More on Taking Pets to Sweden

According to a representative from World Care Pet Transport, to get a pet to Sweden or most other European Union countries (England is said to be tougher), you have to do the following:

Go to the vet to get a micro-chip implanted. At the same time, get a new round of rabies inoculations. Vets aren't cheap.

Wait 120 days.

Go back to the vet so he can take a blood sample, which is sent to a lab at Kansas State University. Did I mention vets aren't for free.

Three to four weeks later, the blood tests are returned to the vet from Kansas State.

Ten or fewer days from departure to Sweden, the animal must have a special inoculation for worms. Can I charge it, Mr. Vet?

24 or fewer hours from departure, the USDA must certify the paperwork. This is the hard part which pretty much dictates a stay in New York to get the certification and still ensure the "less than 24 hours before departure" rule.

Good thing I was subjected to as much. (Although the medical exam did include the infamous over 50 standard procedures. "Have you had your colonoscopy?" asked the doctor. "You bet your KY jelly, I have and write it in the file bold with font size 500." I calmly replied and continued "I still have nine years, 7 months, and 13 days before I have to do that again.")

World Care Pet Transport will take care of the whole pet transport (20 pound cat) for a little over $3000 US. It's cheaper to smuggle narcotics.