crossing the border with dogs

[BDH]

Sharon brings up a valid problem. How does CBS know you are not importing a dog into Canada that was previously in Canada legally?

I have no problem going into the USA with my dogs. I always carry the rabies vaccination certificates in a binder for each dog on board. In 25 years I have only been requested by USA customs once to view them , the agent examined one book only and handed them back to me. Canadian customs is seeming beefing up the scrutiny on incoming dogs. Particularly when receipts are presented and we are being challenged on the submitted price, vs a value of the dog. It appears too many occasions declarations are falsified to beat paying taxes, not just on dogs but anything used. I just imported knowing the problems with CBS a dog with the bill of sale overstated to avoid the problem at customs as I knew the real price would create an issue. I was pulled over, challenged on the price as they felt that price was too low, told the officer the price is over stated to avoid his interrogation and was told I was lying. They went to the breeders website to review, came back with nothing. I asked if the called the breeder to verify and was told no. In the end on the I was sent on my way paying no taxes and a warning not to do this again as he could seize the dog. I currently only have a USA rabies vaccination certificate, USA health certificate and a bill of sale originating in the USA. No proof that this dog was declared at Canadian customs. I did however record the officers name and time of entry for future . I do travel frequently to the USA with dogs. I am currently waiting on a visit to my veterinarian to secure a bill of health for this dog which I hope will show that the dog was in Canada. I trust this will be a reasonable proof that the dog was in Canada.

I am currently also thinking of travelling to a CBS office and asking for a E-15 form or similar to allow for entry of the dogs. Should be interesting their response as I believe this has never been done. In Europe to supply a pet passports.

If anybody has a solution to this please advise.



Dick

[C.A. in TO]

Two ways to prove he's yours. Buy a municipal licence. OR if purebred, have him registered.

[Dakota Creek]

Or declare the pup, pay the tax and get a receipt from CBSA at the border when you bring the puppy home from the U.S.

[krakadawn]

Sharon brings up a valid problem. How does CBS know you are not importing a dog into Canada that was previously in Canada legally?

I have no problem going into the USA with my dogs. I always carry the rabies vaccination certificates in a binder for each dog on board. In 25 years I have only been requested by USA customs once to view them , the agent examined one book only and handed them back to me. Canadian customs is seeming beefing up the scrutiny on incoming dogs. Particularly when receipts are presented and we are being challenged on the submitted price, vs a value of the dog. It appears too many occasions declarations are falsified to beat paying taxes, not just on dogs but anything used. I just imported knowing the problems with CBS a dog with the bill of sale overstated to avoid the problem at customs as I knew the real price would create an issue. I was pulled over, challenged on the price as they felt that price was too low, told the officer the price is over stated to avoid his interrogation and was told I was lying. They went to the breeders website to review, came back with nothing. I asked if the called the breeder to verify and was told no. In the end on the I was sent on my way paying no taxes and a warning not to do this again as he could seize the dog. I currently only have a USA rabies vaccination certificate, USA health certificate and a bill of sale originating in the USA. No proof that this dog was declared at Canadian customs. I did however record the officers name and time of entry for future . I do travel frequently to the USA with dogs. I am currently waiting on a visit to my veterinarian to secure a bill of health for this dog which I hope will show that the dog was in Canada. I trust this will be a reasonable proof that the dog was in Canada.

I am currently also thinking of travelling to a CBS office and asking for a E-15 form or similar to allow for entry of the dogs. Should be interesting their response as I believe this has never been done. In Europe to supply a pet passports.

If anybody has a solution to this please advise.



Dick

Take your CKC registration papers(copy) with you. If they doubt you have owned the dog prior to going to the USA then tell em to get a chip reader to verify the chip if they're so inclined. I always have a copy plus rabies and that's it. Most often nothing is even requested. Last week coming home mine barked at the customs officer as they were in the back seat rather than the box. I had to tell them to be quiet so I could hear him....still no questions about them or dog food. He could obviously see I had a bunch of papers in my hand.

Last year I brought 2 pups to the border for a couple of Ontario guys. They then took them across the border. They had full receipt package and vet certificate. They got sent over to pay GST but got hassled for 30 minutes because they believed the female pup was worth more than the male and therefore the receipts were incorrect. Went to their computer....good luck, couldn't find anything and finally accepted the documentation and both paid $100 HST.

[BDH]

Krackadawn; Same situation;
I came through in the early hours of the morning with a receipt overstated on the price as I knew they would challenge the price. The interrogation was a half hour and we were called liars. He allowed us to go how ever with no payment of HST. I would have preferred he assessed the HST . The breed is not recognized by the CKC so having registration papers for Canada is not in the works. My Ontario veterinarian bill for a health examination, plus as earlier suggested the municipal licence would be the only documents that the dog was previously in Canada. The dog will have no tattoo and I can request a microchip be inserted by my vet. CBS do not have microchip readers.

This issue is , I do not want to have the possibility of interrogation at CBS . I take dogs routinely to the USA and have rabies documentations which are never requested by USA customs, but have been asked if they are up to date. I have for years returned to Canada without incident. I have imported many dogs , paid the required tax assessed and had the documents of the tax paid in the folder for each dog. I have a dog basically gifted to me, have a bill of sale made showing a value for the dog and CBS is all over me.

I appreciate the officer was doing his job, but I would like to make my return to Canada with my dogs with out a confrontation. On future trips the dogs would not be declared as they were taken from Canada, but I can see they day when I will be requested to supply proof that the dogs I have on board were originally from Canada.

Dick

[ebenezer]

When crossing the border I also carry copies of the dogs' registration papers along with their health checks and vaccinations. Another thing I have in the folder is a picture of each dog and a note with contact information for my husband and vet. The note authorizes vet care for them if we should ever be in an accident.

[Jakezilla]

Regarding proof of ownership and proof the dog was originally from Canada. I understand the question but has anyone had first hand experience with this and who would hold the burden of proof in that situation?

I cross the border several times a year with dogs, dogs I own and dogs others own, and the issue of ownership and where the dogs originated has never come up. The only thing they care about is rabies vaccination and about 50% of the time, dog food.

I have imported several dogs and had them question the amount on the receipt. A quick internet search usually clears it up. I just give them a site like http://www.gundogcentral.com/index.php so they can see the price on the receipt is well within the range of prices for a pointer or setter. Even if the dog is free I get a receipt with an amount on it. I am not sure but I believe that even if you get something for free and import it you still have to claim it and pay tax on it's fair market value.