Who pays for health certificate?

[stgagnon]

Hi everybody:

I'm about to buy a couple of diary goats from out of state. This is my second goat purchase; the first one I did "by the book",, got an import permit and a health certificate. The seller paid for the the health cert. (Hi Ken!)

Now this VERY NICE person who I am buying the goats from hasn't dealt with import regulations before.. she said she has sold out of state before without providing one. But she sees the need to do it in this case, and is scheduling the vet call.

But she wants me to pay for it. I had already offered to pay half of it; she hadn't seen that offer before telling me this.. our emails were crossing paths.

Anyway, before I respond to that.. I believe that my offer to pay half is more than I am obligated to do; I just wanted to make it easier for her and I want the goats!!

But I really don't feel good about paying the whole thing. Every other state import reg requires a health cert. If she were selling to someone in her own state, I would think that that person would also want proof of the animal's health.

So... I guess I would like you all to weigh in on this? I assumed that it is common for seller to pay for the health cert, but maybe that isn't always the case!?!

I'm about to buy a pedigreed working dog, and every breeder I have spoken to has told me that the price of the dog includes a veterinary certificate. Is it not this way with livestock?

And a secondary question: How can I convey this via email without being sounding nasty?

Thanks,
STG

And, if perchance the seller is in this forum: I mean no disrespect-- I have enjoyed our exchanges and I appreciate your willingness to sell your goats to a newbie like me.. I'm just trying to learn how things work in this world of goats!!

[Patty0315]

The buyer pays for the health cert. It is insurance that you are getting a healthy animal,


Patty

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

It's $25 here for a health certificate, not sure what you even mean by a import permit (even a flight to Peurto Rico had no such thing) and the buyer pays for it along with the airfare, kennel and right now $35 for my diesel to the vet and to the airport. Vicki

[susanne]

when i sell animals, the buyer has to pay for the health certifiate and any testing that needs to be done in order to get a permit. for example, to get a health certificate to ship to alabama from michigan cost about $100 because alabama requires testing for blue tounge, brucellosis and tb. i think your first seller was very generous to pay for that

[stgagnon]

Wow, who knew?

Thanks, everybody, for your help. I have emailed the seller, and agreed to pay for everything. Fortunately, in my state, all that is required is a health cert, as long as the goat is coming from a certified brucillosis- and TB-free state, which it is. So it probably won't cost that much. (Fingers crossed!)

Thanks again

-Suz

[KimM]

It can go either way. When I sold horses via the internet, I assumed that they could be sold out of state so I took it upon myself to furnish the health certificate and Coggins test while the buyer is responsible for all transportation unless it was sold out of the country, then the buyer assumed the associated costs.
With goats, I've never bought or sold any from or to another state but most ads I've seen, the seller requires the buyer to pay for health papers. Ultimately, it's the seller's option.
I will offer to pay all vet and labs fees when I request testing before I buy a goat.

[fcnubian]

From what I have read & heard, buyer usually pays for health papers.