has anyone experience of importing from canada. Looking for prices and info on whether it is cheaper to fly over and bring the animal back rather that use a company.

I flew a dog from Finland. I had considered going over to meet him and fly back with him but they wouldn't fly him as "excess baggage", he had to go freight, so there wasn't any point. I don't know if this would be the case from Canada.  I just liased with the airline staff - they were very helpful and told me everything I needed to sort out. The lovely family who had reared him got hold of the crate and delivered him to the airport. The staff at Heathrow suggested that we faxed the paperwork over the day before he flew to ensure that it was all in order, so that removed a bit of stress. The only thing anyone forgot to mention was that there would be a charge of £95 from the Animal Reception Centre - to collect him from the plane and check his paperwork.

I had considered using an agent to arrange it all but no-one returned my calls/emails so I decided against entrusting my dog to them!

Any dog flying into the Uk must arrive as manifest cargo in order to meet requirements of the pet passport scheme. A shipping agent may be able to organise that the dog travels on the same aircraft as the owner but cargo rates would apply so I cannot see their would be advantage from a point of cost. A dog flying OUT of the uk can travel as excess baggage and a pup from our last litter traveled to Canada this way in March.

Remember to allow for VAT when you collect the dog as this will be calculated by customs on arrival.

K

I know of someone who has imported a cat from the US last month & was charged a £500 handling fee at Heathrow, so be warned!

How on earth was that charge justified? I thought £95 was bad enough!

How can they charge you vat on an animal?????

If the animal is owned by a business (such as a commercial breeder, or farm) then VAT is chargeable. If the purchaser is also a VAT-registered business they can reclaim it.

VAT is also chargeable on services, such as handling.

I guess it is because dogs are classed as "goods" - the import VAT is linked to Customs Value (I think ??) which is related to the value the same "goods" would cost here in Uk. I think the final sum payable in customs also includes a % of the shipping costs. When we sent to pup out to Canada he went on a partnership - his "bill of sale" showed a nominal fee only and the customs taxes when he arrived in Canada weren't too bad as the costs for shipping him were quiet low as he went excess bagage. 

I believe that went overseas competitors fly into the Uk for Crufts etc they have special forms to complete to show they are only temporary visitors or they also would have to pay customs charges for their dogs.

K