Korean Job Discussion Forums

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

i just wonder who has done it...

we are leaving korea in september for the UK and have been informed our cat must stay in quarantine for 6 months.

i feel stress just making him go on a long flight, let alone staying somewhere strange for 6 months, although the facility does look nice...

anyone flown to korea or back home with their pet? were they ok afterwards? anyone actually had to put their pet in quarantine???

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I had a friend who went through something similar when he tried to move back to Australia with his two cats. It was because he didn't get them their rabies vaccination. I think he left them here in someone's care and had them sent to him when they were finished.

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

our cat has had his rabies vacc but they said their rule is that any animal coming from SK must stay in quarantine for 6 months because it is a high risk country

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

The UK (and all of Europe I believe) is rabies free so there is a mandatory 6 month quarantine for any animal coming from a rabies country. South Korea and America are both rabies countries, so there would be no issue bringing an animal from SK to USA, but to bring an animal to the UK from either country is a different story.

This is a factor in my deciding to convince my English boyfriend to move to America with me after this stint in Asia. Kitty in quarantine for 6 months would SUCK!

Morgen · Joined: 02 Jul 2008

Isn't it quite expensive also?

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

it is expensive, about 1700 pounds
BUT that means we get to keep our kitty.....so its worth it....but its not worth it if he will be damaged from the whole experience.

the other option of course is finding him a new home here, but i dont like the idea of him getting passed around each year as people come and go.....

both situations suck but when we rescued him we had no idea we couldnt bring him when we left (well without quarantine that is)

WendyRose · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: hanam-si, seoul

Six months? Shocked

That's insane. I wouldn't be surprised if a cat cought another disease in 6 months time quarantined with other felines. That just seems cruel to me.

We're bringing our cat to the US in August and US regulations only quarantine if your cat has a disease. If it appears sickly then you have to pay for a vet to check it out and then if everything is okay then you can bring your cat home within a week or two. Otherwise, you take it home with your luggage.

Also, I'm pretty sure the US doesn't require rabies vaccine for cats, though some states do so you need to check. Really, though, your cat should have its rabies shot no matter way.

Anyway, six months...I really can't believe that. I think that you really have no choice - you can't leave your cat behind! Maybe you can go visit it?

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

yes we can visit him, thats a major plus!
i wish we were bringing him to the US or Canada, their system is very different!

lille · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Seoul

The quarantine period that I'd heard about between Canada and SK is ten days with all the proper vaccinations and paperwork.

Having moved with cats across the province in the past and seeing how stressful it was for them, I decided that I couldn't put a cat through an overseas voyage. It's not fair to the animal in the least. Before I moved, I found a surrogate family for my cats to live with, and I send them cash for food and litter. I brought the cats to the surrogate home in good time before the move so that they could bond with their host family before having separation anxiety about my leaving, and the transition was smooth.

I miss my two cats terribly here, but putting them through all that just because I'd be happier having them around seemed frivolous.

That was for a ten-day quarantine. If I may be so frank, six months of quarantine when it's otherwise preventable is unconscionable. I see no way of rationalizing putting that kind of stress on an animal when they could live comfortably elsewhere.

There's a fantastic cat shelter in Seoul, and I plan on volunteering there instead. Lots of cats in the shelter that could use some company!

cocojojo · Joined: 21 Oct 2008

I'm not 100% sure but I believe there is a way to shorten quarantine time if you bring the cat in though another country first. I have a friend who arranges pet relocations professionally in Seoul, PM me if you'd like their contact info.

SSA · Joined: 20 Apr 2009

hi. i have done extensive research on this as i am also from the UK and will face the same sitauation when I leave Korea for my dog.

I have spoken with defra and it has been confirmed that any animal coming from a "no" country on their list will spend 6 months in quarantine. this would apply weather its been 12days or 12 years in the no go country.

the other option is: take the animal to an OK country for 180 days and then to the UK where there would be no quarantine. this includes other EU countries where the animal CAN enter from korea with no quarantine. Or Canada or Japan or the USA. see http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm for the full list of countries that are ok.
2 - leave your pet in one of the OK countries with a relative or pet sitter for that time.

I aggree with you that the cost is not the issue its the fact that my poor dog will spend 6 months in a pen and not be walked at all during that time.

I will be interested to know what you decide and how it goes. I am planning to leave Korea in Aug 2010 and am considering getting an ESL job in another country for 6-12 months just to avoid this situation.

lille · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Location: Seoul

that's admirable, SSA. it really sounds like you've got your pet-friend's interests in mind.

WendyRose · Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Location: hanam-si, seoul

The thing about cats is that they are very territorial. Most owners wouldn't want to admit it, but cats care more about their territory than they do their loving owners. And if we're facing the facts: A cat will not remember its owner after 6 months except for rare occasions. You should rub a piece of clothing or towel all over your cat and every time you visit it bring the towel with you to keep the memories "fresh."

We left our cat at the vet for 2 weeks when we went to Thailand and it didn't remember us until it was back at home with all its recognizable smells.

Six months quarantine is absolutely ridiculous. I understand that you need to take precautions, but if the cat is evaluated thoroughly by a vet and tested for diseases then there should be NO problem. I really feel for you. Sad

timetotravel · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Location: korea

if we had time to do 180 days in a YES country i sooo would but we really dont.
curious to know what people think would be better - 6 months in quarantine OR send our cat to a relative in america for 180 days and then have him sent to us in the UK, which will allow him to avoid Quarantine but still will have two long flights and be away from us for awhile....

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I'm curious does anyone know if you are taking just one cat if it can fly in the plane in the carrier? I feel so bad for animals having to go through that. We have a cat and I think if we ever moved to the US I'd rather give him up for adoption then take him with us.