Can someone please help with pet health cert. questions?

Oh, yes I am aware the certificates have to be obtained within 10 days of travel... What all did you have to get done to your cats in those ten days?

I have a dog, not a cat, but from what I understand, it's the same. I've been looking into it for my own trip, and as far as I can tell, all you need is a health certificate. Airlines seem to consider the VI an international destination, so that might explain why it's the same thing I've used to travel to Mexico. It's just a little pink slip of paper that has the pet's name, your name, date of travel, date of rabies vaccination, etc. I've used it several times to drive to Mexico, and it's no big deal... no tests or anything needed as long as the vaccinations are up to date. I did find out that the pet must have been vaccinated against rabies within a year of the date of travel to the VI, so I had to give my dog another rabies vaccine even though she wasn't due for another 14 months or so. The vet had no problem with that, though.

The only other thing I'm doing in preparation for the trip is making sure that my dog is totally up to date on whatever health needs she might have... gotta call to get her an appointment for a dental cleaning, for example. I hear there are good vets in the VI, but with so many other things involved in the move, the last thing I want to do is try to find a vet in my first week on the island! Might as well get everything done before I leave and give myself time to find the right vet before the next thing is due.

Dr. Hess's office has supplied me with the info for my vet. So, nevermind, all is well. Still seems like my NYC, over-priced vet should know what to do in these situations...

Do not get an international health certificate!! Insist that your vet give you an interstate , domestic health certificate. It states that your pet has a rabies vaccine. Most vets have no clue which one for the VI. It should only be $40-50 at the most. Multiple animals can be on the same certificate. PM me if you want more advice. I travel with my dogs several times a year!

all i used when i brought my cat here from florida was the record of shots from his last visit which was within the time frame. the big thing they look for is the rabies shot as i have heard there is no known cases of rabies on island and the vets here during annual check ups dont give rabies shot. if you take your pet back to the states they will give you one.

Usually, they don't look at any documentation. But bring what you're supposed to, just in case. If you're still not sure what to bring, I'd ask the airline.

it is ten days before travel? i am traveling with a pet to vermont for summer and was not sure. i have traveled many times to and from with cats and dogs and can never remember the requirements( must be a.g.e.) and airlines are known to change things.

how much is it now to fly with a pet? i heard 100.00 is that correct?
might put a baby hat, dress and pacifer in his mouth and take on as an ugly baby

dixie, when we brought our big boy, it was 100 but that was 5 or so years ago. when do you go to vermont?

I had a friend this year who had to have someone come to the STX airport to get her little dog. She didn't have the certificate and they wouldn't let the dog travel. She said it was the first time anyone had asked and she didn't have one.

We traveled w/cabin dog in feb/march this year, on AA. No questions re anything in JFK...other than casual conversation and paying the $100. I was able to walk him on leash throughout JFK till we boarded the plane, and also throughout the AA terminal in Miami, including the Admiral's Club. Returning, my Husb. said the CBP officer examined every slip of paper he had for the dog...all the innoculations, the health certs, etc....and then one of his flights was cancelled so he had to go home and wait 3 days to leave stx again..same story. Luckily the STX health cert was within the 10 days the second time. Also, he could not keep him on the leash in stx, they wanted him in his carrier.

evening, we just got here on sunday nite with 5 cats; they dont quarantine here like hawaii or other places. the airlines require a health cert, we told the vet that we needed something showing the animals have no communicable diseases. that worked just fine. the islands themselves, from my experience, doesn't ask for paperwork. we found really sturdy animal containers at wal mart. they break down from the inside, if one planes seating isnt as big underneath as the previous. you might need the extra room.
have any questions, ask me, were fresh from the mainland....lol

nite

leave the 16th of june i think speedy. getting excited but alot to do. and one is getting the dog we found spayed and other is getting tito his health certif to fly. i have been asked papers and sometimes not. but better to be safe. and sometimes we have paid and sometimes slips by as a carry on. depends on who is checking you in i think.

one time took dog to states and vet there said they had never heard of the rabis vacc. dog was given here. and had no tag to show.
sure dont want tito to run into a rabid chipmuck.

We brought our two dogs with us last November and traveled with American Airlines. The health certificate must be within 10 days of travel and make sure teh rabies vaccination has the valid through date listed on the certificate. When we got out boarding passes, the lady double checked everything and made us make our dogs turn around in their cages to show they fit well (my boy was a tight fit though). She did give us some worries when she said that we might not be able to put them on the plane in puerto rico because it was a small aircraft and almost didn't let us take them. We simply said that we would just figure it out in puerto rico if that was the case and of course since it was puerto rico they did not care at all.

It is $100/each and american airlines will only let you have one pet per seat that is paid for. I brought a tiny bit of water for them and gave them benedryl beforehand to calm them down. They still hated every minute of the flight though 🙁

Make sure your carriers are within their requirements because they did check ours. Good luck!

thanks wolf. seems they are getting firmer with the checking of carrier and pet. and of course leave it to P.R. to cause problems.

well tito is little. (and on a travel diet sort of) no ice cream at night. of he better fit.

I heard something about john travolta dog's and the airport in new york i think. did anyone know what happened?

Here's the story:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/05/18/travolta.dogs.killed/

Airport truck kills John Travolta's dogs
By Alan Duke, CNN
May 18, 2010 -- Updated 2140 GMT (0540 HKT)

(CNN) -- Two dogs belonging to actor John Travolta were hit and killed by a service vehicle at the Bangor, Maine, airport last week, the actor's publicist and an airport spokeswoman said.

Travolta's jet was parked on an airport tarmac for refueling, Travolta's publicist Paul Bloch said.

"While there, two small dogs on leashes were taken for a walk by someone who is not a family member," airport spokeswoman Rebecca Hupp said. "An airport service pickup truck was approaching the airplane to service the aircraft and did not see the dogs. Unfortunately the dogs were struck and killed."

Members of Travolta's family were on the plane, Hupp said. Travolta is well-known for piloting his own plane.

oh thats awful. just what he needed after his other tragedys.

b.f. just made dog reservations and he said it was harder then making ours. he said he first had to check flights for us and then call each airline (capeair and usair to make sure there was space for dog (in cabin) and get back to reservations to book our. took him from 8:30 this morning to just about an hour ago.
maybe he should be like john T. and have own plane.

You do not need certifications of any kind for a domestic cat that is traveling in the cabin with you. Make sure you have the right FAA soft sided carrier for each cat

Yes, you do need a domestic inter-state health certificate for a cabin pet, dog or cat. My SO and I carry-on our two small dogs at least 3-4 times a year back and forth from the states to STX, on American Airlines. Most of the time they do not check the health certificate, but occasionally they do so you need to be prepared.

All the certificate needs to state is that your animal has an up-to-date rabies vaccine. Vets in the states like to do a full check up and charge for it, but all the actual certificate, dated within 10 days of travel, states is species of animal, breed, coloring, the rabies vaccine number, names and addresses of origination and destination. YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS TO TRAVEL WITH PETS to the VI. They probably won't check, but it is a big hassle if you don't have it and they do check.

you do not need a vet certificate for a carry on animal. Period. only for animals that are going into the cargo area of the plane. also, rabies is not on the island (atleast STT). Call the airline, or go on their website, for the most up to date information. We flew down with our cats in the cabin and no vet certificate was needed. We had our dog flown Delta Cargo, due to her size, and vet certificate was absolutely required.

Call the airline you are traveling on.

I think you should absolutely check with the airlines. Last March, a woman I know who was ahead of usin line at the STX airport had to call her husband to come get her little lap dog. She didn't have vacination info and the dog was not allowed to fly.

As others have said, this isn't to say you will be asked for it -- but you certainly can be.

The health cert. required for St. Croix (as it was required a couple of years ago) only required an indication that all vaccines and shots were up to date and not expired. It was a simple summary/letter from the vet indicating same. No one ever asked to see my health cert., but that's not to say they can't or won't. I cannot believe your DVM is that dense!!!

i go friday to get the health certif. to fly next week. if i remember right from last time, was a very easy checkup. just want to make sure dog is not foaming at mouth.
you dont get disease from dogs more from people. i know some who should be asked for a health certif.*-)
(did i just say that)???

You ARE REQUIRED to have a health certificate for a CARRY-ON CABIN PET. PERIOD. I fly with my dogs several times a year AS CARRY ON and am often asked both at the Miami airport AND by CUSTOMS on St. Croix for their health certificates. Once at ST Croix customs I did not have an up-to date one and they made a big fuss and I had to BEG them to let us through. Please Cheryl96s, stop giving out misinformation to people. If they do not bring a health certificate to the airport, there is a chance it will be checked, and they will NOT BE ALLOWED on the plane.

Sorry for shouting in caps, but as someone who flies 100,000+ miles a year, at least 10% of those with my dogs as carry-on, I really do know all the rules and regulations to do with flying with my animals.

I have a service dog that flies with me in the cabin all the time. You need a Health certificate dated within 10 day's of departure of your flight, this includes a rabbi shot that is current. You do not need an international Health Certificate to enter or leave the USVI. You can return with the same Vet certificate within 30 day's of arrival. All Airlines post this requirement.. I have been asked by the Airline for a health certificate leaving the states for USVI destination a few times, there is no questions asked when you arrive providing your pet flew in cabin or checked baggage. If your pet flies cargo a health certificate will be checked to and from. Your Vet on the health Certificate must state that your animal is Healthy. Make sure all shots will be current on your departure date. I agree with stxem.