bringing pets into Japan

[kotatsuneko]

We currently have 2 cats which my brother will probably take care of when we get round to returning, but recently I miss an old childhood pet, a tortoise! the wily bugger actually ran away!

so I'm seriously thinking of buying a tortoise.. does anyone know if bringing one to Japan is possible?

Cheers!

[Taro Toporific]

We currently have 2 cats which my brother will probably take care of when we get round to returning, but recently I miss an old childhood pet, a tortoise! the wily bugger actually ran away!

so I'm seriously thinking of buying a tortoise.. does anyone know if bringing one to Japan is possible?

Quarantine on a tortoise would be both affordable and HUMANE (unlike the expensive torture for poor dogs and cats). However, tortoises are widely available in Japan although expensive.

See the old thread: Bringing pets into Japan

[dimwit]

Bringing a tortoise is OK except for if it dies of the way over here, in which case it is considered a "meat " product and will inspected for Mad Tortoise Disease. :P

It on the whole seems alot simpler to buy a tortoise here, if you you are planning to eventually return home, you will face the same Quarantine procedures on your return.

In addition, I have a suspicion that bringing a pet through Quarantine seems to open you up to customs inspections, as I had a friend who brought a dog over and the next three or four times he returned to Japan afterwards he got the full treatment.

[silverfall]

Depending on how long you will be here you should definately buy it here. You can find a lot of animals for sale here that are illegal or you have to have a liscence to own in another country. I found a fluffy eared squirrel for sale in my local Joyful Honda pet shop as well as chinchillas and some other exotic animals. Hell, in Shinjuku you can buy monkeys or owls. I wanted an owl but my better half is deathly terrified of birds.

[tonikoro]

You know, this makes me wonder..

How many FG's actually have pets here?
-And by the way, if you return to the States, with a normally healthy pup, how long is the quarantine?

[kotatsuneko]

heh, thanks for the excellent info guys, and to Taro for your FG link!
I often wonder do you find these links from the memory of a thread on the subject or by using the search function (guess I should have done that first huh? my bad!)

"Bringing a tortoise is OK except for if it dies of the way over here, in which case it is considered a "meat " product and will inspected for Mad Tortoise Disease. "

heh Dimwit, I had a Steveesque coffee spitting incident over that

when we were over in Hokkaido, we kind of adopted a stray cat, and I have some excellent dv footage of another HUGE tom cat shagging the crap out of her..

Looks like buying over there is definately the option to go for, hell if we get one now the bugger will only hibernate soon anyhow

[Taro Toporific]

You know, this makes me wonder..

How many FG's actually have pets here?
-And by the way, if you return to the States, with a normally healthy pup, how long is the quarantine?

Well, things have really changed in the past couple years. You gotta Implant a 666 microchip for identification of the pet.

American Embassy Tokyo, Community Update - December 2004

Bringing a pet from Japan back to the U.S.? Try here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pet-info.html

People wishing to import a pet into Japan should visit the website: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/index.htm

FULL TEXT
Importing Pets into Japa

Bringing pets across international borders can be difficult, and preplanning is very important. If you are thinking of bringing a dog or cat into Japan from overseas, there have been recent revisions to Japanese regulations regarding the importation of pets.

Effective November 6, 2004, the procedure of importation of dogs, cats, raccoons, foxes and skunks has changed. The quarantine time will be reduced from current levels to only 12 hours, providing the additional requirements and documentation have been met. Without the required documents, the maximum quarantine time can be 180 days. Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) officials advise that the entire process can take up to six months to complete.

The basic steps for importing accompanied pets are:

1. Implant a microchip for identification of the pet prior to vaccination for rabies.

2. Get two rabies shots within the effective interval. Age of the pet should be 90 days or greater at first vaccination, with second vaccination no more than 1 year before import.

3. Get a blood test after the second rabies shot.

4. Make advance notification of the pet importation to AQS no later than 40 days prior to arrival. The exact form for this advance notification will not be available (on the AQS website) until January 2005.

5. The pet must stay in the exporting country at least 180 days but no more than two years after the date of blood sampling.

6. Upon arrival, submit the following documents to AQS:

a. Health certificate.

b. Two rabies vaccination certificates.

c. Advanced notification acknowledgement sent from AQS.

d. An Import Quarantine Application Form provided by AQS.

When importing pets as unaccompanied cargo, the steps include:

1. Submit the documentation the same as accompanied pets (cargo importation requires more time and expense).

2. The owner of the pet is not required to be present in order to apply for quarantine inspection. A proxy can make the application.

3. The Narita quarantine service charges a detention fee of approximately JPY 3,000 or more depending on size per day for all pets, which includes basic boarding, food and care for the pet.

4. Other costs may be incurred for transportation fees, kennel customs clearances, import tax and a proxy charge depending on the pet and other circumstances.

MAFF Grace period. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has granted a grace period for pets aged 10 months or older. From November 6, 2004 to June 6, 2005, these pets may be imported using either the existing requirements or the new requirements. Starting June 7, 2005, all pets must follow the new requirements.

People wishing to import a pet into Japan should visit the website: http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/index.htm for detailed information. Employees may also contact the Animal Quarantine office at Narita at +81-476-32-6664]http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/pet-info.html[/url]

[matsuki]

Hey Taro, have you kept up with this? (or does anyone have recent dog importing experience?)

The prices most places offer dogs (and other pets) for here seem to range from ridiculous-insane. To make it worse (shima complex?) many of the "Quality pure-bred" dogs may have lineage certs but are obviously inbred as fuck. The shelters seem to be to overly strict (sorta understandable) but really nazi-ish about who they release animals to....probably due to the tendency of the locals to kaii kaii baby their dogs with unrealistic expectations instead of giving them proper care and treatment. I came across a "free to a good home" sheltie (what I'm looking for) at a home center in Niigata last week but a closer look and questioning revealed the poor thing was nearing baba age and had basically been used to pop out pups all it's life and then pawned off on the shops that sold the pups for them. All this has got me thinking it might be better to import a healthy, properly checked out pup from one of the "designated rabies free zones" here: http://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/anima ... gions.html

I've read the procedures and all but just wondering if anyone has (or knows anyone with) recent experience?

[yanpa]

Can't help with dogs, but I was involved in the import of a cat from Europe and it required somewhere between 6 and 12 months of certified vaccinations/checkups, thought that was to ensure quarantine-free import (the alternative, IIRC, would have been multiple weeks quarantine at mildly eyewatering prices).

[matsuki]

Can't help with dogs, but I was involved in the import of a cat from Europe and it required somewhere between 6 and 12 months of certified vaccinations/checkups, thought that was to ensure quarantine-free import (the alternative, IIRC, would have been multiple weeks quarantine at mildly eyewatering prices).

So confirms it's a real PITA (and wallet) from non "designated rabies free country/region." I wouldn't even try from one of those areas....

I just wonder how easy/expensive it is from one of their "designated rabies free countries/regions."

[Grumpy Gramps]

We have all our dogs here from http://www.japan-rescue.com/ (just noticed that they have a website, we only ever were in contact over the phone to their Nagoya office).

Worked like this: We told them what we're looking for and when something suitable popped up, they would let us know. Our current two dogs we met first, when they were three weeks old, so we coulds see the mother, the owner, the whole litter and the circumstance of the puppies. And the cost of the dogs were always zero yen (plus an omiyage ) No nazi.

Unless you really want a special breed that is rare in Japan, I'd go for a mixed breed. Japan is over(in)bred IMO.

[matsuki]

We have all our dogs here from http://www.japan-rescue.com/ (just noticed that they have a website, we only ever were in contact over the phone to their Nagoya office).

Worked like this: We told them what we're looking for and when something suitable popped up, they would let us know. Our current two dogs we met first, when they were three weeks old, so we coulds see the mother, the owner, the whole litter and the circumstance of the puppies. And the cost of the dogs were always zero yen (plus an omiyage ) No nazi.

Unless you really want a special breed that is rare in Japan, I'd go for a mixed breed. Japan is over(in)bred IMO.

Thanks for that, that's one place I hadn't come across yet and sounds like a very good alternative. Shelties are far from rare in Japan but as you pointed out, the inbreeding here is out of control.....and then there is the dogs.

[Grumpy Gramps]

Yes, I have seen lots of shelties for a while. They must have been "fashion" here.

[matsuki]

Yes, I have seen lots of shelties for a while. They must have been "fashion" here.

Breed_ShetlandSheepdog.jpg

Quite a few near me as well...I had one as a child and Tokyo won't work for any larger dogs that I'd want so it's a good small dog with energy.....just not at these prices: http://shetland-sheepdog.min-breeder.com/

Occasionally a younger one pops up in a shelter though...I'd rather nab one like than stress a puppy out with importing.

[Grumpy Gramps]

Happy grooming

[Coligny]

Can't help with dogs, but I was involved in the import of a cat from Europe and it required somewhere between 6 and 12 months of certified vaccinations/checkups, thought that was to ensure quarantine-free import (the alternative, IIRC, would have been multiple weeks quarantine at mildly eyewatering prices).

The price of the quarantine is nothing comared to your own medical bill...

2 days into the quarantine Lanxade sided with the jail guards and turned against me. Result, they could pet her feed her with issues but I could never be in her cell without having every patch of skin teared off to the bone.
That made the daily trip to the harbour a total nightmare. You rach the place shakin like a leaf and leave it bleeding to death...

Few weeks after release I was nursing few infected wounds when I received a letter from the quarantine office telling me how nice friendly and smart she had been. When gurls ask for my scars I say I gpt them fighting with the Serbian militia in 94' not that it comes from a turtleshell of 1.7 kg feeling betrayed...

(The flight was also intredasting... In a "we're all going to die" kind of way, despite dosing her with horse tranquilizer she didn't sleep one minute for the whole 12-14h trip combined with the need for hydratation aka, "that weird guy locking himself with a cat in the baby changing station" i'd promise mahself that the next oversea trip with felines will be done by ship as part of a cargo crew, but never again by plane. Plus cats are usually quite welcome on boats.)

[Russell]

Another place for refuge animals.

[kurogane]

We have all our dogs here from http://www.japan-rescue.com/ (just noticed that they have a website, we only ever were in contact over the phone to their Nagoya office)...............

Please go for that option. You don't seem nearly mindless enough to really care if your dog is trophy or not, and nobody with a brain and heart should support the puppy industry. Never mind the F'in dolphin hunt, all OECD level countries should ban the dedicated breeding industry, or at least make it as hard to get into as nuclear power generation. And kill all the cats that aren't locked indoors 24/7.

[Coligny]

You just crossed a line.
Your death will be slow and painfull.
But not before you see everyone you cares aboot being skinned alive.

[kurogane]

That was pour vous, mon cheri.

Apparently cats let out to run do kill an incredible number of nice birds, but they really are adorable, especially when they are widdle kitties.

[Coligny]

[matsuki]

We have all our dogs here from http://www.japan-rescue.com/ (just noticed that they have a website, we only ever were in contact over the phone to their Nagoya office)...............

Please go for that option. You don't seem nearly mindless enough to really care if your dog is trophy or not, and nobody with a brain and heart should support the puppy industry. Never mind the F'in dolphin hunt, all OECD level countries should ban the dedicated breeding industry, or at least make it as hard to get into as nuclear power generation. And kill all the cats that aren't locked indoors 24/7.

I'm not looking to breed/show, nor do I care if the dog is the "wrong" size/color/shape....just want a healthy, non-traumatized, pup.

I don't know if you'd consider it "the puppy industry" but from what I've seen over the past few years in the anglosphere, most of the small scale breeders (think families with a few dogs, not actual commercial operations) seem to be actively testing and fixing animals with genetic diseases and such while trying to diversify the bloodlines of their breeds. At the same time, they are still making a profit off the puppies. Not my thing and mutts will always be healthier/cheaper options but I find it hard to have a problem with this type of operation.

[Grumpy Gramps]

The problem with this type of operation is that the customer has almost no way to tell the good from the bad. Puppy mills are often enough disguised as wonderful family operations. Unsuspecting costomers can pretty easily be deceived in view of cute puppies.

And the "responsible breeders", who are organized in their associations and have their lobbies, are often enough not that much better than puppy mills.

Best that can happen would be two little old ladies chatting at a street corner, not realising that their doggies are having fun. Once they bikkuri it, it's too late and the result of this is often enough strong and healthy

[Russell]

Matsuki, you do realize that dogs can reach an age of up to 20, do you?

Are you ready to make a commitment for such a long time?

[matsuki]

The problem with this type of operation is that the customer has almost no way to tell the good from the bad. Puppy mills are often enough disguised as wonderful family operations. Unsuspecting costomers can pretty easily be deceived in view of cute puppies.

And the "responsible breeders", who are organized in their associations and have their lobbies, are often enough not that much better than puppy mills.

Best that can happen would be two little old ladies chatting at a street corner, not realising that their doggies are having fun. Once they bikkuri it, it's too late and the result of this is often enough strong and healthy

The ones I'm referring to have plenty of pics and detailed info to distinguish they are what they claim they are. (and most have a history) Then again, I'm not talking about in Japan, where most seem to still prefer animals bought/sold at pet shops with no info...but warranties.

[matsuki]

Matsuki, you do realize that dogs can reach an age of up to 20, do you?

Are you ready to make a commitment for such a long time?

I'd be lucky to have a sheltie reach that age ( my last one passed at 14) but yeah, I realize the responsibility/commitment involved...which is why I haven't had a pet up until now.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Matsuki, you do realize that dogs can reach an age of up to 20, do you?

Are you ready to make a commitment for such a long time?

Obviously not.

[matsuki]

Matsuki, you do realize that dogs can reach an age of up to 20, do you?

Are you ready to make a commitment for such a long time?

Obviously not.

[Coligny]

I'm never putting this furry costume again...
Without checking for camera first...

[J.A.F.O]

shady.jpg