Progress in Importation Permits
NOW frozen semen is sent to CANADA by FedEx with NO PERMIT PROBLEMS. Germany is a wonderfully easy country to send frozen semen...a tank leaves our facility on Monday and arrives in Germany on Wednesday. Norway, Sweden, and Holland are still a little tricky and England is "do-able" but not without some hair-raising discussions with officials. Australia sends a different import permit every time. The latest permit on my desk, requires the dog owner abstain from breeding their stud between collections and requires the semen shipped in a new tank or suitably disinfected tank. Other Australian permits recently sent to us have no mention of these requirements.

Our own government has blessed us by providing vets graduating from the University of California at Davis with federal accreditation status without taking a test. However, if your vet graduated in another state and moved to California to practice, he/she MAY NOT be listed on the federally accredited list.

Years ago, whole days were devoted to taking tanks to airports to properly document and seal the tanks and get them onto the proper overseas fights. Because frozen semen was sent in liquid nitrogen tanks, the shipping tanks were considered hazardous goods and additional hazardous goods documents were required. Some shipping companies have been miserably ill prepared to handle frozen semen shipments. In our experience, the shipping has never resulted in a loss, but Customs in Australia once lost sperm: they didn't empty all the frozen semen out of the shipping tank and didn't notice their mistake until the dog owners wanted to use their sperm. Another Australian disaster: the vet didn't charge his storage tank, resulting in lost sperm. In England, the University veterinarian who was to do the insemination was at a conference when the bitch was ready and his technician did the inseminations. No pups resulted. When the bitch cycled into her next season the bitch owner notified the University but the remaining semen could not be found.

Success Requires
Strict Attention to Detail
Dealing with the regulations of international shipping and customs, duties and agriculture departments can be very unnerving. However, when the pups whelp, all the problems are forgotten. After all, international breedings are celebratory in that these breeding combinations may become the savior of genetic diversity for several breeds. Rare breeds will now have access to individuals all over the world!

Important Tips in Dealing
with Foreign Semen Importers
When contacted by foreign breeders to provide frozen semen, remember to ask for import permit details before agreeing on stud fees, etc. You may be very inconvenienced getting appointments for collections, various vet certificates and laboratory tests, so I always suggest adding on a nonrefundable fee to compensate you for your time. If you are concerned about which bitch will be inseminated, make certain of your understanding of the country's Kennel Club rules. I used to urge clients to send a whole collection to Australia, because if the bitch missed (which is very possible!), she could be rebred the next time. If she conceived the first time and then conceived a second time or if by agreement with the American owner, the remaining semen was used and produced a litter with another bitch, the American stud owner would be entitled to stud fees for each litter. This arrangement seemed very fair and showed good faith on the side of our American breeders. Indeed, some American owners were happy with the "annuity" arrangement. However, the Australian Kennel Club changed their rules and now allows the importing party to own the sperm and sell it to anyone without notifying the American stud owner. Litters resulting from those frozen semen breedings are registerable. SO BEWARE!

One Great Dane breeder was thrilled to be asked for frozen semen by an Australian veterinarian, but was concerned because the vet didn't know into which bitch it would be inseminated. In fact, he didn't admit owning any Great Danes. For some breeders this arrangement may be suitable but please, be an informed, aware, stud owner when evaluating foreign semen importers.