Planning on relocating your precious pooch and discriminating kitty to Shanghai with the rest of your family? There is much you must do to be successful and, unfortunately if you do not follow the guidelines to the letter you may be forced to send your furry friend back to whence he came.
First and foremost residency must be established within the country before customs will allow your pet to enter. I would suggest making arrangements for a family member to take care of your animal for a few weeks and having them send the animal on after the working spouse has formalized the residency permit. In the event this is not feasible I would highly suggest that the soon-to-be working member of your family fly over first with the rest of the family, including Fifi following once he has secured his Green Book.
Second, you will need to visit your pet’s veterinarian and request at least two copies of the “International Health Certificate” for each of your pets. This certificate must be issued within 30 days of departure and may or may not include the vaccination certificate. Inspect the Health Certificate and, if it does not include the vaccination certificate you must obtain one.
The Certificate of Vaccination certifies that all shots are up to date; however, China does not recognize the 3-year rabies vaccination as being current so you will need to have your pets vaccinated on this day which must be within the 30-day mark of arrival in China.
Don’t miss the opportunity to talk to your veterinarian about what you should include in a doggy or kitty first aid kit. You will definitely want to purchase the appropriate antibiotics, worm medicines and enough distemper vaccine as necessary for the length of your stay.
Third, call your airline. This is a very important step and easy to skip but doing so could cost your animal his life. There are some Chinese carriers that do not pressurize their cargo holds and they may or may not allow pets in the cabin. If you find that you’re flying on an airline that is not safe for your pet to travel you should weigh the cost of sending the animal on another carrier and leaving him in your home country with family you trust.
During the winter months some American carriers restrict larger animals (too big for the cabin) to travel in the cargo hold. This is for your pet’s safety as the hold is not insulated from the cold, chill air.
Airlines do require advance notice that you are traveling with a pet and most American carriers require a copy of your pet’s Health Certificate (thus the copies). Small dogs and cats are usually permitted to travel in the passenger cabin if the FAA approved carrier will fit under the seat. It cannot be placed in the overhead bins. That’s right you may need to purchase a new carrier for your animal. If your carrier doesn’t say “FAA approved,” it’s not. This is a requirement put in place for the safety of your animal and is required of all animals traveling by plane whether they are in the cabin or cargo hold. Complicating things further, you may find that once aboard, the carrier you purchased does not fit under the seat of the particular plane you are flying on. The flight attendants will see that your animal is immediately placed in the cargo hold so be sure that you’ve asked the appropriate questions regarding the hold just in case you find that your plan of having Fluffy beside you does not work out.
Pets accompanying their owners in the cabin are first come first serve with only one pet being allowed to travel at any one time so reserve a place for your pet early. I have heard of people smuggling two cats in one carrier but that only works if you’re traveling within America’s boundaries so don’t do it!
The current fee for bringing a small dog or cat into China is currently 600RMB (approximately 70 USD), larger dogs are more and these fees must be paid upon in Renminbi. Most first-time business travelers arriving in Shanghai will be met at the airline by a representative of their company. Don’t be afraid to request this if it is not offered. Make arrangements for your employer to contact the “Plant and Quarantine Office” informing them of your expected arrival time and flight number as well as what animals you are bringing with you.
Upon departure from the airplane you need to take your pet, their certificates and the appropriate RMB funds to the “Plant and Quarantine Office located inside the airport between luggage collection and the exit. A representative of the Plant and Quarantine Office should be expecting you if you’ve notified them of your arrival. There is always a 30-day quarantine period however usually they will allow the animal to be quarantined in your home and will send officers to inspect the animal periodically throughout that first month, you will be charged a small fee for their in-home services.
And, lastly, cat litter, flea collars and some pet food is available in Shanghai so if your feline friend is not finicky you are good to go. However if your little Princess sees herself as a queen and will only eat a particular food or requires a special diet, you should arrange for a sufficient supply to be sent to arrive shortly after your arrival.
Finally out of quarantine? Pet your kitty and walk the dog around the block once for me.