[ChrisK]

I have read alot of posts on people wanting to bring or bringing the pet, mostly cat or dog, with them to NZ. I was wondering if anyone has brought over an exotic pet to NZ specifically ferrots. Are their any special rules, costs, etc when bringing a ferrot over compared to a cat or a dog? and is the quarantine length the same?
I was also wondering if people could tell me about the experiences they had while their pet was quarantined. Are they stuck in a small cage the entire time? How often can you visit? and can you take them out of thier cages and take them for walks? This part is what really concerns us, as when we got our ferrot she was with people that had her caged all the time and was rarely let out and was really neglected which made her depressed and very ill, we wouldn't want to put her through that again. We know this can be a very expensive process but we are more worried of the effect it could have on our pet so we would like to get peoples experiences to help us decide what to do. Also I thought I read somewhere that if the pet is small enough and can fit in a certain cage, it is allowed to travel with you on the plane but must be put underneath your seat, is this true?

[catjlin]

I don't know specifically about ferrets, but you should be able to find something at one of these webpages:

www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/imports/animals
(for importation standards and regulations)

www.canterburyquarantine.co.nz
(it's the quarantine station for the South Island, don't have the one for the North Island)

www.iptlax.com
(an international pet mover from California, they should know)

Hope it helps!
Cat

[toots]

My advice is to get an official answer to this question. I have a feeling that ferets may not be as welcome as some other animals because in the past they have escaped into the wild and caused a problem.
Good luck.

[deebat]

Hi, Chris,

Sorry, but only domesticated dogs and cats can be imported into NZ.

-Dan

[Juniper]

actually you can have other animals, but it depends which animal -and- what country you are coming from. i've noticed that the quarantine facilities, however, only seem set up for dogs and cats. this may be because they are the only ones who need to be quatantined for rabies?

i went through this question because i have a chinchilla. apparently it is all about whether they have a protocol set up for their importation. chinchillas are allowed from the UK, but not the USA, so i am out of luck. i even got in touch with some chinchilla afficionados in NZ (yes they are bred there), and they are trying to get a protocol set up, but it takes several years. chins do not require quarantine, but they have certain health requirements (including a flea dust treatment, which i thought was strange, since chins' fur is too dense for fleas and ticks to affect them).

the thought of sending my chin to NZ -via- the UK briefly occurred to me, but besides the fact that i wouldn't want to put him through all that, they have to be in the UK for 6 months before importation.

anyway, you should email the officials directly, they can respond to your personal circumstances most accurately.

[deebat]

Juniper, where did you find out this information? I read something awhile back that gave me the impression that only dogs and cats were allowed, with no exceptions whatsoever. I don't really need to know this info -- I only have a canine myself -- but I'm always curious about new sources of data!

Thanks,
Dan

[Juniper]

here's the list of various standards:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/

it's pretty exhausting to look at, since it includes all the animal products such as wool and "bovine blood dried for human consumption" :exit

if you have a specific animal and country of origin, you can use this tool:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/

by the way chrisk, i've always seen "ferrot" spelled as -ferret-....might make a difference in your inquiries.

[Mildred]

Right this means war - I'm going to chain myself to the gates of New Zealand House if they allow Chinchillas in but not my two rabbits. Apart from the pointy ears doesn't seem to be a lot of difference. Definitely a case of Chinchillasm if you ask me :no

(MAF confirmed rabbits from UK definitely not able to go to NZ when I contacted them)

[Juniper]

here's the story re: setting up a protocol to import an animal that isn't on the ok list. basically, you have to get the red tape machine in motion by requesting they set up a protocol, which involves someone writing a report on how much of a biosecurity risk they are. based on the information i have, i'm not sure whether anyone can write it up, or if it has to be done by an official, but i do know that the officials take about 7 years to get around to it. if you pay the $10,000, they get around to it in more like 2 years.

here's the emails i'm basing this on (from the person who is trying to get a chinchilla protocol set up)

"Basically there has to be a Risk Management Report
> written up on the animal
> you wish to import from any country into New
> Zealand.
> If you are lucky enough and someone else has
> imported the same breed you
> want to import, then most of the hard work has been
> done.
> You would only have to send in an application to
> import.
>
> The Risk Management report can be written up by you
> or me. I have the book
> here to do it and it is all gobble-de gook to me.
> The book cost $40
>
> If you can't do the research yourself. You put in an
> application for MAF in
> NZ to start to proceed to write up a Risk management
> report.
>
> Once you have filed your application you go on the
> waiting list.
>
> For me who has been on the waiting list since June
> 2003 I only have to wait
> (now don't fall off your chair)
> I have to wait 5 years for them even to look at the
> paper work that I have
> sent in.
>
> Then I have to wait 2 years for them to set up the
> protocol between USA and
> NZ as there hasn't been one set up for the breed of
> animal I want to import.
>
> So in total it will take 7 years maybe a bit less if
> things run a bit
> smoothly.
>
> If I let MAF do all the hard work it will cost me
> nothing in $$, but if I
> want to speed up the process and reduce the 7 years
> to about 1-2 years I
> will have to find a VET or someone who can write up
> the protocol for me to
> present to MAF.

she continues:

I went straight to the top and Sara Kaman was dealing with MAF in NZ. In the end she wrote back to me she was surprised that MAF would allow me to write anything up, as things are suppose to be official.
Sara said she couldn't help me but I could contact her for advise if needed later on.

Sara Kaman, DVM
Regional Coordinator - Europe, Australia/NZ, Africa
National Center for Import and Export
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services
(301) 734-5539
(301) 734-3222 (fax)
sara.kaman@aphis.usda.gov

Yes money is a big thing. MAF is happy to be paid $10,000 to write up the report. I can't justify that sort of money when it will cost a bomb to import as well.

There are a lot of diagrams and stuff that I think a vet would know about and write it up so MAF can understand it.
You have to sort out the dieases that a chin would carry and the risk of it coming into the country and the risks to people and animals, plants....blar blar blar.

I have some one who wants to import and we are thinking of a different approach, it is nothing to do with Chinchillas.

There are breeders over here for Chinchillas I think they are in Auckland and Hamilton area.
I know someone in Christchurch who has Chins as well and would know of other contacts.

The thing that you could do is to find out from Martin as he is the one I deal with for my application.
Here is the link to ask him if you will need to have a Risk Analysis written up.


http://www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests-diseases/animals/risk/index.htm

Scroll to the bottom of the MAF page and click onto contact this person which will take you to Martin.

Martin van Ginkel
Technical Adviser - Risk Analysis
Animal Biosecurity
MAF Biosecurity Authority
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Phone: +64 4 470 2781
Fax: +64 4 474 4227

(end quote)

sorry your bunnies aren't on the list yet..i know just how you feel...