DUTRAVEL Posted July 15 #23801 Share Posted July 15 Oh no Chris, I am so sorry to see this. You must be heartbroken to lose your right-hand girl. Your travels with Raylene gave me the courage to travel with Henri and what a great service dog ambassador she was. I am giving Henri an extra hug tonight. We are headed to Iceland next month and we will definitely raise a glass to Raylene. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mlkjunk11 Posted July 15 #23802 Share Posted July 15 So sorry to see your note, Caribbean Chris. One of the hardest things about sharing a life with a dog is how short their time with us is. My sincere condolences on your loss. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted July 15 #23803 Share Posted July 15 So sorry to hear of your loss, our deepest sympathy. Hugs to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 17 #23804 Share Posted July 17 On 5/9/2024 at 1:59 PM, DUTRAVEL said: Just a heads up that the CDC has issued new rules starting August 1, 2024 that will require that all dogs entering the US appear healthy upon arrival, be at least 6 months old, be microchipped and be accompanied by a “CDC Dog Import Form” receipt that was filled out online two to 10 days before arrival. These rules apply to all dogs, including service dogs and those who were born in the United States but are returning from another country. Unless I am reading the CDC checklist wrong, it looks like a dog vaccinated in the US will also need to have either a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form or the USDA APHIS health certificate (which in either case will need to be endorsed by the USDA). Hopefully, USDA endorsement of one of those forms will not be necessary every time you return to the US. Here's a link to a good explanation of the rules: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/08/health/cdc-dog-import-rules/index.html?bt_ee=ZPVTkqTnMd0AyE5HlJ0kf3iKBdPsCrkLFvjwXYBK5Q8dyntljCQgX6cw%2F7p70WjU&bt_ts=1715251930296 Link to CDC Website: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs-entering-us-after-august-1.html As these requirements may have a sizeable impact on Canadians, whether cruising with a service dog or simply travelling to the US, I started a thread on the Canadian Cruisers forum yesterday not having seen your earlier post here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOPMan Posted July 17 #23805 Share Posted July 17 This change seems to introduce challenges for people with service animals on 11+ day trips involving Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Seeing a veterinarian in the midst of a railcruise trip to Denali would be challenging. Similar issues would occur in finding a vet in the Carribean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUTRAVEL Posted July 17 #23806 Share Posted July 17 5 hours ago, Fouremco said: As these requirements may have a sizeable impact on Canadians, whether cruising with a service dog or simply travelling to the US, I started a thread on the Canadian Cruisers forum yesterday not having seen your earlier post here. It looks like its going to be a mess to start - the relevant Canadian government agency doesn't yet know how the forms will be endorsed. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/us-border-dog-rules-disagreement-1.7262417 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fouremco Posted July 18 #23807 Share Posted July 18 3 hours ago, DUTRAVEL said: It looks like its going to be a mess to start - the relevant Canadian government agency doesn't yet know how the forms will be endorsed. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/us-border-dog-rules-disagreement-1.7262417 Yes, a real mess for anyone wanting or needing to enter the US with their dog. I hope that a solution can be found quickly, or that the implementation date be delayed until a fix is developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi-Cruiser Posted July 18 #23808 Share Posted July 18 On 7/17/2024 at 1:57 PM, FOPMan said: This change seems to introduce challenges for people with service animals on 11+ day trips involving Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. Seeing a veterinarian in the midst of a railcruise trip to Denali would be challenging. Similar issues would occur in finding a vet in the Carribean. I have had that same though in the back of my mine. I am booked on a 10day Mexican Riviera out of San Diego in November. I am booked also on a 15day British Isles out of Rotterdam. I understand why they want to restrict the importing dogs from High-Risk Countries. They just didn't think about dealing with people with Service Dog traveling on multiple day cruises who are from the United States. I feel for those who are from Low-Risk Countries like the Canada, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France and other US friendly countries. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaggedyAnn s Posted August 13 #23809 Share Posted August 13 I am looking for guidance, I am going on an Alaskan leaving Cali cruise. This stops in Canada. I have my import form , vaccine records. Ect. But am not understanding the health certificate for. It says online Canada doesn’t require a health certificate usda , but carnival is saying they require health certificate for service dogs. Is there something I’m not understanding? I need to make sure everything is in line for cruise in beginning of September Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted August 13 #23810 Share Posted August 13 1 hour ago, RaggedyAnn s said: I am looking for guidance, I am going on an Alaskan leaving Cali cruise. This stops in Canada. I have my import form , vaccine records. Ect. But am not understanding the health certificate for. It says online Canada doesn’t require a health certificate usda , but carnival is saying they require health certificate for service dogs. Is there something I’m not understanding? I need to make sure everything is in line for cruise in beginning of September Yes, you will need the health certificate & most recent rabies certificate. Cruise lines expect this when you check in. Your vet inspects the dog and fills it out, valid 30 days. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/APHIS7001.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaggedyAnn s Posted August 14 #23811 Share Posted August 14 1 hour ago, Caribbean Chris said: Yes, you will need the health certificate & most recent rabies certificate. Cruise lines expect this when you check in. Your vet inspects the dog and fills it out, valid 30 days. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/APHIS7001.pdf Thank you, Chris. Your reply is invaluable. I called the vet and have an appointment for the 30th. My cruise is on the 6th, and I leave the state on the 5th. They said that since it’s just a trip to Canada, they should have it back right away in the office before I even leave. Does this seem correct? This will be my first cruise, and I’m really excited but also a bit nervous. If anyone has any tips or advice for a first-time service dog cruiser, I would greatly appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted August 14 #23812 Share Posted August 14 Yes, it only needs the vet’s signature. You should have it right away. (Sometimes it has to be endorsed additionally by a USDA vet for certain destinations, but Canada’s not one of them.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaggedyAnn s Posted August 14 #23813 Share Posted August 14 Oh thank goodness so happy to have met a friend ! Thank you. ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted August 14 #23814 Share Posted August 14 Here is a link to Alaska’s requirements you can provide to your vet in advance of your appointment: https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/import-export/ Note: There is a form added in recent years you probably also need to have your vet provide, the CVI - Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to enter Alaska. (See post #23674 on page 947.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaggedyAnn s Posted August 14 #23815 Share Posted August 14 Wait even if I’m coming from the us ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted August 14 #23816 Share Posted August 14 30 minutes ago, RaggedyAnn s said: Wait even if I’m coming from the us ? As mentioned above you can read some previous posts (starting around post 23674 on page 947) to get more information on this CVI form and when you’ll need it, which Alaska added in recent years. Also check the link to Alaska’s government page. It’s always helpful to do a search in this service dog thread to read about recent changes in animal export regulations and documents - they change constantly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaggedyAnn s Posted August 14 #23817 Share Posted August 14 I guess I’m confused. Do I need more then one form per port? I have never traveled like this before so I really am clueless, from what I’m reading the cvi looks like the health certificate . If they are separate, or I need more then one per port. I’m so sorry some of my disability is intellectually and it takes me a longer time then most to process and understand information , and there is just so much of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted August 14 #23818 Share Posted August 14 The USDA Health Certificate (APHIS Form 7001) is the starting point because cruiselines and sometimes airlines expect to see it, accompanied by a current rabies certificate. Additional country-specific or state-specific forms often are required. For an Alaska cruise, Alaska’s CVI form is now needed. https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/vet/import-export/pets/? This month, the U.S. CDC is implementing their own new form: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof3cruisers Posted September 6 #23819 Share Posted September 6 On 7/14/2024 at 7:12 PM, Caribbean Chris said: Just wanted to let you all know that Hearing Dog Raylene crossed the rainbow bridge last week at the age of 12. She was placed with me by Dogs for the Deaf, a nonprofit now known as Dogs for Better Lives. Our ten years together were filled with countless travel adventures and the memories are bringing me joy. We traveled 25,000 miles on the highways of North America via RV and cruised together 14 times, divided between Holland America and Celebrity. Our last cruise together was last September to New England & Canada. As you all will know, it was hard to say goodbye to her but she let me know the time had come. We decided today to book another cruise, perhaps scatter some of her ashes, and definitely will raise a glass to my beautiful Ray. I’m so sorry. We dread the day that Max needs to say goodbye. On 8/13/2024 at 7:43 PM, RaggedyAnn s said: Thank you, Chris. Your reply is invaluable. I called the vet and have an appointment for the 30th. My cruise is on the 6th, and I leave the state on the 5th. They said that since it’s just a trip to Canada, they should have it back right away in the office before I even leave. Does this seem correct? This will be my first cruise, and I’m really excited but also a bit nervous. If anyone has any tips or advice for a first-time service dog cruiser, I would greatly appreciate it! We found that having several copies of everything was quite helpful. Our vet was very helpful and knew exactly what to do and which forms we needed. Hopefully yours will too. i realized I never came back and updated how things went on our Carnival cruise. Overall, things went very well with one notable exception. Max refused flat out to use the potty box. He has literally never refused a command before. And we had a full sea day. Left Cozumel at 7 pm, arrived in Miami 37 hours later and in that whole time he would not go potty! The box was placed in a rather loud area and very far from our cabin. It was made of metal sides with plastic in the bottom and a thin layer of what looked like pellets. He was not impressed. We asked for it to be moved but then it ended up in a blocked off area that we couldn’t get to which was even more inconvenient. 🤨 He was perfectly behaved and did his job but we were a bit stressed to say the least. My son has decided he won’t cruise with him again but they both did enjoy the trip. I was very thankful for the advice received here to have all needed paperwork just in case we needed to get off of the ship for an emergency or some other reason. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvet Posted Thursday at 11:06 AM #23820 Share Posted Thursday at 11:06 AM Apparently the import rules and fees have changed again for the Bahamas. the official website doesn’t show the new rules yet but here and there it’s mentioned on internet. I normally don’t trust the non official websites but the Bahamas website isn’t always reliable either. They are very very very slow with putting information and new rules on their website. so does anybody know of any changes that started on September 1st? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted Friday at 11:35 AM #23821 Share Posted Friday at 11:35 AM 23 hours ago, yvet said: Apparently the import rules and fees have changed again for the Bahamas. the official website doesn’t show the new rules yet but here and there it’s mentioned on internet. I normally don’t trust the non official websites but the Bahamas website isn’t always reliable either. They are very very very slow with putting information and new rules on their website. so does anybody know of any changes that started on September 1st? Wellington Saunders of the Bahamas Pet Permit service (a private, non-governmental business that obtains the permits for a fee) has been posting on Facebook recently about the changes, and some info is available at this link - scroll down to FAQs: https://www.bahamaspetpermit.com/ Wellington is a good guy to deal with, in my experience several times, if you don't want the hassle of chasing the status of your permit. He physically takes applications to the office and picks them up, then emails the permit to you. It was worth it to me to have one less country to worry about. He has been conscientious and is a good communicator. If I had a trip coming up soon, I’d pay to use him. That said - His fees (and apparently now those charged by the Bahamas) have gone up in recent years and note that he does not reduce his rates for service animals. (In the past, if you dealt directly with the Bahamas and had proof of your dog’s service animal status, you did not need to pay the then-$10 Bahamas fee. But the process was often slow and frustrating. No word yet if that policy will still be the same.) He reported on Facebook that the Bahamas Department of Agriculture no longer handles the process. He implied that people will be able to do it online now directly with the government and theoretically will get results in a couple of days. Links I tried to the Bahamas govt don't seem to be working. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi-Cruiser Posted Sunday at 09:13 PM #23822 Share Posted Sunday at 09:13 PM On 9/13/2024 at 7:35 AM, Caribbean Chris said: Wellington Saunders of the Bahamas Pet Permit service (a private, non-governmental business that obtains the permits for a fee) has been posting on Facebook recently about the changes, and some info is available at this link - scroll down to FAQs: https://www.bahamaspetpermit.com/ Wellington is a good guy to deal with, in my experience several times, if you don't want the hassle of chasing the status of your permit. He physically takes applications to the office and picks them up, then emails the permit to you. It was worth it to me to have one less country to worry about. He has been conscientious and is a good communicator. If I had a trip coming up soon, I’d pay to use him. That said - His fees (and apparently now those charged by the Bahamas) have gone up in recent years and note that he does not reduce his rates for service animals. (In the past, if you dealt directly with the Bahamas and had proof of your dog’s service animal status, you did not need to pay the then-$10 Bahamas fee. But the process was often slow and frustrating. No word yet if that policy will still be the same.) He reported on Facebook that the Bahamas Department of Agriculture no longer handles the process. He implied that people will be able to do it online now directly with the government and theoretically will get results in a couple of days. Links I tried to the Bahamas govt don't seem to be working. The problem with using Wellington is that he will not do the non fees for service dog. The Bahamas do not charge a fee for service dogs. You email you paper work directly to the permit office and they will email it back. I have use the first time and he is good but I don't want to avoid paying fees for my service dog when I don't need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caribbean Chris Posted Sunday at 09:30 PM #23823 Share Posted Sunday at 09:30 PM 11 minutes ago, Rudi-Cruiser said: The problem with using Wellington is that he will not do the non fees for service dog. The Bahamas do not charge a fee for service dogs. You email you paper work directly to the permit office and they will email it back. I have use the first time and he is good but I don't want to avoid paying fees for my service dog when I don't need to. Yes, that’s understandable, and I tried to point out that service dog owners will have to pay Wellington’s same fee, which has gone way up, if they use his service. IF the Bahamas will consistently respond and actually return the approved permit by email and in a reasonable time frame without the former hassles, that will be really great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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