
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lsd49/Documents/japan%20pet%20info.pdf

Here is another link, with more current information from the U.S. Army:
http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/import.aspx

Note that the quarantine period can be up to six months, at the discretion of the Japanese veterinary authorities. U.S. regulation are after the Japanese regulations are completed, and there are many steps that govern how long quarantine will be.

The regulations of the destination country must be met first, and then the Military veterinary and housing regulations.

[mht]

My brother, who earlier this year moved to Hong Kong, hired a company, based out of Vancouver, B.C. to bring his two cats to him, from Toronto. Only requirements for the cats to travel were up to date health records, and they had to be microchipped. There was no quarantine period.

This company picked the cats up, at his Toronto condo, (he was already in HK)got them on the plane at Pearson, and sent updates to him during the whole flight. When the flight was about 30 minutes out of HK, he was notified. Upon landing, the company let him know, and as soon as they had cleared, he received another update. They cats were even delivered to his door.

The cost was $1000/cat, but he said he would recommend this company to anyone needing to get their pets to where they are.