CANADIAN QUESTIONS EH!

[NIKKI662]

Hi, I am Nikki.....Parrot lover/owner my whole life! Been studying IRN's for some time, after my Grey passed on, and I am so glad I found this site!
Does anyone know the laws for bringing a bird across the border to Canada? I am a U.S. citizen but permanent resident of Canada now.
I still travel to Michigan all the time and down south. Did you know that IRN's are double the price in Canada!!! I have been watching for adoptable IRN's for 2 years in Ontario with no luck, I think we should give homes to birds in need but there doesn't seem to be any and I am getting anxious Being a parrot owner my entire adult life, it is hard to go long without my little "angel" troublemakers. My Clara bird (Grn Quaker) needs someone to gossip with (besides me) and drive the dogs crazy! Anyone with border crossing and birds info?
Thanks everyone
Nikki

[MissK]

I researched this once. The short answer is I think yes, you can. Actually, what I researched was traveling with birds who live in USA into Canada. The hard part might be getting back to USA.

You're going to have to do some Googling. I think the deal was you could bring your own pet into Canada with a health certification and there was a limit on volume and frequency, as well as some fees. Please don't try this without a leg band.

-MissK

[NIKKI662]

Oh, thanks sooo much MissK!
I know for sure I would need leg band at min. Is there paperwork that breeders have with birds? All my animals are rescues and all my birds over 30 years have been rescues, I have no idea what breeders do!

I think the best thing is for me to go on over to customs and ask questions, I hope they don't quarantine and keep them for a week or something! The U.S. is much more strict than Canada for sure!

Wish me luck finding an IRN:) Appreciate your help!
Nikki

[MissK]

Asking Customs is a great idea - that's where the rubber hits the road, so to speak.

The paperwork you need is likely to be coming from a veterinarian who has fully examined and tested your bird and will certify on paper that it is healthy and carries no disease. Be sure to know what diseases Canada is concerned about before you go to the vet. There will be a limited time frame for that to be valid, so once you have it, it's time to go!

IF you are used to second hand birds, don't assume you have to go with a baby from a breeder now.

I actually know someone (casually) who had to leave his IRN in Canada when he moved to USA. I think it was a leg band issue.

Where in the USA were you thinking of looking for your bird?

-MissK

[NIKKI662]

I am in Ontario Between London and Windsor, I like to cross at Sarnia but if i go south I will use Windsor hate going in Detroit but anyhow. I can say that I am a Michigander, I know! O.K.... my husband is a long haul driver and he frequently goes to South Carolina, Kentucky etc... I thought I would park my car in Michigan and hitch a ride with him, try to find a breeder in an area where he would
pass so we could get the new baby or re-homed IRN that way. I could also just go on a weekend with Rick but i would like to stay going south like Michigan, Indiana, ohio, Kentucky....down 75 way, unless Columbus, you get the idea...seems to be lots in Florida.

Do new babies come with the health certificates from the vet? Could they do that in special situations and if I pay?

Thanks again MissK
Nikki

[MissK]

I've never looked into buying a new baby, so I could not say. However, if I were to buy a bird from anyone in the business of selling birds, I would insist on a health certification, backed by an actual veterinarian. I don't expect that from any old Joe, just selling on their own pet once, but somebody in the business out to take care of business, in my opinion. I would suggest you insist on the vet clearance before you buy the animal because if it doesn't clear then you may have trouble getting it home -- not to mention how you don't want to take on a sick pet. If it is an issue, you could agree to pay the vet cost when IF/WHEN you buy the bird, so long as you have the invoice and health record from the vet.

Why don't you give Craigslist a try? Here's a link to get you started:
http://flint.craigslist.org/pet/3792641157.html

These are my opinions.

-MissK