Thank you for taking the time to read this information, and for the care and support you provide your patients. We especially appreciate your involvement in the adoption of one of our dogs—your client has shown great compassion and responsibility, and we’re grateful to be working with them.

We understand that the importation of dogs from overseas is increasingly common and comes with legitimate concerns, especially around diseases not endemic to the UK. At Spinone Overseas For Adoption (SOFA), we take these concerns seriously and aim to work collaboratively with veterinary professionals to ensure the dogs in our care are healthy and properly supported once in the UK.

BACKGROUND

The specific details will have been discussed with the adopter. Our dogs are almost exclusively ex-working hunting dogs from Italy, not public pound rescues. They are typically surrendered directly by hunters or breeders, and kept in private foster in Italy before coming into our care. Most spend time in foster homes in Italy prior to travel, giving them an opportunity to be assessed, decompress and begin their transition to family life.

PAPERWORK

All dogs travel on an Italian passport. They travel via iPAFFs / CHEDA (Balai Directive) with a European Health Certificate. They arrive in small transports of around 5-8 dogs by our DEFRA approved transporter. Test results will travel with each dog. 

VACCINATIONS

In Italy, the dog’s vaccinations are usually recorded in the health booklet “Libretto Sanitario”, not the passport. These are not standardised in design – here are some examples. 

Libretto Sanitario

However, though we try our best, we are rarely able to get complete records of vaccination. It is very common practice with hunters in Italy to vaccinate the dogs themselves and not record it in the booklets. Or often, they do not bother with the booklets at all. Sometimes it is not possible to know with any certainty what vaccinations have been given and what date, so it may be preferable to start the vaccination protocol from the beginning if there is doubt due to a missing “Libretto Sanitario” or unclear vaccinations after checking both the booklet and the passport. 

HEALTH SCREENING AND ONGOING RISK AWARENESS

All of our dogs are comprehensively tested in Italy before travel, carried out at a reputable veterinary laboratory just outside Milan, including:

• Brucellosis testing;
• Leishmaniasis testing;
• And the IDEXX SNAP 4Dx test, which screens for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Heartworm, and Lyme disease.

We consult regularly with Ian Wright, Chair of the European Scientific Counsel of Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP), to stay up to date on the latest disease testing protocols and vector-borne disease management.

We would also like to emphasise a few key points from our online guidance on health issues in imported Spinoni:

• Leishmaniasis can lie dormant and may not present immediately. As with any imported dog, this condition should be considered as a possible diagnosis if relevant symptoms arise in future.
• While our brucellosis testing is conducted at a highly reputable Italian lab, we understand how serious this disease is. If you feel a follow-up brucellosis test is needed three months after arrival, we will cover the cost.
• Our main concern is ensuring our dogs receive any treatment they may need. We ask that the dog not be denied veterinary care due to concerns over their origin, especially when supported by valid, negative test results.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

They have a health check before travel, but veterinary care is not generally of the standard that UK dogs enjoy, and we recommend a visit and general check up as soon as the dog is settled. 

It’s common for our dogs to arrive with weakened back ends, simply from years of confinement in kennels. This usually improves quickly with exercise, but it’s something to be aware of during initial assessments.

They are treated for parasites before travel (this will be in the passport and sometimes also in the health booklet) but a second treatment may be needed on arrival. 

Each of our dogs is dual-registered via microchip, to both the adopter and SOFA. We kindly request that you confirm with your client that we may be granted access to the dog’s veterinary information in the event of an emergency—for example, if the owner is hospitalised—so we can assist with care if needed.

Once again, thank you for your time and the invaluable support you offer to both animals and their guardians. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like further details on our procedures, disease screening protocols, or anything else related to this adoption.

Best Regards

Spinone Overseas For Adoption (SOFA)