Pretoria - Post Report Question and Answers

Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?

I'm not sure about coming in, but getting dogs to the US while now allowed is costly and time consuming. I think around $6K all told and can take months because there are tests that need to be done that you have to ship results to EU for them to run. I strongly recommend talking to someone who brought a pet before doing so. I know a few people who chose not to. - Apr 2023


No pets, but I have heard numerous colleagues comment on the quality of pet stores, veterinary care, animal hospitals, etc. - Mar 2023


Many good vets available. Many shelters. I think dogs need to be quarantined for a week upon arrival. Pets must be shipped in and out via a pet shipper, which makes it quite expensive, normally at least $5000 per animal, though multiple pets may get a discount. - Jun 2022


Yes, many, don't know about importing. - Jan 2020


My dog was quarantined for two weeks. I know of several people who had major problems getting their dogs into the country due to the tests required. I highly recommend using a local pet shipper such as Menlyn. - Dec 2019


There was a lot of paperwork to get our cats here, but they didn’t need quarantining. Vets are good, and similar to US standards and prices. - Mar 2019


Yes. No quarantine, but they have to stay around three days at the airport for a vet certificate. You can't use the parks here because there is too much crime so it is not an easy place to walk them. - Jun 2018


There are significant regs. about pets. I know this only indirectly through friends with dogs. Consult GSO for the full story -- and brace yourself for South African bureaucracy, which is vast and unresponsive. - Jan 2018


Yes. There are numerous reports of pets being in quarantine for a month or more and the vet check is extensive. We know some people whose pets were not admitted to the country after arriving. - Feb 2009


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