Export Pet Cats and Dogs to the Cayman Islands

1. All dogs and cats must be accompanied by an import permit. Application forms available from Veterinary Services, Department of Agriculture, Box 459 GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, BWI.

Telephone: 345-947-3090, Facsimile: 345-947-2634

2. The following procedures must be performed in the following order.

Identify pet with an acceptable microchip. Only microchip brands accepted by the ISO (Standard 11784 or Annex A to standard 11785) and can be read by 134.2 kHz scanners should be used. These include some AVID, Home Again, and Identichip microchips.

Any microchip company can be used as long as the chip required by the importing country is met. It is up to the owner/veterinarian to ensure that the chip being used will conform.

For easy reference we have listed microchip companies that offer this service. You may choose a different provider so long as the above is met.

After identification, a licensed veterinarian must vaccinate the pet against rabies using an approved inactivated adjuvanted vaccine. Vaccine must be administered at least 30 days and not more than one year prior to shipment. The pet must be at least 12 weeks of age at time of vaccination.

3. A blood test must be taken after vaccination to ensure that a protective level of antibodies exists. Serum samples must be submitted to Kansas State University Lab requesting a neutralizing antibody titration test. This test must be carried out within 24 months of shipment and the test result must be 0.5 IU/ml.

It is recommended that the copy of the United States Department of Agriculture standing import permit accompany any samples to Kansas, therefore, the veterinarian must contact the above laboratory and request that a copy be faxed.

4. Your pet will be eligible to enter the Cayman Islands six (6) months after the date the blood sample that the successful test results were taken.

The six month waiting period may be waived for:

1. Pets over 9 months of age that can demonstrate a rabies vaccination history of at least two vaccinations not more than one year and not less than 6 months apart. The permanent identification must be applied before the most recent rabies was administered.
2. Local residents: Pets that have been resident continuously in the Cayman Islands for at least six months prior to travel. This exemption refers to pets resident in the Cayman Islands that are leaving the territory to return within 1 year of departure.
3. Pets travelling directly from territories recognized by the Cayman Islands as being rabies free.

5. Within 14 days of travel, the pet must be treated for tapeworms and ticks. For tapeworms a preparation containing praziquantel at a dose rate of 5 mg/kg.

Products used for treatment against tapeworms must contain PRAZIQUANTEL as the active ingredient. To search for products which are registered and approved for use in Canada, please go to the Health Canada Drug Product Database.  Please ensure you read the product label to ensure it can be used for dogs and/or cats.

For ticks: a topical preparation known to have residual action. A product containing fipronil is preferred. Note: Shampoos, collars and preparations used for the control of fleas such as Program, Advantage, Revolution or Sentinel are not acceptable.

6. Certification:

The licensed veterinarian must provide all the pertinent information concerning identification and vaccination by completing the Export Certificate HA2129. This certificate must be printed on legal paper (8.5" X 14"), no other format will be accepted.

7. Within 14 days of travel, the pet must be examined and issued an Official Health Certificate. The health certificate is issued by a licensed veterinarian.

Once all the steps above have been successfully completed, contact your local Canadian Food Inspection Agency Office to obtain an official endorsement by an Official Veterinarian of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

8. Fees for endorsement is $20.00

9. A completed import application form, a copy of the Official Health Certificate, a copy of the rabies titre lab report and the appropriate fee must be submitted to the Cayman Islands for processing.

10. Exporters must give 48 hours notice of the expected date and time of arrival as well as the transport information.

11. Prohibitions: Certain breeds of dogs or crosses of those breed and their genetic material such as semen and embryos are prohibited.

These breeds include:

• Chinese Shar-Pei
• Mallanois
• Mastiff Breeds
• Rottweiler
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brazileiro
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Akita
• Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Bull Mastiff
• Neopolitan Mastiff
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• American Bull dog
• Catahoula Leopard Dog