[Jacob-list] US Jacobs Flying to Canada

[Cathie and Mark Williams]

Couple of additional points...

This will only work with lambs, unless you've got miniature Jacobs.  We have
shipped lambs 6 to 7 months old, but none older. At 7 months, they are
starting to approach the size that the airlines won't take them in the 700
kennels. If they are too big for the kennels, you have to have a custom
crate built to airline specifications.

Don't bother calling the regular airline reservation number - those that
handle human tickets won't have a clue if they can even ship livestock. Find
the direct line for air cargo (most airlines have their own air cargo
division) - they'll give you the correct information.  Plan for some extra
time when making arrangement and dropping off animals at the airport. This
will likely be the first time your air cargo gate agent has ever shipped
sheep, so he/she will probably have to look up information or call a
supervisor. Cargo handlers will be very interested in what's making all that
noise on the dock.  They do seem to take really good care of the animals.

It will be expensive. Last we checked, we could ship from Seattle to the US
midwest for between U.S. $200 and $300 per crate.  That was several years
back - before the airlines were suffering post 9/11. US airlines have also
cut a lot of routes and are flying the smallest possible planes, which
further limits the number of possible flights.

I have read that legislation is currently being considered which would
effectively eliminate the air transportation of animals. Several animal
rights groups have pressured for thorough documentation and examination of
every animal before and after every flight.  This will add a significant
extra burdon for airlines that are already on the verge of bankruptcy, so
many will likely stop shipping animals if it takes effect.

On the positive side, animals that we have received via air shipments have
seemed less stressed than those that drive long distances.


- Mark Williams
  Swallow Lane Farm & Fiberworks


----- Original Message -----
From: <ranchrat at telusplanet.net>
To: <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 8:44 PM
Subject: [Jacob-list] US Jacobs Flying to Canada


> I have been asked to do up an article about importing Jacobs to Canada in
> regards to what I have learned thus far.  I would HIGHLY appreciate some
> assistance in getting all this straight and if anyone has pointers
regarding
> airline shipping Jacobs from the States to Canada.I would adore some help
> here!  Jacob specific pointers are most appreciated like does anyone wrap
horns
> to protect them, etc.??
>
>
> SO YOU WANT TO FLY A USA JACOB TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH-CANADA
>
> I am sure that I will learn more and become better educated about all this
> process once I have gone through this.  I have imported two purebred
registered
> dogs from the States (1996 & 2001), but have never imported a live
sheep.so
> here goes what I *think* I understand about the process thus far. I would
> certainly appreciate corrections and additional information from those who
have
> survived this nerve wracking ordeal!  I would not care so much if there
was not
> a live animal counting on me to have all my "I's" dotted and "T's"
crossed!  So
> here goes.
>
> AIRLINES:
> RELEASE-Your shipper will have to sign a "no fault" release waiver in case
the
> animal dies or is injured during transport.
> - Veterinary Documentation:
> ACCLAMATION-Document signed by a vet stating the animal may withstand 45
> minutes of 45 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Get this done when you have
your
> health certificate completed.
> HEAT EMBARGOS-Watch when you are going to air ship your Jacob.if the
> temperature reaches that critical 80 to 85+ degree Fahrenheit level,
transport
> of live animals may be postponed until the temperature declines.  Watch
your
> weather forecasts and try to avoid shipping during June to August if
possible.
> HEALTH CERTIFICATE- Some airlines require that a live animal has been
inspected
> by a vet within a 10 day period.  Validate with the carrier.
> - Transport container:  Airline approved dog crates work well. Strong,
light
> but beware, if you are using a 700 size (Giant is 44 pounds, accommodates
a 100
> pound adult Jacob well & is 48"longx35"highx32"wide) the airplane will
have to
> be larger than a 737 (wide bodied) plane.  Validate with Airline Cargo
this is
> what they are using since the height of 35" is exactly the height of the
> aircraft's loading door and will not be accepted.  Importing lambs is less
> costly regarding the size of the containers, but with immature animals,
you may
> not like how they mature into adults if you are importing them for
breeding
> purposes.  Remember to include the container's weight along with your
animal,
> bedding, food, source of moisture, etc. for an overall total of your
shipment.
> You will be paying for the outward dimensions of what the container would
be
> capable of holding weight wise.  If using a 700 crate, you will be allowed
a
> maximum of 91 kilos or 200 pounds, whether you use this amount or not.  An
> absorbent bedding material like "stall dry" (nfi) would be a nice feature
to
> keep your Jacob more comfortable or if weight is a consideration, use pet
potty
> training pads (taped together with RedGreen's secret weapon, duct tape)
under
> your bedding.  Animals are more in tune with scents and find comfort in
being
> surrounded by familiar smells.  I know this with canines (I forward
shipped a
> blanket for scenting to have it transported back along with my new dog)
and
> having watched my Jacobs sniff the air when I have arrived wearing a
strange
> hat ("What's that in the sombrero?"), so if you use a little clean but
laid
> upon straw, your sheep might feel a tad more relaxed inside their new
crate if
> it smells like home.
>
> FLIGHT SCHEDULE- One would be best advised to try to get a straight fly
right
> on through from international airport to international airport.  It is
> certainly easier on your animal not to have to endure long delays while in
> transport confinement.  Realize that your live animal is considered
"cargo" and
> must arrive at the airport from 2 to 3 hours in advance of the flight time
so
> you need a competent party who is willing to make sure your Jacob arrives
well
> in advance of the departure schedule.  With each connecting flight,
airlines
> will require this much time again to ensure loading and off loading of
your
> precious cargo to make the connection.  If your Jacob has the misfortune
of not
> linking up with the timing of making a connecting flight along the way,
you
> will be expected to accept that your animal will be kenneled overnight for
the
> next available flight in the morning.  This may well cost you an
additional
> kenneling fee of around $100 to $150+.  Call the airlines, shop around and
when
> you decide on a carrier, get the flight numbers of all the hops, skips &
jumps
> along the way.  This will assist you in tracing your precious Jacob if
they got
> on the wrong plane and ended up in Tahiti.
>
> TREATMENT OF YOUR SHEEP-Animals may be terribly stressed through their
ordeal
> of transport.  Provide them with a large enough to stand up, turn around
sized
> airline approved container, but not so much room they may injure
themselves
> thrashing around should they get spooked.  I would advise against having
any
> restraining devices on them during transport, no halters, etc.  Naked as a
jay
> bird is safest!  I would also suggest leaving a bit more wool on a Jacob
bound
> for transport unless of course you are concerned about heat exhaustion.  I
> figure the added "padding" will assist the animal in not getting as banged
up
> as they would without their natural insulation.  Put sliced apples for
moisture
> and a tempting treat (get the seller to accustom your sheep to this food
prior
> to exporting, so the Jacob knows what it is and does not ignore the new
item)
> in the crate along with some regular rations.  Whether the water you put
in the
> crate ever ends up actually "inside" the sheep, more often than not the
poor
> critter dumps it and then thoroughly gets miserable mucking around in it.
I do
> believe you are obligated to provide water when transporting animals, so
try
> for a unspillable collision proof safe container if such a puppy exists.
If
> your seller is a caring soul, they will mail you some of the Jacob's
normal
> ration so you may have this on hand when your long traveling cargo arrives
and
> tries to settle in.  In an ideal situation, you would even want some water
from
> their area as well.  I send my puppies home with a month's supply of both
food
> and clean jugs of water.  Post a "corny" note protected by a plastic sheet
> protector taped securely to the outside of the crate.state what kind of
animal,
> the sheep's name (hopefully it is not registered as "Demon from
Hellspawn"),
> where the Jacob came from and where it's going to with immediate contact
> telephone numbers, etc.  I have seen some crate setups where water may be
added
> completely from outside the crate and if you are able to rig this up, by
all
> means do it and state that water may be given to the occupant in your note
> too!  Airline crews treat animals very well and a note that introduces
your
> Jacob to its handlers may ensure that extra special attention is bestowed
upon
> them.
>
> BROKERAGE FEES:  If you are purchasing your Jacob personally and not as a
> business and Canada Customs is not too busy, they will often assist you to
fill
> out the appropriate forms though they are under no obligation to represent
both
> the Federal Government and you.  If you have to call in a broker after
hours to
> assist you, expect a fee of about $150 for their services to get you
through
> the border.  I am told that sheep are not 7 percent GSTaxable and there is
no
> duty on their importation to Canada.  We shall see once I go through
Customs in
> Calgary whether this all pans out.  I spoke to a very nice broker in
Calgary
> who told me to ask Customs for the Harmonize System form number for sheep
or
> goats is 0104.10.00.10 (the last two digits of .10 is for purebred/.90 is
for
> not purebred).
>
> IMPORTATION INSPECTIONS, REQUIREMENTS & DOCUMENTATION:
> USDA Official Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Sheep (form VS 17-140):
> HEALTH CERTIFICATE-Both the individual animal and the flock require
veterinary
> inspection within 30 days preceding exportation to Canada.
> DISEASES-Free from any communicable disease including:
> -Scrapie; no case of scrapie during 3 years in the flock of origin & sheep
is
> not the offspring of a sheep diagnosed with scrapie.
> -Scabies; no case of scabies with 12 months and no scabies during past 6
months
> within 80 kilometers of where the flock of origin has been located.
> -Bluetongue; In high risk zones (most Southern States) Blue tongue free
> certification requires two tests during January 16 to October 15 with
30-90
> days between the first and second test, otherwise one AGID or C-ELISA test
is
> required.  Anyone on a health flock program is leaps ahead of a farm that
is
> going to be exporting Jacobs to Canada in regards to health requirements.
> IDENTIFICATION-1) Legible permanent tattoo; letters "USA" or a tattoo
described
> under the definition of official calfhood vaccinate.  2) Official ear tag
of US
> Dep't of Agriculture.
>
> FEDERAL VETERINARY INSPECTION:
> - When your Jacob arrives at the destination airport in Canada, you will
have
> to have a Federal Veterinary inspect your animal prior to its release to
> Customs.  When I spoke to the Federal Vet serving the Calgary airport
area, he
> quoted me a call out fee of $35 for the first animal and $2 for each
additional
> one.  The Federal Vet would appreciate some notification of the
importation of
> your sheep, so contact one and book ahead with the flight number and
details.
>
> Well that concludes where I am at now.have I missed anything?  By all
means
> please advise me.  I am trying my best to get a handle on all of this and
if
> anyone has contrary suggestions or knows of a procedure I do not, please,
> please tell me.I am sure that in two year's time, there will be a whole
host of
> new criteria, but for now, I think I have a bit of it understood.
>
> Doggone,
>
> Tara
> --
>    ____(\                Tara Lee Higgins                  /)____
>   (_____~>        Rat Ranch - An ACD is for LIFE          <~_____)
>  ( ``  ``          ranchrat at telusplanet.net                ``  `` )
>   \                       Alberta Canada                         /
>    )  http://www.telusplanet.net/public/ranchrat/index.html     (
>
>
>
>
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