Passports

Pistol and Boo are safe but it looks like their humans are still in trouble.  Who are Pistol and Boo?  Two Yorkshire terriers. Their humans?   Johhny Depp and his wife Amber.  And why are the humans in trouble?  It seems the pirate and his wife tried to smuggle their tiny pooches into Australia on a private plane back in May while Captain Jack was filming a movie there.  Australia has strict quarantine laws for importing animals – and apparently the couple tried to sneak their dogs into the country.  The dogs were quickly returned to the US,  but Amber was charged.  She could face a hefty fine and/or jail time.  My bet is that she pays a fine and all will be OK. We’ll se what happens – she goes to court in September.

This story made me look into the traveling restrictions between countries for us pets  Holy moly there sure are lots of DIFFERENT requirements.  Classifications INCLUDE:

·      From one RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY to another RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY

·      From a RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY to a EU COUNTRY

·      From a RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY to a RABIES-FREE COUNTRY

·      From a RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY to a HIGH-RABIES COUNTRY

·      From a HIGH-RABIES COUNTRY to another HIGH-RABIES COUNTRY

·      From a HIGH-RABIES COUNTRY to certain RABIES-FREE COUNTRIES

·      From a RABIES-CONTROLLED COUNTRY to outer space.  OK.  I added that one.

Note I said the classifications INCLUDE these example.  It is all VERY complex.  There is a website about Pet Travel that seems to have all the info one would need about international travel with us canine kids.  They even suggest that we get a Passport.  Of course I now want one.  It doesn’t matter that I don’t have any immediate plans for international travel.  When my best seller hits the market, I will no doubt need one.  That – and a private plane.  

©  Linda Wozniak