U.S, Customs at the airport , when picking up an Import - Page 1

Hello, I was wondering if any one has had any experience like me or if you could help explain to me why they drill you

when you get an Import

I was questioned and detained for over an hour while my poor dog was stuck waiting in the crate. It was bad enough that his flight arrived at 6:30 pm the night before , I was told I could not have him until Customs opened the next day at 8am

I returned to cargo, where they told me my dog had pooped & wet in his crate, they said they walked him and fed him

though I really dont believe it,, you'll see why,,

I got the paper work, drove to customs, where they did not open at 8 but 8:30 &  though there were 7 workers, and no other customers, I was made to sit and wait,  finally a man asked why I was there, he took my documents that showed the dog

was shipped according to the regulations,  Pet pasport, with all vacc incl recent rabies, the letter from the vet, stating the dog to be in good health, fully vaccinated, and not exposed to rabies & that no rabies had accured in the vacinity for the past 6 mo.s,  also the Airway bill,

The customs Officer asked my why I bought this dog, what I was going to do with him , was I a kennel or breeder

I asked why he was questioning me , he stated: because someone shipped a dob who had pups in the crate , and 2 died, and they are wanting to weed out puppy mill breeders & that if I am a kennel I need to pay them another $180 for a broker fee..

of course he said this is all in the best interest of the dogs that are imported

he came back after 45 minutes of coffee, donuts, & visiting with the other workers,  He asked if I had sisters

I told him Kathy, patty , & susan,        He said, is Patty a breeder?

I said my last name was my married name!! patty has a different last name!!  The jerk was accusing me of

buying a dog for my sister, (who doesnt own dogs, but horses & lives on the other side of the country)

mean while,,, my poor dog who has been in a crate for over 24 hrs ( dropped off 2 hr before flight from Germany!! arive 9 hrs later, stuck in crate for 16 more hrs ,,, and counting!!!)

while this US Customs ''Officer'' who cares only for the suffering dogs, tries to get money out of me

This was greedy , inhumane and I hope to get some advice on how to handle this if there is a next time

I did hear from 2 other people they were questioned extensively by customs also

Puppy mills dont pay $$ and import dogs

it it is wrong to spend my hard earned $ on a good dog from germany than we should improve our dogs over here

AKC should be more like the SV with regulations on breeding

I paid for my dog, I paid $1000 to get him here, all the paper work was legal and according to regulations,

what is a broker, who are they , why does customs get $180 for broker fee, (who he said they find for you)

can any one fill me in on this new LAW or  tell me who to contact to find out the real reason for them doing this

I got my male 1   1/2 hr later, he was cringing and shaking uncontrolably in the back of the crate, it took much coaxing and dragging to get him out/ covered in poop and pee

I do not believe they ever attempted to take him out for a walk!!

Linda

Which airport was it?

A few months a go I imported a dog and did not use a broker I will tell you it is a big scam and now I need a broker. the brokers are in the pocket of Customs this is so they make money to. a broker can have the paperwork done and the dog clearded 24 hrs before the dog arrives we can't we have to wait until the dog arrives. ( GREAT RULES) and $180 for a broker is not bad I pay $250 now but I have no other choice because if our Great US Customs refuses to clear the dog then we can't get it and if they want to play games with you then they will send the dog to the airport kennels and you will have to pay there fee's to. IT IS ALL A GAME TO THEM BUT IF WE WANT TO IMPORT DOGS WE HAVE TO PLAY IT. And I don't know what airport you use but my broker told me JFK and LAX are the hardest ports to get things cleared.

FYI..People buy whole litters of pups from puppy mills over seas. They get them cheap and sell them for big bucks over here.

I just recieved a pup from Germany to Chicago.  There was some waiting for paperwork, and other delays adding up to a couple of hours.  Had to drive a couple of miles to the customs office, didnt have any hassle tho.  The breeder shipped with Gradlyn Kennels Airfreight service.  I think shipping was around $850.00 U.S.  I think what airport you are dealing with does make a difference, but I think Gradlyn and Lufthansa worked well together and saved me alot of time and trouble.  I didnt need a broker here in the U.S. to pickup the pup.  I've only done this once and cant say why you had this much trouble, but I've heard this before from others regarding shipping and problems.  Its probably going to get worst as time goes by.

I was just talking to the trainer/owner of the club I'm with today about this.  He said he's also had horrible experiences and knows of other big breeder/trainers that have as well.  These people in customs try to get as much money out of you as possible.  They even looked up him and his girlfriend on the internet to see if they were breeders/trainers to try to get more money....it was a horrible experience for them.  They said their friend who just imported a male from Germany was down at the airport for TWO days because they gave him the same BS.  And is why my trainer goes through a broker now....saves the hassle..it's really sad. I know one of these incidents was in Atlanta.

I've been told Chicago isn't too bad, and is where I'll be going through in the future thank goodness. 

 They "drill you" because it is their job. Nothing personal. Everyone and everything that goes through customs goes through this. It is normal. The more you go through customs the more you realize it is always the same.    Sorry for your bad experience but it sounds rather normal. They are required to ask certain questions.  Depending on how far the dog comes from and how long in the crate they frequently are incontinent. The airlines are not allowed to take them out and walk them due to liability. It sounds like if anything could be improved it would be the booking so the dog doesn't need to stay over. I don't believe they took him out and walked him but they are required to water and feed depending on the amount of hours traveled. The cringing and shaking worries me a little. I've had dogs that arrived after 24 hours or so and none were cringing and shaking. although it did take some time to acclimate upon arrival. I could be wrong, but the cringing and shaking could be a nerve issue. I hope not.

I have imported at least 100 dogs. Never spent more than 10 min. at US Customs and only that long because there were people ahead of me in line. . I only use major airports, make sure the Customs office is open well after the dogs' scheduled flight arrival time with some wiggle room for delays. The ;ess said the better, I think, but the correct answer to every question is "pet---no specific value". I have never used a broker on this end. Can't see why I would need one when GK Air Frieght takes care of everything so well from their end.

You must have gotten a bad apple. did you ship to a smaller airport?

SS

shiped Both times to large airports

My first dog was to Miami, I thought the interrigation was just because it was all Cubans wking there,, I thought they didnt like me because I was white,  sorry, no offence to anyone, just didnt know what else to think,

they did make one woman at the other window  leave and bring more money for Broker fee, she was crying, they would not release her pregnant dog to her.

 for 650 euros  I used Luthansia again and  this time my male was shipped to Orlando  FL (much closer to me than Miami) I thought it would be better, it was worse.

I didnt expect them to walk the dog, just stated they ''said ''they did

I know the breeder and she bred & raised this puppy very well, he was tramatized from the flight probably and then to be tortured by being in a crate hour after hour, after hour,,,,,,just started to crack him

he is very insecure at this time, unlike he was for my friend who raised him,

I believe it is a ''money matter'' only ,  I dont know exactly who gets this broker fee, I would like to know where this all goes, how is divided, In Miami, they had a broker for the woman , they just said for her to bring the money

now If I ship another I certainly will have to pay it

this drilling is to see what??? If I am a terrorist?

  I paid for a dog , I have a right to  spend my hard earned money to purchase out of the country as long as I follow all the laws to import it,

I had all the papers, what does my sister have to do with this? If I breed my male does this make me a breeder who now has to get a broker?

how do I find a broker anyway?

I really think that they feel if you have $$ to send over seas, than give us some, has nothing to do with puppy mills

I remember now the man said they would/could come to my home at anytime and investigate me, I was really intimidated and all just for buying a beloved German Shepherd,,,

anyone reading this should check this out

http://www.bullmarketfrogs.com/main_pages/puppy_brokers.htm

boy did I learn something!!

http://www.thewrongpuppy.org/id739.htm

http://www.dpca.org/PublicEd/PEC/PECBuyer.html

also:

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