Government Shutdowns and your Pet

Government Shutdowns and your Pet

By Jim Young, Manager – Bellalago Veterinary Hospital

Due to the government shut down, we wanted to give our clients a “heads up” about what this could mean for their pets.  In past government shut downs, we’ve found that the USDA does not maintain their website (including keeping it available), update their information, or provide some basic services for pet owners.  This includes, but is not limited to, travel certificates.  If you’re planning on traveling with your pet prior to the end of the shutdown, you may not be able to get the documentation necessary to do so. 

Please understand that this is not something we at Bellalago Veterinary Hospital have any control over.  While we will do whatever possible to help, there is little we can do without the USDA to provide information and approve travel certificates.  The approval process was already something that usually requires the owner to travel to Gainesville or Miami to visit the USDA for a stamp.  Additionally, certificates already underway or completed but not yet approved by the USDA are non-refundable due to a government shutdown as the exam and related services have already been rendered.  Tests, exams, titer checks, and other procedures that have to be completed within a certain time frame set by the government may also need to be recompleted with additional charge.  Government shutdowns may result in considerable additional expenses to pet owners.  Again, we have no control over this!

A possible solution may be to reach out to the embassies or consulates of countries to which you’re traveling in order to find out what, if any, contingencies they may have in place for when the US government shuts down.  However, we want to stress that they may not be able to assist in any way whatsoever – this is a “hail Mary play” or long shot!  The Ministry of Agriculture (or similar agency) in your country of destination may be able to provide additional assistance.

Finally, we are not trying to get political and are not backing either side of the political debate by suggesting this, but we encourage everyone to contact their members of Congress and the President to ask that they resolve the issue in a timely and professional manner.  Politics (of any persuasion) should not impact the ability of pets to travel – especially those pets which serve as service or emotional support animals!

USDA Website - https://www.usda.gov/

Congressional Representative Contact Info - https://callyourrep.co/

The President’s Contact Info - https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/