If you’re an expat and looking to return to your home country, or Motswana but about to live abroad, the myth is that you will need to leave your pets here. Not true!
The process to take your animal(s) back with you has become much simpler nowadays than it used to be, and these long months in quarantine have been dropped and replaced by blood tests and short term quarantine.
So the steps to follow are:
- Get your animals microchipped and all up-to-date with vaccination as soon as possible.
- Get in contact with your embassy to know the latest animal import rules.
- Talk with your veterinarian to schedule collection of blood to be sent to an accredited laboratory.
There is a minimum delay of one month between microchipping and blood collection, and a minimum of three months between blood collection and authorisation to fly overseas, so that’s a minimum of four months. The blood results remain valid for years as long as you make sure your animals receive annual vaccinations less than 12 months from each other.
So if you ever plan on taking your animals back with you, get this process going sooner than later to avoid getting caught in long delays.
How to Transport Your Pet
The cheapest option is to fly with your animals from Gaborone to your destination (like with Ethiopian Airways). Should that not be possible, there are many pet travelling companies who can collect your animals in Gaborone, take them to Johannesburg, and put them on a plane from there.
You should ask for various quotations but the few companies tried and tested are : Global Paws, Petwings, AeroPet, and Petport (there surely are and will be others worth contacting as well).
Travelling With A Pet
As for taking your pets to South Africa (where there are many pet-friendly accommodations) just take your pets with their up-to-date vaccination card to the department of veterinary services at the Ministry of Agriculture, office 112, where they will make you fill in a document and have a quick health check of your pet from your car, to be issued an export certificate allowing you to take your animals in and out of Botswana.
Now that you know you can take your pet with you, find out more here about getting a pet in Botswana. Or do you want to know about keeping your dog healthy?
This post has been provided by Laetitia at Matshwane Vet Clinic.
Laetitia Gaudex is a French veterinarian and owner of Matshwane Vet Clinic in Tlokweng, Gaborone. She is very involved in community animal outreach and consults at the BSPCA beside running her practice. She has been living in Botswana for over 5 years and has 2 daughters who adore animals just like their mother, which results in a nice little collection of rescued animals at their house!!!
Matshwane Vet Clinic offers house calls and consultations on appointment for large and small animals.
Tel : +267 7624 7062
Website: http://matshwanevetclinic.weebly.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matshwane-Vet-Clinic/261703470675967
Near the Oasis Motel, Sefoke Road, Tlokweng, Gaborone
Po Box 18ACJ, Postnet Kgale, Gaborone, Botswana
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