govt animal health offices outside Mumbai?

gweilo

I am exporting a dog to Canada. I live in Ahmedabad and apparently have to get a govt animal health certificate in Mumbai. So I have to fly myself and the dog to Mumbai, get a car for the day, get the certificate, fly back to Ahmedabad, then several days later fly back with him to Mumbai to get him on his flight to Canada. This piece of paper I have to get from Mumbai ahead of time is going to cost me probably $300 just in extra travel. Does anyone know if there are Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (Govt of India)offices in cities other than Mumbai (specifically, Ahmedabad)? Have looked online with no success.
Thanks!

bonded

There are only 4 Animal Quarantine and Certification Service offices in India. Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

I guess you will have to go to Mumbai and get that done.

However there are 2 offices in Mumbai. One is at Kopar Khairane and the second at

Cargo Terminal Building , Phase I,
Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport ,
Sahar, Mumbai – 400 099.
Gram : QUARCERT, MUMBAI - 99
Tel. : 022/26828194

You can check with them when would they be able to issue you the certificate. If it could be done in half a day then it would help.

gweilo

Thanks very much for the information.
Are you certain that they issue animal health certificates at all those offices?
It would indeed be much better if I could just get it at the airport office, plus the corruption at the Navi Mumbai office is so well documented that I shudder to set foot in the place (that's the only branch I've read about that issues the certificates). I suppose it's as likely to work in your favour as against you, as long as you have a stack of rupees in your pocket.

gweilo

oops, just reread your post -- in which you told me to check with them first! will do, thanks!

birds

As far as I know any government veterinary clinic can issue such certificates. Every city, town and most villages have government veterinary clinics and I am sure Ahmedabad has several. Make sure they issue the certificate on letterheaded paper and get it stamped with a stamp which show the government registration number of the vet on it. Also get the contact details of the vet so you can refer the custom officers to him/her if necessary.

__________________
Of the estimated 500 million dogs in the world, approximately 75% are strays, of which about 25 million live in India.

gweilo

Thanks.

According to this site http://www.idaindia.org/taking-pet-overseas.htm , and according to air freight cargo agents, to export a dog from India you definitely need a veterinary health certificate AND the govt health certificate from the govt animal health office quarantine and certification dept. The only office I have found so far that definitely issues these is the one in Navi Mumbai. The paperwork requirements seem more stringent if you're transporting the dog unaccompanied. Three people I know of in the past year went to the trouble of getting the govt certificate from the office in Navi Mumbai (after getting the vet certificate) and weren't even asked for it at the airport when they left. However, the cargo agents won't accept a dog going unaccompanied unless you provide aforementioned govt certificate. It is supremely annoying. It is possible that a certificate from a govt clinic in Ahmedabad might be accepted by the airline, but it might not, and it's a big gamble to take.

birds

Hi again,

Thanks for the info. I did not realise that you were going to send the dog unaccompanied. Yes, that is indeed lots of hassle.

I know that with another case they also asked for 7 photographs of your dog from the side and 7 photographs from the front.

Good luck and please keep us informed!

gweilo

doggy arrived safely!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/n...ow/4966312.cms

http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa.../10680601.html

bonded

Good to hear and read that.

So could you let us know how did you manage to do it for other member's benefit?

gweilo

i pretty much followed the instructions according to this website: http://www.idaindia.org/taking-pet-overseas.htm

I had to use a cargo agent in Mumbai. I called Lufthansa in Mumbai and they gave me a couple of names and numbers (because you can't go thru the airline directly if you're shipping unaccompanied cargo).

The cargo agent I used was quite helpful as he had lots of experience shipping pets. He helped me get over a lot of bureaucratic hurdles.

I can provide his name and number if anyone would like it.

bonded

Good to hear that you did not have to go through the Navi Mumbai office.

birds

Great news! I am so happy that Hugo alias Pete has a new lease of life!

I hope you will be able to offer some more Indian dogs such opportunity. It just shows that if somebody puts in lots of effort solutions present themselves.

Would you mind sharing the name and contact details of the agent who helped, it could be useful for others too.

gweilo

I did have to work through that office unfortunately, but it turns out there are "creative" ways of dealing with it.

The cargo agent I used in Mumbai was Mr. Ashok at Daga Air Agents. You have to do the research to know exactly what is required in the destination country, and get all the documents lined up to get the dog out of India, but as for what is needed from the Mumbai end and the airlines, Mr. Ashok can help you get all your ducks in a row. His number is 098 198 250 95

birds

Great information! Thanks a lot.

It is remarkable how much trouble India gives for exporting a dog that you would have thought they would be happy to get rid off.

gweilo

Geez no kidding eh!