INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Dogo Argentino
• Tosa Inu
• Pit Bull Terrier .
Can you see the problem ? It ’ s the same list , except for the addition of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier in Portugal , and it leaves out some dogs that are very similar to ones listed . And then Mauritius has a similar ( but not identical ) list :
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Blue Nose Pitbull
• Boerboel
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Japanese Tosa
• Red Nose Pitbull
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier .
Now any dog lover knows that upbringing and training have more influence on a dog ’ s temperament than breed . You get some adorable 70-kilogram Boerboels that are super-friendly and super-gentle , while bad-tempered Spaniels have been known to savage children and adults alike .
All the red tape
Every country in the world requires proof of vaccination for a range of diseases , including rabies . This should not be a problem , as you probably vaccinate your pet anyway , and you almost certainly have a ‘ passport ’ or vaccination certification for Fluffy or Fido . Every time your pet is vaccinated , or is given a booster , the vet will note the date , and indicate the type of vaccine and batch number .
More importantly , though , this emphasis on breeds is indicative of a tendency to create regulations more on perceived ease of enforcement than practicality . Particularly as many of these ‘ breeds ’ are not standardised . The term ‘ pit bull ’, for example , is a generic term that could refer to any of the bull terriers , and even to the sluggish Bulldog , while the desire to list various forms of mastiff leaves huge loopholes . According to the regulations , you can import a Boerboel into Cyprus , and an equally imposing and potentially dangerous Italian or Belgian Mastiff into all the countries listed . Some countries also include crosses of the banned breeds on the list , but how do you prove that ?
As one prospective Mauritius emigrant found out , the animal we in South Africa call a Bull Terrier somehow appears on Mauritius ’ s list of banned dogs so – after lengthy negotiation – he has cancelled all his plans because there seems to be no final agreement on the difference between a Bull Terrier , a Staffordshire Bull Terrier , and the various ‘ pit bulls ’.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate to rewrite the regulations to require dogs of over a certain weight to undergo a personality test before being allowed into the relevant country . But , in the meantime , there ’ s not much you can do about this ‘ canine racism ’, except exult in the fact that you can import your attack-trained Yorkies and Dachshunds into almost any country in the world , and try to figure out what to do with your beloved larger pets .
You need to ensure that your pet is microchipped before emigration . Remember to check that the chip is working , and has not shifted . Also please check if your destination country specifies the type of chip .
Unless you are a registered breeder ( in which case you will have quite a bit more paperwork ), you will need proof that your pet has been sterilised .
The requirements are different for different destinations : you may need to pay an importation fee , and your pet may be subject to quarantine , but – for almost any destination – you will need to apply beforehand :
• For Mauritius , you will need to obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security at least three months before you leave .
• The European Union has different requirements for importation from different countries , which are divided into Part 1 Listed , Part 2 Listed and Unlisted . South Africa is Unlisted , which means you need to apply long in advance .
• Importation of all animals into the USA is overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The bottom line is that emigrating with a pet is an admin-heavy undertaking , so plan early , and get help from relocation and pet travel experts .
Angelique Ruzicka
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