Minimum age for a puppy to arrive at ORIA
Your puppy will be a minimum age of 19-20 weeks old at the time of arriving at the airport. So you will receive roughly a 4-5-month-old puppy in addition to socialising your puppy so household noises, children, cats and normal family life, your breeder will need to start puppy training. Once the puppy reaches 12 weeks old, he is fully vaccinated. Training can commence once immune to Parvovirus, Distemper, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, and Leptospirosis. So at three months of age, we start outside toilet training, lead training and classes.
We can provide an inclusive cost for a puppy to fly to Grand Cayman, including rabies vaccination, EHC, Import permit, Pre-travel check including parasite treatments, travel crate, courier to London airport, and flight.
Cayman rules summarised
The rules state that dogs entering the Cayman Islands must be vaccinated against rabies. This rabies vaccine is administered once your puppy is 12 weeks of age or three calendar months old. Thirty days after the rabies vaccination, a blood sample is taken by a veterinarian to determine the rabies antibody level. To be permitted to enter, the blood test must demonstrate immunity to rabies at a level greater than 0.5IU/ml. Although express service is available for an additional cost, these test results can take 2 to 3 weeks to return.
Once the titre blood test results are returned, an Export Health Certificate (EHC) must be completed by an Official Veterinarian within 14 days of travel. This certificate is often referred to as the DEFRA document. A vet must administer prior treatment for ticks and tapeworms within 14 days of travel.
We organise all export DEFRA veterinary health certificates and import permits required for travel. Our agent will complete the application forms for the health certificate and arrange transport from our house to Grand Cayman Airport. All you need to do is collect your puppy from the airport.
Here we cover everything you need to know about importing a labradoodle and how to ensure you comply with all detailed requirements for entry. The sequence of events, vaccines and treatments is very important, and pet import applications will fail if certain items on the list below are performed out of sequence. For example, the microchip must be implanted and scanned prior to the rabies vaccine being given.
This page gives you essential information about importing pets into the Cayman Islands. The regulations and laws are current at the time of writing and should be verified by contacting ourselves, an agent or the Cayman government department dealing with pet imports. Travel restrictions such as COVID or disease outbreaks will impact pet travel rules, so please bear this in mind.
Unfortunately, the process for bringing a cat or dog into Cayman is not a short one. It is not possible to fly an eight week old (2-month-old) puppy. Instead, your breeder in the UK must undertake a lengthy and specific series of events - microchip, rabies, wait 30 days, then they can fly to the Islands. Hopefully, we can make the process as easy and simple as possible for you. Provided the steps are strictly followed, then the process is straightforward.
Why Import a dog from the UK into the Cayman?
The Cayman Islands is a fantastic place to own a dog as there is plenty of outdoor areas for them to enjoy. There are also many dog trainers, groomers, and pet sitters and kennels.
ISO Microchip before rabies vaccine
Our microchips are ISO 11784/11785 compliant in anticipation of international travel. The microchip is inserted before routine vaccinations and scanned several times to verify it's working before our vet gives the rabies vaccination.
Defra document EHC
We are experienced at applying to DEFRA for an official Health Certificate. Defra is the UK's Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. If you need to read more about this process, visit www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad.
Rabies rules for a labradoodle to enter the Cayman Islands
Fortunately, the United Kingdom is a rabies-free country. Similarly, the Cayman Islands are also free of rabies disease and committed to preventing this deadly disease from coming into the country. There are no exceptions to the import rules. You cannot apply to the government to bring a younger puppy into the country.
Your pet is required to be 12 weeks old before the primary rabies vaccine is given. The waiting period of 30 days starts from this date, provided the chip was already inserted and verified at the time of the rabies vaccine.
The rabies vaccine must also have been given no more than 12 months before anticipated travel, so if you are opting to import an older dog, this period should also be considered. If the rabies vaccine date were before the microchip insertion date, then the puppy would need to be vaccinated again after the chip implant.
One complication of an older dog is that whilst one, two, or three-year rabies vaccinations are accepted for booster vaccinations, the primary vaccination is only a one-year vaccine.
Since the UK uses 3-year rabies vaccines as standard, the date on the rabies vaccine card may specify three years; however, your vet should booster this primary vaccine after 12 months rather than 36 months. This is particualrly important if intending to travel in and out of the Islands without repeating the waiting period and titre test.
In addition to rabies vaccination, immunity above a prescribed level must be proven by the importer prior to entry into the Cayman Islands. Only a government-approved laboratory can be used for this test, and an approved Official Veterinarian must sign the form. We are experienced at complying with these stringent rules and ensuring the test is completed and processed correctly.
The titer test result must show a serum antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml and state the dog's microchip number. Our vet will scan and sign to confirm the pup's microchip number before taking the blood sample.
Once the lab has processed and tested the pup's blood and our vet has received the results, provided the desired level of immunity has been reached, your pup can enter the Cayman Islands immediately. This immediate entry is because the UK is a rabies-free zone.
DOA Permission to import a puppy
The rules for a dog or cat entering the Cayman Islands are that an official health certificate is needed for pet travel, pet relocation or importing pets. These regulations apply regardless of whether you are a UK resident, live in Central and South America. Since the United Kingdom is not an EU Member State, so no UK pet passport scheme is available. Rules for importing labradoodle puppies from the UK into international countries are unchanged due to Brexit. All dogs entering the Cayman Islands must have an import permit. This process intends to preserve and protect the health and well being of humans, animals and plants on the Island.
We apply to the DOA (Cayman Islands Department of Agriculture). If you wish to apply yourself, then their email is ci.agriculturevs@gov.ky. It is worth visiting the pet import pages on the DOA website www.doa.gov.ky. The telephone number for the DOA was (345) 947 3090 last time we called; however, it's worth checking their website for the latest contact details regarding import permits for a dog entering the Cayman Islands. You may wish to pick up an application form in person. The import permit form is available from the DOA offices at 181 Lottery Road, Lower Valley in Grand Cayman.
Choosing a breeder for importing a labradoodle
We recommend choosing a dog breeder who not only raises young puppies but specialises in exporting pups internationally. This ensures the export process is started as soon as possible and gives you the peace of mind that they know all the regulations. This gives you the best chance of meeting all the stringent requirements to achieve your goal of a happy, healthy puppy safely arriving at the airport.
DOA parasitic treatment for puppy
In addition to the import requirements, it's worth asking your breeder about additional treatments for your puppy. Whilst heartworm and lungworm are not prescribed in the paperwork. These treatments should be checked with your breeder. Heartworm is life-threatening and common in the Cayman Islands as transmitted by mosquitoes; monthly treatment should be routine. We treat puppies routinely, which is repeated during the training stage while waiting for titre test results and permits.
Are you considering a non-UK puppy import?
Importing a dog from a country with rabies takes even longer and is more complicated. Rather than a 30 day waiting time after the rabies vaccine, there must be a minimum of two-month delay before the rabies titre test, which can reduce the chance of gaining an even high level of immunity antibody. It is easier and quicker to find a puppy from a rabies-free country.
Following Cayman laws, no pets may be directly imported into the Islands from certain countries such as South or Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Asia and Africa. The list should be checked before reserving a puppy from any non-UK country.
Covid changes - 48 hours and 2 baths
During the pandemic, dogs arriving onto the Island were required to complete a quarantine period. Dogs had to stay at a government facility for approval. The length of the stay was 48 hours, during which the pet was bathed twice. If you are isolating yourself upon arrival, contact the government about the rules for pets quarantining. Some pets may enter a trip approved quarantine with their owner and stay for the same duration of time.
DOA list of prohibited dog breeds
Certain pedigree breeds of dogs or crosses are banned from entering the Cayman Islands. The Australian Cobberdog is not on this restricted list; however, the breeder must make a declaration that the puppy is not any breed on the list. The breeds include the Pit bull Terrier and similar fighting breeds (Fila Brasileiro, certain Bulldogs, Japanese Tosa and the Dogo Argentino).
As the Australian Cobberdog (or any of the types of Australian labradoodle) are technically crossbreeds, then it's essential to ensure the correct wording is used in breeder declarations. If described simply as a mixed breed or crossbreed, the DOA may refuse entry based on the assumption that they are from a lineage with the primary purpose of dogfighting.
You can obtain the complete list of banned breeds online from the DOA. The list is pretty extensive and contains some pedigree breeds permitted freely in the UK, like rottweillers and certain mastiffs.
None of the known infusion breeds of the Australian Cobberdog is on this restricted list, and we can sign the declaration with full confidence of this since our lines have been within our control for two decades.
Dog fly in cabin or cargo?
Dogs flying to the Cayman Islands must travel as cargo or checked baggage. The only exceptions to this are private charter plane or if your puppy is a service or assistance dog intended to detect or alleviate a condition or disability. We always opt for a direct flight.
The owner or importer must give a minimum of 48 hours notice to the Department of Agriculture of your puppy's anticipated arrival. All dogs entering are examined at the entry point for any evidence of zoonotic disease (i.e. communicable to humans). This element of the import is overseen by the centre for disease control and prevention. Your puppy must be purchased from a breeder with a high level of welfare and care because if they arrive and do not appear to be in good health, further examination is required at your expense by a licensed vet before release.
Licensed courier or cayman agent
We either travel with your dog. Alternatively, we instruct a licensed UK shipping agent to deliver your Cobberdog puppy to the aircraft. Our export agent will either liaise with DOA or appoint a Cayman Islands travel broker. An import permit needs to be applied for and granted before entry. There is usually a fee for the permit. The cost is per dog and can be paid by bank draft or International Money order made payable to the Cayman Islands Government. If you have a tight deadline, then our agent may decide to send this fee before the UK vets complete the 14-day health check to speed up the process. The DEFRA document, a completed application form and a scan of the rabies report need to be sent before the import can be granted.
There are many agents available such as:
Cayman Canine Training Services,
Must Love Dogs, Pack Pet
Go or Love Your Dog.
The paperwork is checked, and the microchip is scanned on arrival in Cayman.
What happens if a puppy is refused entry at GCA, Grand Cayman Airport?
Dogs and documents are inspected by the airline upon arrival. If the paperwork does not meet all requirements, this failure can result in the dog being returned to the country of origin, or even put down. The importer must pay all the expenses associated. There are no dog quarantine facilities for potential rabies-infected pets available in the Cayman Islands. There is no guarantee that the country of origin will accept the dog back if the paperwork does not comply with that country's import requirements either.
