Importing Puppies from Czech Republic to USA - Page 2

Rik - wishing you the best of luck with her; from Duke, she will probably be great !

I imported have a dog coming in from Slovakia. No customs broker required. The breeder took care of the travel arraignments and requirements. I fill out some paperwork at the airport and pay a fee to pick him up.

I just picked up a pup from JFK , who originated from Slovakia. Just for reference, I’ve been importing for 17 years without a broker.
Last year there was a “ covid tax” of $109.00

This time I needed a broker. If no broker and the dog arrived, $180.00 per day dog would be put in airport kennel “ark “. Then there was a terminal fee.
Please get a broker or they will NOT release your dog

Cost= broker $250
Terminal fee $. 275. Cash. Or transaction fee for credit card

It's been a few years for me now-before COVID.
1 from Slovakia from eurosport. I didn't have to do anything except show up to Chicago (O'Hare I think) and pick up my dog. I don't remember any issues. This was '07.

Then again a few years ago I bought a pup from Tiekerhook. Also O'hare. No issues. I think I remember some agent asking if I had a broker and I said no. that was it. I do remember I had to wait a long time for that pup to be ready to leave. But other than a long wait I had no issues.

Maybe there were things Eurosport and Tiekerhook (Koos uses a shipper-don't remember the name) had to do on their end to make it easy?

Mike

I know it's not Czech, but when I just got my pups from Serbia, I just gave Dragan my name and address and the pups were delivered right to my front door, through a weather advisory snow storm no less.
I thought, Damn, this was easy.

I have been importing for many years. Get a broker. The issues that can come up are not worth the headaches that come with a dog that will not clear Customs. Been there, done that. Learn from others experiences.

To dig a little deeper into this-

What does the broker do? Do they have some license or certification that us regular folks don't have the expedites the process? Is there a legal requirement? Where do you even find one if you wanted to have one?

Mike

A broker usually works for a Cargo Clearing business that can do the paperwork that clears merchandise thru U.S. Customs...
Through the years of Importing dogs coming in from overseas I have asked U.S. Customs why do some dogs/animals require a broker and others don't...The answer I got...which I don't feel is right...but they told me if a dog is basically bought to sell and make money on then a broker is needed...But I have found that if it's a puppy then you don't need a broker...
I find the best thing to do is to contact the airport and ask if a broker will be needed or not...
As where to find a broker I have found the best way is to ask and hear it word of mouth...
I'm sure a broker has some credentials or they work for someone that does...

~Bob~