Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!

[DUTRAVEL]

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.

[Mlkjunk11]

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. 

[puppycanducruise]

So sorry to hear of your loss, our deepest sympathy.  Hugs to you.

[Fouremco]

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.

 

 

[FOPMan]

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.

[DUTRAVEL]

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

 

[Fouremco]

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.

[Rudi-Cruiser]

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.

[RaggedyAnn s]

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 

[Caribbean Chris]

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

[RaggedyAnn s]

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!

[Caribbean Chris]

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.)

[RaggedyAnn s]

Oh thank goodness so happy to have met a friend !  Thank you. !   

[Caribbean Chris]

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.)

[RaggedyAnn s]

Wait even if I’m coming from the us ? 

[Caribbean Chris]

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.

[RaggedyAnn s]

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 

[Caribbean Chris]

 

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