Safe to bring pets to Hua Hin??

Post by **TnT** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:18 am

Hi. Would like a bit of info please. Thinking of coming to live in Hua Hin but am very concerned about my beloved pets (dog and 2 cats). Would obviously be bringing them with me but am concerned about the rabies situation. Also been told that they would have to go into quarantine for at least 30 days. Is this the case as we will be coming from the Uk (a rabies free country)?? Looked on internet but keep getting conflicting info.
Could anyone also give me info on the visa situation?? Have e mailed thai consul in Hull twice, but got no reply. I am 43 and partner 52. what would be the best visa option for us? Lots of questions I know, but would really appreciate your input on these subjects! Thanks very much.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:09 am

Can't help with the pet situstion, I'm afraid, but I'm sure Dawn can.
I'll try with the visas. It all depends how long you want to come over for, in the first instance. I assume for some time - if not permanantly - if your bringing your pets.
I'd say you've got two main options. Firstly, Tourist Visas. Hull were still issuing single, double, triple and multiple entries in September. A TV gives you 60 days on arrival in Thailand, that can be extended for 30 days at any imm centre for 1,900 B - there's one now in HH. After the total 90 day period, you have to exit Thailand - most people in HH go to Ranong and over to Burma. This can be done in a day. If you've got more than one entry on your visa, then you'll get another 60 days when you enter again, that can be extended by 30 days, etc etc. PS, I have heard that TVs are going to become a straight 90 days, but have yet to have this confirmed. Hull would know.
Alternatively, and probably the best bet, is for you both to get multiple-entry Non Immigrant Visas, category "O". These are valid for one year and you have to exit Thailand every 90 days. You can exit as many times as you want during the year and you'll automatically get 90 days each time you return. In addition, if you exit just before the visa is due to expire, you'll benefit from a further 90 days, effectively making the visa work for almost 15 months.
The other advantage of this visa is that it can be extended in Thailand for a year and this is what most ex-pats do. The common ways to do this are if you're married to a Thai national (not applicable in your case, I assume), or you're of retirement age. That BTW is over 50. You then have to show an income from overseas of 65k per month or have 800k in a Thai bank account, or a combination of the two as long as the total amount of savings and income total over 800k. NB, the 800k - or whatever savings - must have been in a Thai bank for a minimum of 3 months before you apply. It cannot fall below this figure at any time before you get the extension. Your partner could be eligible for this, but you wouldn't be as you're not old enough. However, I think that you'll be able to apply for a marriage/dependency extension on the back of your partner's. I'm really not sure how this works. Maybe someone else can help? Alternatively, call Hull. They're very helpful, but try to do so as soon after 9am as possible as they're snowed under following the new visa regulations from Oct 1st. It took me a few days to get through.
Hope that helps.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:13 am

I'll leave the visa questions to others, but I can help you with the pets' one. Yes, HH is perfectly safe. Your animals will need a yearly rabies vaccine (by law) while they're here. While Thailand has rabies, I've been running a Dog Rescue Center here for over 3 years & have never seen one animal with rabies, although I've seen numerous cases of distemper, parvo virus etc (so please keep your pets up to date with those types of jabs also!)
You shouldn't need any quarantine, provided your pets travel with the right paperwork. I brought dogs from HK with no quarantine.
Contact a Thai consulate for requirements. I'd also recommend using a responsible shipping agent to move your pets, as it's easy to get confused as to what you need (paperwork & health check wise) and they will have done it all before.
The only thing I would worry about is how your pets will adjust to the heat. You might need a visit to the pet clippers & the air-con/fans on permanently in the house for the first couple of weeks!
Good luck!

Post by **PeteC** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:16 am

An interesting point here, Lomu. Two married foreigners and one is over 50 and the other is not. I would really hope that they would give the younger spouse the same visa privilages as the spouse who qualifies for the retirement visa?

The same humanitarian concerns should apply to under adult age children with parents who have a retirement visa.

New idea "Family Visa". Makes sense to me. Pete

Post by **DawnHRD** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:54 am

I have 2 friends, both Brits, who have recently tried this with the retirement visa. The female is of requisite age & (after a few hassles) she got her retirement visa. the male is too young, & after being told initially he could get a visa "on the back" of her visa, was refused & had to go back to UK (I think it was Cardiff) to get his non-O, which he got within 30 minutes of applying.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:57 am

To the OP again, take a look at this
http://www.lawyer.th.com/National_Polic ... t_2006.pdf

and in particular section 7.19 and then section 7.21
It's as clear as mud, but would seem to cover you on the back of your partner's retirement visa, should they get one.
I really would discuss it with Hull or The Thai Embassy first though.

Post by **lomuamart** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 9:05 am

Dawn slipped in with her post as I was doing mine.
As I said, clear as mud, although Dawn unfortunatley knows people who've tried this route.
Admittedly, the Police Order dosn't state if there's an age limit for the spouse as well. Maybe it's possible if they're over 50 and don't have the required funds themselves?

Post by **TnT** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 2:47 am

Hi everyone. Thanks very much for your replies. I am going to give Hull a ring this week, if I ever get a minute!! Still the same in the Uk.. gotta work every hour just to keep your head above water! At least when I ring them now I will know what to ask. Thanks again. Also, Dawn, feel a lot better now about bringing my pets over to Hua Hin. Was really worried about rabies after reading loads of scare stories on the internet. Have already priced transit for them, it starts at £2500.. ouch!! they had better get club class for that price. The quarantine was a real worry for me, could not have put my animals in quarantine, so am greatly relieved with your info. Once again thanks very much to everyone.

Post by **PeteC** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 8:50 am

Dawn, you are better at this than I. Perhaps a word that LOS isn't a very civilized place for pets if they get out on the loose. You know the aggressiveness of street dogs and what they'll do to a well trained and mellow dog who has not grown up having to fight for everything. Cats as well, if a western domestic tabby gets out on the street, will probably come back somewhat shredded.

TNT, I hope you are going to have a good size yard to keep and exercise them in. With pets, my advice is do not let them mix with the locals...LOL. Await more comments from Dawn. Pete

Post by **DawnHRD** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:36 am

Yes, you're absolutely right, Pete. Sorry, think I was assuming that they would be kept in a fenced off garden & house. Yep, there are a lot of street animals in various stages of health & aggressiveness. Absolutely the best idea to keep your house pets away from them as much as possible, for their health & their safety. Some street dogs will be perfectly friendly to a "newcomer dog" and others will see him as an interloper on their territory & start a fight. And Pete is perfectly right about the cats (street cats here are very streetwise). Also packs of street dogs have been known to attack cats.

Make sure your garden is adequately fenced off. Teach any staff (gardener/cleaner) you may have in to keep the gate shut. When you walk your dog (if you decide to exercise him that way), use a leash & carry a stick to discourage street dogs (you don't need to use it, the threat is enough). As for the cats, are they house cats? If so, really best to keep it that way.

I don't mean to alarm you, these precautions should be more than adequate to protect your pets. It's just that there are a lot of strays & it's better to be forewarned. Also, if your animals are females, best to get them neutered, so they don't encourage the opposite sex to congregate near your gate when they're on heat. Actually, get males neutered too, so they're not inclined to wander when a female outside is on heat (not just the wandering to worry about, a few dogs have VG [a contagious & dangerous genital tumour] & you don't want your dog to get that from mating

not sure if cats get VG, I'll have to check that out )

Anyway, hope we haven't worried you too much. None of my pet dogs have ever been involved in any sort of fight or problem with street dogs in the 5 years I've been here, but I never allow them to roam, they're always in the garden (walled) or on a lead with me. I do let them off the lead in places with few dogs, but you have to be here to suss those places out yourself. I've never owned a cat, but I think they're best kept inside

Post by **TnT** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:31 am

Hi, once again thanks for your replies. I have a male dog and 2 female cats, all rescues, all neutered and vaccinated. Am concerned about the cats as they love to sit in the garden at home in the UK. My partner is quite handy so have considered building some sort of enclosure if we move to Hua Hin, so they can at least sit outside safely if they want to. The dog is a different matter, he is never allowed out on his own. I am self employed in pet care so he comes to work with me every day. He walks well on or off lead, but I am a little bit concerned about exercising him in Hua Hin!! I would make sure my garden is secure but I want to be able to safely take him out and exercise him... will have to give it some thought. Have looked at several villas in Hua Hin, but am definitely still at the "doing my home work" stage.

All your input is greatly received. Cheers.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:08 am

As long as you take a stick with you, your dog will be safe while exercising with you. I walk my pet dogs & we walk some of the dog center dogs (some wouldn't do too well on a lead!

) like that & have had no bother apart from a little barking. We've even done walks around the town to publicise the Dog Center (encountering numerous street dogs) & had no fights or problems, because you just need to lift the stick (I've never used it) & the dogs will back off.

There are also many places on the beach or in the hills (away from humans & food sources) where there are few or no dogs & you can exercise your dog off the leash with no problems. Not all street dogs are aggressive, even to other dogs, by any means. Unfortunately, some are while defending their territory & you need to just be aware of that.