Home Quarantine - Page 2

I think the age has to do with when the shots are administered.  When I called the USDA the first time (I think it was the USDA...one of those gov't orgs.) they said if under three months they needed to be quarantined before and 30 days after they get the shot...even coming from a rabies free country like Holland...but if the pup has already gotten the shot, then you wait 30 days after that and ship and there shouldnt be any restrictions because the pup already has all the required shots.

~Cate

"I think the age has to do with when the shots are administered."

It does.  Rabies vaccinations are not supposed to be administered until a pup is at least twelve weeks old.

 "When I called the USDA the first time (I think it was the USDA...one of those gov't orgs.) they said if under three months they needed to be quarantined before and 30 days after they get the shot.."

This is true so far as it goes.  There is a slightly devious way to get around the requirement, however: if the overseas breeder can get his vet to provide written certification that the pup was vaccinated for rabies on date X, which just so happens to be slightly more than thirty days before the pup was imported, then Customs will not make you sign the quarantine agreement, and you can proceed to get the actual vaccination when the pup is at the correct age.  Mind you, I'm not advocating that anyone conspire to violate our public health regulations...

Our last puppy was quarantined until 30 days after her rabies shot, she was too young for it when we got her.  We were told by the Customs agent somebody may come by to check, we did get a follow up phone call though no on site visit.  It's all based on when the rabies shot is given, many vets suggest no sooner then 4-months though some give it at 3-months.   Think of it as a chance to bond very closely with the puppy until you can take it places.  By then it will have no doubt you belong to it.  Have fun. 

Good Deal...Thanks everyone for the replies of your experiences with the quarantine/health regulations. With all the reading I have seen about how important it is to bring my GSD out of the home as early as possible to socialize, I was worried that he wont get the proper socialization. I guess I will just have to have lots of company LOL

My pup will be 8 weeks old on July 2, so he will not be old enough for a rabies shot for another month and if I have to wait until he's four months old to bring him anywhere, just seems like an awful long time. Ahhh well... I'm still ridiculously excited about him coming home and I have a huge yard and other dogs,  and kids so he should still have lots of fun.

To answer the other questions, yes...it was Customs who told us about the restrictions.

We are in Texas and it only took us about a half hour to get our other pup.

Well I am glad to know that the Customs fella wasn't just picking on ME *wink* Thanks again everyone for the help and info :-)

Stacy

Hey Stacy -

Did you pick up at Houston or Dallas? Where are you located?
This whole "quarantine" thing is a fairly new practice here.. at least as far as nforcement goes. I've been importing for quite some time, and only within the last month have I heard of them doing this here.

I am importing to Houston, as it is the closest to me.

That is such crap!! Have a friend who got a puppy imported from Holland, same ridiculous bunk..... first of all, although the Rabies vaccination is supposedly labeled safe to be given after 12 weeks, you would be very smart to do some research before you allow that to happen!

Read Dr Jean Dodds research on vaccines in particular Rabies...... it has all the same and possibly more concerns associated with it that anyof the other vaccines do. First of all, an animal coming from a Rabies free country should be safe period, secondly it is ridiculous to no socialize your puppy within the first 30 days you have it.. valuable time is being wasted in that respect.. anyone with a baby puppy is going to ensure its exposure to wild animals, feral cats will not occur....same for an adult or anyother age for that matter.

I hold off as long as I can with that vaccine.. 6 months or later is possible.. and yes, I still bring my puppies everywhere I go so they can be socialized. Everyone needs to research all vaccination protocol and look at what Dr Dodds and Dr Schultz have come up with.. they are trying to orchestrate the same study with Rabies that was does with all the other vaccines...

Now, before people go throwing stuff, I am not saying that a Rabies vaccine is not necessary.. it totally is because of the human health risk - however, we need to be smart about it. Rabies is one of the vaccines that causes all kind of site reactions.. and for those places that require a 1 year as opposed to a 3 year.. again more crap!! All comes out of the same bottle.. the 1 year booster is ok (so far) but after that, my dogs get done every 3 years and once they get older.. I stop.. I am not putting my 8, 9 or 10  year olds thru any more vaccines.. theor immune systems need to be left alone.. I will ensure that their exposure to rabies doesn't happen!!

Sorry to go off on a tangent, just drives me crazy to hear this kind of bureaucratic crap (cuz that's all it is) being placed into law and ruffling good ciitzens and whats more compromising the health of  baby puppies!!

Whew, guess I better get some coffee!!

Denise

Further, I don't understand what the SPCA would have to do with any of this.. unless by SPCA you mean your local Animal control people ?? Even still??

Denise,

LOL! I feel very much like you do on the subject! I won't be leaving my puppy alone outside, and his chances of being exposed to rabies are exactly the same as mine. If I see a wild animal I will be scooping my pup up and running inside LOL I also agree with the wasted time in his socialization. That is my main concern, as the Schutzhund Clubs I have spoken to said after my first visit or so it's good to bring my pup. I was also invited to bring him to the home of a lady in my area who also does SchH. Wouldn't it be my luck that it would be the day that they decide to "check" on me....

I am sure that at Customs they said SPCA, they could have meant AC, but either way it feels weird.  They also said if the pup isn't at the home when they check we get a fine...not sure how much but I think I am going to call them and find out...I'll post back later