Many of you may remember my post a few months back about the cute little puppy that our family "rescued" from the dog "vendor" that sells just outside the main gate?

Well, I'm very happy to report, we've reached his 6 month birthday now,and Sascha's doing *very* well, healthy and growing like crazy!


However, our now -30 lb- moose of a puppy (Richard's famous last words: "It's probably been bred with some Korean dog or something, so it probably won't get much bigger"...HA!) has recently outgrown his medium sized kennel, so we're a) in need of a newer larger one...and b) "graced" with a lovely, but useless.. medium sized kennel as a piece of furniture in our living room.

That being said, this post has two purposes:

a) Does anyone here need a gently used medium-sized kennel for their pet? If so, let me know,and it's yours...I was planning on donating it to the Osan vet clinic, but if someone on here would like it/needs it, I'll certainly be happy to meet you somewhere on base and give it to you! :)

and

b) Obviously, we now need a new kennel. Since our time of leaving is drawing near...120 days *at most* and counting.. we'd rather invest in a kennel that will also meet Airline Standards and Regulations, instead of buying one for now,and one just for travel. Those of you who have flown with pets...

1) Where did you get your carriers/kennels?

and

2) Where exactly did you find the regulations for the specifics of those kennels/carriers? :)


Thanks,

Dee :)

We bought ours through AAFES at a PX. You can go to the website of whatever airline you are using and they will have the regulations for size, material, etc on there.

The folks at the veterinary clinic on base handle this stuff on a daily basis - and can tell you everything you need to know. I think I've read about it as USFK's website also.

Here are the basics:

Within 30 days of leaving country, you have to get a "health certificate." You can get it from a Korean vet, but it's cheaper (and easier) to get it from the vet on base. I don't know what vet services are available at Osan/Hump, but they have full vet services at Yongsan.

When you get to Inchon Int'l, you'll need to take that health certificate to the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (대한민국 국립수의과학검역원). They have a very nice, clean office at Inchon Int'l and the day I was there, there was only one other person - so it didn't take long. It's basically just a paper drill that takes 10-15 minutes where you have to pay them 10,000 or 20,000 won and they give you another document or two.

Regarding kennels ~ I believe the BX/PX only sells kennels that are authorized for travel - confirm with the folks at the vet clinic.

I don't know if this next part of my experience is unique or not...

When I arrived with my dog at Atlanta (first US stop), I looked and looked for a quarantine station - but never found one. I was getting worried because I had made it through immigration and had picked up all my bags - but still didn't see one. I didn't think the folks at customs were involved in quarantine / live animals, but I got my paperwork ready for them. When it was my turn to see a customs inspector, I pointed to the cage and asked what about the dog? I don't recall what he said, but he wasn't concerned in the least bit about the dog and I passed through the line and exited the terminal. So I could have brought an undocumented, mangy, rabid, diseased ridden dog into the US - and no one would have ever known.

Nearlywild-

Thanks, I'd seen the ones that said they were "Airline approved" , but wasn't sure how true that was for *every* airline :) We went online to the Korean Air and Delta sites, the most likely ones for our flight back to the states, and printed out the requirements.. it looks pretty much like your standard well made one will do! :)

Willy-

That's wild about the Atlanta airport! I would have thought they'd have had more interest in an animal! LOL..I know Hawaii goes *nuts* about incoming animals.. it's unreal!

I knew about the health certificate,and since our dog has received all his care at the base vet, we had planned to have it done there anyway, just for ease and familiarity. I 'm glad to hear the process at Incheon is relatively painless, I had visions of a horror story waiting to happen in mind :)

Thanks everyone for your input.. we have a few months to get ready before we leave, but just as I had to get my ducks in a row before coming over..I've gotta get my ducks in a row to go back :) LOL :)

Yes, I *am* anal retentive! :)

Dee :)

I do remember that on international flights the crate has to have ventilation on 4 sides, where crates on regular flights only have to be on 3 sides. If the crate is labeled Airline Approved just make sure it's approved for international flights too.

I brought back a very small dog and actually got to bring her into the cabin with me. The rule is, if the dog and cage are less than five kilograms and the cage fits under the seat, you can bring the dog into the cabin. Additionally, the dog has to be able to stand up and turn around completely in the cage. I assume the rule about being able to stand up and turning around is true for all dogs/cages.

After we got up and flying, we let her out and she sat on our lap under a blanket for almost the entire flight.

If I remember correctly, the rules regarding being able to bring a dog into the cabin (and the sizes/weights) are different from airline to airline.