Moving to NYC

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
Hi, I've had my western Hermann tortoise for over a year now here in the UK but I am moving to New York in August. I currently get fresh weeds delivered every week and was wondering if there is a similar service I can find in New York or if there are other recommendations you may have.
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,387
Hi, I've had my western Hermann tortoise for over a year now here in the UK but I am moving to New York in August. I currently get fresh weeds delivered every week and was wondering if there is a similar service I can find in New York or if there are other recommendations you may have.
The first issue may be to determine if you will be allowed to bring the tortoise into the US. Or do you already have a plan for doing so?

Carrying them onto a plane is not allowed in the US. Not sure if the airlines' rules are different in the UK, but I would tend to doubt it..

You could probably ship it to yourself or check it as extra baggage on your flight, but either of those would require health certificates and possibly CITES paperwork.
 

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
The first issue may be to determine if you will be allowed to bring the tortoise into the US. Or do you already have a plan for doing so?
I have done my research and am pretty sure I'm allowed as its not for commercial use the law seems to be more about that
 

zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,387
I have done my research and am pretty sure I'm allowed as its not for commercial use the law seems to be more about that
Permits of some type will most likely still be required to get the animal from one country into another.

See my addition to my original post which I was adding as you wrote your second post. How are you planning to get the tortoise to the US? That is my question;, and the answer to it may not be as simple as you assume.

I have tried carrying tortoises onto flights in the US and they were denied entry to the planes. Shipping was done instead. I could be wrong, but I don't believe it will be as easy as you think to get your tortoise into the US.
 

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
Permits of some type will most likely still be required to get the animal from one country into another.

See my addition to my original post which I was adding as you wrote your second post. How are you planning to get the tortoise to the US? That is my question;, and the answer to it may not be as simple as you assume.

I have tried carrying tortoises onto flights in the US and they were denied entry to the planes. Shipping was done instead. I could be wrong, but I don't believe it will be as easy as you think to get your tortoise into the US.
Thanks, yes I am looking into which permit I require. I realise it won't be as simple as taking him onto the plane with me
 

ZenHerper

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2020
Messages
2,078
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
In the city there will be no shortage of Asian and Mexican grocery stores where you can browse and choose from a very wide variety. Postage free, but I'm sure many do deliver.

Forex:

 

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
In the city there will be no shortage of Asian and Mexican grocery stores where you can browse and choose from a very wide variety. Postage free, but I'm sure many do deliver.

Forex:

Great thanks!
 

method89

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
May 15, 2019
Messages
1,384
Location (City and/or State)
Malverne, NY
In the city there will be no shortage of Asian and Mexican grocery stores where you can browse and choose from a very wide variety. Postage free, but I'm sure many do deliver.

Forex:
Unfortunately Ronkonkoma is not very close to NYC
 

ZenHerper

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2020
Messages
2,078
Location (City and/or State)
New Jersey
thanks for your concern! hopefully I'll figure it out
In the U.S. there are multiple layers of jurisdiction...you have to get through the federal agencies, then the state regs, then the local ordinances.

These folks may be helpful if you get overwhelmed with phoning and forms:
 

ArmadilloPup

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2019
Messages
307
Location (City and/or State)
NE Oklahoma
How exciting :) and stressful

There are national food services that charge by the box, and then there's supermarket delivery. Before COVID there were less options, now a lot of stores have jumped into the delivery game. Whole Foods is the most consistent I've seen, every one I've been to carries dandelion, herbs, and edible flowers, and the delivery is free (I think? or maybe it is with Amazon Prime). Most likely you can find a privately owned delivery service if you can get in touch with locals. I'm not a big fan of Facebook, but the community groups are great for questions like this.

For importation, I assume an actual reptile vet may be familiar with some of the paperwork you'll need. I've dealt with dogs straight off of the plane and the two important areas of contact are the vet and the USDA.
 

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
How exciting :) and stressful

There are national food services that charge by the box, and then there's supermarket delivery. Before COVID there were less options, now a lot of stores have jumped into the delivery game. Whole Foods is the most consistent I've seen, every one I've been to carries dandelion, herbs, and edible flowers, and the delivery is free (I think? or maybe it is with Amazon Prime). Most likely you can find a privately owned delivery service if you can get in touch with locals. I'm not a big fan of Facebook, but the community groups are great for questions like this.

For importation, I assume an actual reptile vet may be familiar with some of the paperwork you'll need. I've dealt with dogs straight off of the plane and the two important areas of contact are the vet and the USDA.
Great thanks for this info its very helpful! Yes I have been in contact with a few different professionals to try sort the importation process
 

just_tash

New Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2021
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
New York
In the U.S. there are multiple layers of jurisdiction...you have to get through the federal agencies, then the state regs, then the local ordinances.

These folks may be helpful if you get overwhelmed with phoning and forms:
This is great!! I contacted a few other places that despite saying they handled reptiles then didn't accept tortoises. I have messaged this company and am more hopeful. Thanks so much!!
 

Jan A

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2021
Messages
1,808
Location (City and/or State)
Boulder, CO
Thanks for the interesting, and thought-provoking, thread!

My wife and I fantasize about retiring to Belize, and as a result of this thread, I looked up the process involved in getting my torts from here to there, and it's easier than I had hoped.

Jamie
I"d just caution that healthcare isn't that great there. It may be worse tgan Mexico. We have a friend who fell getting into a boat, hit his head & hip on the dock & boat & had to be airlifted back to the States after emergency care because they just didn't have the resources to treat him. He has since abandoned his plans to move there, much to his wife's relief. Luv the idea, though.
 
Top