4. Build Your Own Quarantine Facility

Private quarantine is possible, but you have to get plans made up for your own kennel, and this has to be approved 3 months before the dog arrives in Ireland. A private Vet has to undertake to look in every now and then. The building requirements are strict. And the dog has to stay in the private kennel on your own home grounds for five months. Anyone besides family members who helps out with the dog has to have a rabies shot. Someone has to be on hand 24 hours a day. We are talking MAJOR hassle and expense!

Even so, the dog has to spend the first 4 to 6 weeks in Lissen Hall if you're going private.

My advice: since you can avoid all this hassle and expense simply by following the much cheaper and easier rules of the Pet Travel Scheme, you should take this route only if you've got too much money, don't mind wasting your time and love filling out paperwork.

A complete copy of the Department of Agriculture's regulations are included below.

AUTHORISATION

1. Each individual Private Quarantine Application must be approved by the Department of Agriculture & Food which reserves the right to grant or refuse an authorisation under these conditions. Private Quarantine when permitted, will be subsequent to at least one month's quarantine in Lissenhall Kennels, and will be subject to pre-import approval of site, location and plans in advance of importation, and subject to all other conditions being met.

2. The owner of the animals and the veterinary surgeon who will control the quarantine must make joint application for approval of the quarantine and each must make a declaration before a Magistrate, Notary Public, or Commissioner for Oaths that;

(a) the premises will be under the control of the applicant veterinary surgeon,

(b) an agreement has been concluded between the veterinary surgeon and owner that the veterinary surgeon or his deputy (a veterinary surgeon) will inspect the animals three times per week at random times unknown to the owner and check that the conditions of quarantine are being observed. These visits should include "out of hours" calls, and

(c) a visit/attendance book will be kept on the premises at all times. Each visit by a veterinary surgeon, whether private or official, must be recorded as to the date and time of such visit, together with any other matters of relevance including treatments, endorsed with the signature of the visiting veterinary surgeon. This book should be available for inspection by Department officials at any time and surrendered to the Department at the end of the quarantine.

(d) the veterinary practitioner must carry out an inspection on the day of arrival and certify that the animal has been securely placed in the private quarantine.

(e) a Veterinary Inspector from the local District Veterinary Office will carry out a final inspection on the proposed date of release from quarantine. If all conditions are found to be in order then he/she will officially release the animal and provide a certificate attesting to completion of quarantine.

3. The owner must sign a declaration that, on breach by any person of the detention and isolation of the animal on the quarantine premises, or if the veterinary surgeon defaults in any way on his control of the premises, the animals will be removed to the public quarantine to complete their quarantine at owner's expense.

4. The Department reserves the right to extend the period of quarantine.

MANAGEMENT

5. The owner or person authorised to take charge in the owner's absence must be on the premises 24 hours a day.

6. Apart from veterinary surgeons, access to the quarantine will be confined to the owner, members of the owner's family and specified persons charged with the care of the animals.

7. A Veterinary Inspector of the Department of Agriculture and Food must be allowed unrestricted access at all times.

8. All persons charged with the care of the animal (apart from the owner and family members) must be vaccinated against rabies. Where such persons do not agree to vaccination, the Department must be provided with a letter from each such person indemnifying the Department in respect of any injuries, loss or illness resulting from their decision not to undergo vaccination against rabies.

9. The owner/person in charge/veterinary surgeon responsible must notify the Department of Agriculture & Food of any sign of illness in the quarantined animal/s or its'/ their death and all signs and treatments must be recorded. The record must be made available to the inspector on the premises.

TRANSPORTATION

10. Transportation of the animal to the quarantine shall be by a carrier authorised by the Department of Agriculture & Food ie. Road Freight Section of Irish Rail, for the purpose, from the public quarantine in Lissenhall to the private quarantine premises. The animal cannot be moved until a travel permit is issued by the Veterinary Division of the Department of Agriculture & Food.

PREMISES

11. Premises must be constructed as to

(a) consist of a secure area within the grounds of the owner's residence, but not within the residence itself.

(b) Direct access must be available to the private quarantine without having to pass
through a residential/commercial premises.

(c) comprise a kennel of suitable size and an exercise area.

(d) be secured by the use of welded wire mesh with 25 to 40 mm grid with suitable supports.

(e) contain double gates for access, which would be locked at all times.

(f) prevent wildlife and birds gaining access.

(g) prevent the quarantined animals from escaping by burrowing or otherwise.

(h) bear a sign indicating that premises is a quarantine and that unauthorised persons should stay out, and

(i) meet such other conditions as may be laid down.

Prior to approval, plans for such a quarantine must be submitted to the Department for examination. These plans must be drawn up to scale and signed by a suitably qualified person and submitted with an overall site plan, again to scale.

12. A prominent sign must be displayed at each entrance through the perimeter to indicate that the premises are approved quarantine premises and that unauthorised entry is prohibited.

13. Premises must be constructed, maintained and operated so that it is impossible for an animal to have contact with any other animal, other than, if applicable, one with which it has been authorised to share accommodation.

14. All premises must be designed so that the quarantined animal has direct access to an individual exercise run from the sleeping compartment or alternatively in the case of cats, a sleeping compartment and exercise run combined. The use of common exercise runs is prohibited.

15. All entrances to the unit must have an outer door and an inner door forming a trap to prevent an animal escaping. The distance between these doors must be such that anything normally used in that area may be taken through the trap in such a way that there is always one door shut. The inner door, if solid, must have an escape-proof viewing panel in it. Both doors must open inwards and be self-closing and lockable. The use of an office or other room as a trap is prohibited. Run end gates, if provided, must open into a trapped safety corridor. Whatever the design of the accommodation, there must be three doors between the animal in its unit and the area between the buildings and the perimeter fence.

PERIMETER SECURITY

16. There must be a perimeter fence or wall which is adequate to prevent the escape of dogs or cats in quarantine, the entry of non-quarantine animals and the unauthorised entry of persons. This barrier must be at least 1.8 metres (6 feet) high. It is necessary to roof the entire area between the perimeter fence and all buildings within the perimeter fence with escape proof wire mesh. Chain link may be used for the construction of the perimeter fence, including any angled guard, and wiring over to buildings or units within the perimeter. Wire used in the construction of the perimeter fence must have a diameter not less than 2.0mm (14 SWG) excluding any covering, and a mesh size no greater than 5.0cm (2 inches). The perimeter fence must consist of a double layer of wire mesh separated by a minimum distance of 5cm (2in) or the width of the upright if greater.

SECURITY FOR THE UNLOADING OF CATS:

17. In premises where cats are quarantined, either the entire area between the perimeter fence and any buildings within the perimeter fence must be wired over, or there must be a totally enclosed unloading area large enough to allow entry of a carrying agents vehicle and the loading and unloading or crates within it behind locked doors.

18. It is permitted for a building to form part of a perimeter fence. If so the walls must be solidly constructed of brick or similar materials. Where a building forms part of the perimeter it must be impossible for a quarantine animal to gain access to its roof. Where the wall of an animal unit forms part of the perimeter it must be windowless and without doors.

19. Nothing which could provide a means of escape or entry for an animal must be allowed to overhang the perimeter.

20. The base of the perimeter fence must be secured against escape. Weld mesh or chain link must be firmly secured to or sunk into concrete or, if the ground is not concreted over, be secured by continuing the wire below ground to an adequate depth. Dependent upon the type of soil and the topography of the ground, the fence should in any event be continued below ground for at least 0.4m (18 inches).

21. If a garage/shed is being used, it must not be connected by any doorway to the dwelling.

CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DOG UNITS

22. The interior of walls of sleeping compartments must be faced with a smooth, hard impervious material to a height of not less that 1.2m (4 feet). When concrete or other building blocks are used they must be so rendered as to meet this requirement. Wood must not be used in the construction of walls, floors, partitions, door-frames or doors of new dog sleeping compartments. It may be used for supporting weld mesh in exercise runs. Where it has been used in existing sleeping compartments it must be faced with a durable, smooth, impervious material, other than paint, to a height of at least 1.2m (4 feet). Wood may, however, be used in the construction of cat units. Where a cat unit has a sleeping compartment its inner surfaces must be smooth and impervious; painted wooden surfaces are permitted in this situation. Lead based paint must not be used.

23. Doors to units must be close fitting. Sleeping compartments must be draught free.

24. All windows which pose a security risk must be escape proof at all times. Such windows must be protected by weld mesh or similar material, unless made of reinforced glass, polycarbonate or other impact resistant material. Opening windows must always be protected by weld mesh.

25. Adequate provision must be made for animals to sleep, for example raised sleeping benches or suitable beds, which must be made of a material that can be easily cleansed and disinfected. Any beds or benches which cannot be cleansed and disinfected must be destroyed by incineration at the end of quarantine.

26. The minimum internal measurements for individual dog units are:-

(a) SMALL DOGS (less than 12 kg (26 lbs) ): sleeping area not less than
1.1 sq. m (12 square feet), width and length not less than 0.9m (3 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 3.7 sq. m (40 square feet), width not less than 0.9 m (3 feet).

(b) MEDIUM SIZE DOGS (12 kg (26 lbs) to 30 kg (66 lbs): sleeping area not less that 1.4 sq. m (16 square feet), width and length not less than 1.2 m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 5.5 sq. m (60 square feet), width not less than 1.2 m (4 feet).

(c) LARGE DOGS (more than 30 kg (66 lbs): sleeping area not less than 1.4 sq. m (16 square feet), width and length not less than 1.2 m (4 feet). Adjoining exercise area not less than 7.4 sq. m (80 square feet), width not less than 1.2 m (4 feet).

27. Compartments must not be less than 1.8 m (6 feet) high.

28. Walls of the sleeping compartment must extend from the floor to the roof and be of solid construction unless this is impracticable, in which case the wall must be at least 1.8 m (6 feet) high and the gap above partitioned with escape proof weld mesh with a wire diameter of not less than 2.0 mm (14 SWG), and a mesh size not exceeding 5.0 cm (2 inches).

29. Impervious floor surfaces are required for new exercise runs because they are capable of satisfactory cleansing and disaffection, but pea gravel to a minimum depth of at least 15 cms (6 inches) is also acceptable in existing runs. Grass surfaces are unacceptable. The surface must provide sufficient grip for the animal to walk or run without sustaining injury.

CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CAT UNITS

30. Cattery units must be of the "walk in " type not less than 1.8 m (6 feet) high. The sleeping compartments plus exercise run must have a total floor area of at least 1.4 sq. m (15 square feet), and both length and width must be at least 0.9 m (3 feet).

31. Cat units must be securely roofed. Where light-weight roofing materials, such as corrugated PVC, are used they must be securely underwired with weld mesh. Partitions between adjoining units must be of solid construction so that it is impossible for one cat to spit at another. Any weld mesh used must have a wire diameter of not less than 1.6 mm (16 SWG) excluding any covering, and a mesh size not greater than 2.5 cm (1 inch), or 5.0 cm (2 inches) in service corridors and traps.

WASTE DISPOSAL

32. All parts of the premises must be served by an efficient, covered, drainage system subject to the requirements of local by-laws. It must be impossible for drainage, including surface drainage, to contaminate adjoining units or passageways. Drains must be rodent proof.

33. Adequate means of disposal of waste materials must be provided. They must be approved by the Department of Agriculture & Food.

LIGHT, VENTILATION, WARMTH AND DRINKING WATER

34. Animal units must be so designed and constructed so as to receive a reasonable amount of daylight. Artificial lighting must be sufficient as to allow the proper cleansing of units and the safe handling of animals at all times.

35. Suitable provision must be made in all buildings housing animals:-

(a) to allow an adequate and constant supply of fresh air,

(b) for heating, and

(c) for fresh drinking water to be available.

March 1998
Animal Health & Welfare Division
Department of Agriculture & Food.