Not sure if this is the place to post this....

Has anyone had this company invite themselves into the middle of you importing your dog(s)?

Many of the shippers use them and you normally don't even hear about it.
There are some regulations on importing the dogs though and often they are circumvented (as much by ignorance as intent). this can cause you some problems if you don't follow the rules. Like shipments held and pickup and kenneling fees tacked onto your animals that far exceed the cost of a properly brokered entrance into the US. Barthco does a lot of this stuff but try to contact a local broker and you'll be shocked at the cost.

Any reason a private individual would need a broker? An individual importing a dog that they bought for themselves? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Jo,
I think brokers exist to facilitate the process of importing the dog into the U.S. They oversee the shipping and paperwork, and if all goes well, you pick up your dog at the airport with a minimum of hassle.
You *can* arrange the transport,insurance,drop off and pick up,paperwork, etc by yourself if you desire, however you will need to be fluent in the language of the country that you'll be importing from. The breeder that you buy from can help you with some of these things, but I would expect them to charge for their time and effort.
That being said..... Kevin's post gives good reason that shippers use brokers.

I know that if gratlyn (spelling?) ships from Germany and you are importing alot of dogs, then usually Barthco is in the middle of it. I've been lucky, the people I've bought from in Germany already had accounts set up.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Kevin Sheldahl:
he is the one at Barthco that handles the animals (dogs, hippos, lions etc.).

Hippos? Lions? Those must be for the true home protection elite...

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, couldn't help it.

I know of this guy Mike, he is a thief it is that simple. He takes advantage of the people that do not know any better and outright lies to them. He will wait until the last moment and then contact the new owner of the dog and tell them they must sign or else!!!! I have had to deal with him and everyone I know in the dog wold says he is a criminal. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

With Reference to What Dennis Johnson posted I don't no how he can claim we are thiefs when the dog we cleared for him was in 9-01 and we were contacted by Germany that morning this dog was coming. In order for a Customs Broker to operate we need the approval to sign documents ( customs Documents) on your behave and this is done by Customs Regulations with a Power of Attorney this only limites the broker to sign Customs Documents that is all and this is the law . With reference to clearing dogs... Kevin is right you can clear your dogs that are for you as a personal pet and not a commmerical transaction meaning that if the dog is coming in to be sold this is not a pet if the dog is coming in for breeding this is not a pet. Customs is now aware of the dog industry and you may be able to clear dogs in some Ports and customs still looks at this to be an unimportant transaction but this will change .Customs now will fall under Homeland Security and there are many changes coming with both Shipping Import and Export. Dennis had not had shipment since 2001 and did not complain about his dog arriving in his local airport cleared Customs and ready to be picked up. What Dennis is upset about that for years you did not need a Customs Broker and now because whether you are importing a dog or any other commodity a Customs entry is now needed. You can do this by yourself if it is a pet or you can hire one of maybe 50,000 brokers nationwide.Clearing the dog yourself will take time and you must wait until the paperwork comes from the airline and then you must go to the Customs office and file the entry if they are open. but whatever you do the value should be correct and not something made up to keep the price down or to avoid duty which there is no duty on dogs but there is a Customs Processing fee because that is Fraud and you should have the dogs shipped to the Kennel name if you are a breeder. And the cost for Clearance is not per dog but per cosignment which means. The cost for shipping 4 dogs could be the same as 7 dogs or 5 dogs because the Entry is based on Value not the number of dogs. If anyone needs any information with shipping dogs cats or other animals please feel free to contact us.
Information is free.... Unfortunately services we must charge for....

So. Dennis please make sure you have all the facts before you make judgement.. And by the way you have a nice website.