Cat Transport

 

As temperatures rise, it's typical for airlines to adjust their pet travel policies. We've updated you about a few summer embargoes thus far from British Airways and United, and Delta has just announced a detailed summer pet program, as well.

Here's what they have to say:

"At Delta Cargo we take great pride in safely transporting live animals throughout the world.  We don’t just ship dogs and cats; we transport everything from hamsters to snakes to chinchillas.  We realize pets are considered family members and it is important for us to provide the same level of care and respect for them as we do their owners."

Beginning May 14, Delta Cargo will launch its 2012 Summer Live Animal Program, which entails allowing them to accept animals for transport even when temperatures exceed 85F/29C. At participating hubs, one or more air conditioned vehicles will be available to bring pets to and from the airplanes in support of their safety.

There are a few exceptions:

-If the station does not have air conditioned vehicles, animals cannot be transported if the temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

-Regardless of whether or not a hub is part of the Summer Program, snub-nosed dogs and cats will not be transported if the the temperature is greater than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check out the list below to find out which airports are participating in the program, and remember that things can always change, so be sure to check with the airline/airport ahead of time if you'll be traveling with your pet this summer.

As always, don't hesitate to contact PetRelocation.com if you have any pet travel questions.

 

 

Delta Cargo 2012 Summer Live Animal Program

Name: Olya
Number of Pets: 3
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Persian, Scottish Straight
From: Thailand
To: Cambodia

I'm not exactly moving but I'm going to Cambodia for a week and I want to take my kittens with me. I read on the website all the rules for bringing pets to Cambodia. I got a microchip and everything else. The problem starts when it says they need to be vaccinated for rabies 30 days before. But my kittens are still to young to be vaccinated for rabies. Which puts me in front of the question what do I do? And is it possible for me to take them?

Thanks,

Olya

 

Hi Olya,

Thanks for contacting us with your pet travel question. Honestly we usually recommend that you leave your pets at home if you'll only be gone for such a short time. Especially with such young cats (we also recommend that pets be at least three to four months old before they travel anywhere), it's in their best interest to remain in the care of a trusted pet sitter.

If you do decide to go forward with the trip it would be best to talk to your vet about your options and double check with the Cambodian officials about any possible exceptions.

Please contact us if you have any  more questions, and good luck with everything!

 

 

 

Pet transportation services aren't just limited to moving a dog or cat across the country when work or military duty calls the family to a new place. Along with technological advances and emerging international developments, transporting animals is a service in demand, leaving airlines and freight companies in the position of stepping up to the challenge or being left behind.

This recently published Bloomberg article goes into greater detail about Lufthansa, KLM, and the other companies who deal with shipping animals. It's pretty fascinating to see how trends have been changing recently and how these businesses are learning to handle exotic moves.

Want to know more? Here are a few details from the article, and you can read the whole thing here.

 

-Last year Lufthansa's Frankfurt facility handled 110 animals of various kinds (including 80 million tropical fish and 300 tons of worms).

-Lufthansa usually transports around 14,000 dogs and cats and 2,000 horses in a year.

-Animal freight makes up about one to two percent of Lufthansa's total cargo revenue.

-One of the most unconventional cargo shipments on record was a plane filled with dogs and cats evacuated from Lebanon following a missile strike.

-Before they fly out of Frankfurt, animals are inspected by up to 24 different vets.

-Some freighters are equipped with up to four different temperature zones, meaning that one flight can safely and comfortably carry warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals (think horses and penguins, for example).

-Large fish, dolphins and poisonous reptiles are not accepted for shipment by Lufthansa due to safety concerns.

 

 

Hannelore Foerster/Bloomberg

 

 

 

Relocating pets is a team effort, and we employ the help of agents and drivers all around the world to help transport your furry family members safe and sound.

Last month we introduced you to John Kernan of Pawsitively Dogs in our first Driver Spotlight, and today we'd like you to meet another trusted collaborator: Rebeca Berni of Dog Gone Taxi based near Seattle, WA.

We've worked with Rebeca many times and now we're taking a moment to shine the spotlight on her. Read on to find out more about one of our top pet agents!

 

How long have been in the pet transportation business?

I've been in this business since 2005.
 
How did you get started? 

I was the owner/operator of a physical therapy center for dogs (doing warm water hydrotherapy).  Many clients had difficulty getting their pets to and from their appointments, as the dogs were disabled or had injuries that made it difficult for them to walk. 

That's when I started Dog Gone Taxi.  Soon after that - about six months later - a dog transportation company in Seattle that did daycare & boarding drop-off and pickups went out of business. They kept their website but changed their phone number to our number without letting me know. We grew our local business rapidly after that. A year later we got a call from a pet broker service to do an airport delivery. They helped educate us on the industry and told us how to get fully licensed with USDA. 

Year after year we have added more pet brokers and gotten more experience in the industry. In 2010 we started providing private (one families' pets at a time) cross-country pet relocation. As the pet transportation business grew, I became unable to do the water therapy clients and changed that business into pet boarding and daycare. We now offer pet boarding (dogs & cats) and doggie daycare in our Seattle office, as well as the transportation business in WA, OR, and CA, and we now have several employees.

 

Rebeca Berni (and dog pals) on a cross-country trip.

 

What’s your average day like? 

There is no average day. Some days we have check-ins at 4 a.m. and pickups at 11 p.m. Typically in the AM we have our local business daycare/boarding drop-offs and again for a few hours in the afternoon. The airport check-ins and drop-offs are fit in between.
 
What’s your most memorable pet move experience?

We recently moved 12 roosters & chickens from Victoria, BC to Fargo, ND. They were family pets, kept in the home and in a coop. Fresh eggs in the AM meant that the chickens were happy!

 Do you have pets of your own? 

Yes, I have two dogs. A Bichon and 17-year-old blind Beagle.
 
What’s your favorite part of this job?

Seeing the happy owners face when their pet has been delivered all safe and sound. And of course, playing with the puppies!!
 
Do people find what you do unusual?

Yes, but once I explain what it is we do, they usually say, '"Oh, I wondered how people moved with their pets, I just never thought about it."
 

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Stay tuned for another Driver Spotlight to appear on the blog soon... There are many more interesting pet agents to meet!

Name: Sandy
Pets' Names: Steek and Slate
From: Arlington, VA
To: Olympia, WA
 

 

PetRelocation.com staff transported my Siamese guys from their veterinarian's office to Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, VA through a layover in Houston, to the flight to Seattle, then transported them by automobile to our new home in Olympia, WA.

We got to meet the very nice, patient staff in Washington State -- who had just driven over 20 miles through a thunderstorm with the Siamese "singing".

Our guys were in fine shape when they arrived. Thanks to everyone who cared for our furry family members!

 

Name: Lynn
Pet's Name: Wally and Cal
From: Austin, TX
To: Portland, OR


Dear PetRelocation.com,

Thank you so much for moving our two cats from Austin to Portland, OR. Both arrived safe and sound and are settling in nicely. Neither one appreared the least bit traumatized by the journey. We were extremely satsified with your customer service and your prices were quite reasonable for door-to-door transportation. Could not have been a better experience and we could not be more satisfied. Special thanks to our coordinator, Marissa. She was wonderful.

 

Name: Vicky
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Cat and Bird
Pet Breed: Domestic Short Hair and Cockatiel
From: USA
To: Ecuador



What are the requirements for importation into Ecuador of a cockatiel? Is there quarantine and can the quarantine be at home? I have asked AA if they will carry pet bird and they have stated "No". Is there an airline which will transport a pet bird in the cabin with the passenger or will it have to travel in the cargo hold?


Thanks,
Vicky



Hi Vicky,

Thank you for contacting us! Shipping birds certainly requires a lot of careful planning, but we've successfully transported many feathered pets and can hopefully steer you in the right direction. Here are the pet import requirements for Ecuador as well as some tips for relocating birds and a first-hand account from someone who moved her African Grey Parrot from South Africa to the UK.

In terms of airlines, it's best to check with them individually as rules can change periodically. Let us know if you'd like any help handling the move or if you have any more questions -- you can always give our office a call to speak directly to a specialist. Good luck with everything!

Most of the pets we move are "traditional" furry family members like dogs and cats, but often we have the chance to relocate birds, guinea pigs, fish, lizards and even larger pets like horses.


Recently we had the chance to help Leo -- a 17-hand, 1500 lb Oldenburg -- move from Portland, OR to Santa Barbara, CA. This corporate relocation went smoothly (the agent who transported Leo even kept a video feed going while they drove!), and as you can see, Leo's new home in California is quite beautiful.





Give PetRelocation.com a call if you're ever in need of some horse travel advice, and check out more horse travel tips and horse travel trends on our blog. Happy trails, everyone!

Name: Gail
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Persian
From: Cairo, Egypt
To: Minnesota, USA

I live in Cairo, Egypt but am currently with family in Minnesota. Because of unforeseen problems I am unable to return to Cairo for some time. My pet Persian cat Oscar is currently boarded at an Egyptian cat shelter, but under these circumstances I would prefer to bring him to Minnesota.

Unfortunately my finances are somewhat limited, and therefore I would like to know what is the most inexpensive way of transporting him to the USA. A friend can deliver him to an Egyptian airport if necessary, and I can pick him up from any airport from Minnesota to Chicago. Any information will be very welcome, thank you.

Thanks,
Gail


Hi Gail,

Thank you for contacting us with your question. These are the pet import requirements for the United States (which luckily aren't as complicated as those for many other countries). The most inexpensive option would be to handle the move yourself (as opposed to hiring agents or a door-to-door service like ours), so you'll just want to make sure you attend to the details carefully (choose an airline-approved crate, purchase the plane ticket, allow time to pass through customs, etc.).

Please contact us if you have more questions, and also feel free to check out MyPetTravel.com, a free resource that will help you along. Good luck and keep in touch!

Congratulations to Fluffy and Mittens (and their owner Fariha) for being named our Pet Move of the Month! Exporting pets from Pakistan isn't the easiest thing to do, but after plenty of careful planning these Persian kitties made it safely to Seattle. Thanks to Fariha for sharing this great pet travel story with us.

Is this the first time you’ve ever moved your pets?
Yes!

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
The distance between Pakistan and the USA. It's a journey that we dread and leaves us exhausted for days. For two delicate Persian cats, we were afraid they may not make it.

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
Only the fact that it was so difficult to find a transporter. If there are other services available (besides PetRelocation.com), they are not known about in Pakistan and/or don't show up on a google search. 

How are the cats adjusting to the new location?
The cats seem quite well-adjusted. However, there are certain things they are still not used to but unfortunately are part of their new life. For one thing, in Pakistan we have huge concrete houses; here, the ground shakes every time someone walks & it seems to unnerve them.

What is life like in Seattle compared to Pakistan? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
Seattle is hugely pet-friendly! But our cats are strictly indoors... We're afraid of the other cats on the street, and also of them getting lost. They go out onto the patio with us and love rolling around in the sun. It'll be interesting to see them when it gets colder, as the coldest it gets in Karachi is 55-60 degrees.

For us, it's comforting to know we're in a place that welcomes and loves animals. Also, that we have a choice when it comes to health care, facilities and products. All our neighbors have pets, and it seems that here not having one would be an unusual circumstance. Unlike back home, where pets are very unwelcome!
 
What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
If their pet is part of their family -- like ours are -- they should seriously consider moving them too! I think it's helped us all settle in better and made the new house a home, just having them here.
 

We primarily transport our client's pets by booking flights on pet-friendly airlines, but sometimes other options present themselves -- making for a good story and a good chance to learn even more about pet travel.

We've discussed how pet train travel isn't really an option most of the time, and many trips are either fully or partly carried out through plain old-fashioned driving. Every once in a while water travel is a possibility so a ferry comes into play, or in the case of Allie and Billie's upcoming move, a transatlantic oceanliner.


These two cats are starting in Austin, TX, flying to New York, and then hopping aboard the Queen Mary 2, which travels from New York to Southampton. This mega-ship holds over 3,000 passengers and contains 15 restaurants and bars, five swimming pools, a planetarium and yes, a kennel area that accommodates pets.

The kennels are overseen by a kennel master, who takes care of feeding, walking, etc. The trip takes a week to complete, and reservations for the Queen Mary 2 must be made well in advance (sometimes the waiting list almost a year long).


Upon arrival, the cats must meet the standard pet import requirements for the UK, and then they'll be free to settle into their new lives abroad. Allie and Billie don't depart until October, so we'll plan to provide some updates in a few weeks regarding this unconventional -- and pretty cool -- move.

Just as pet travel isn't confined to moving dogs and cats, pet-friendly colleges allow more than just these "traditional" companions on campuses. In the pet-friendly university spotlights we've published so far, we've seen that Stephens College and Eckerd College open their doors to various furry, fuzzy and feathery friends, but what about those larger animals that can be just as important in the lives of students?

Because of all the training, riding, grooming and competing that goes along with owning a horse, it's easy to understand why high school students would have trouble leaving theirs behind once it's time to head off to college. Luckily there are a few horse-friendly colleges out there that allow these young equestrians to continue their favorite hobby as they begin their higher education.

First up is Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. Students interested in enrolling in the Equine Science Program may apply to board their horse at the school's facilities, and acceptance is based on the students' previous involvement in equine activities as well as letters of recommendation and level of skill.

Students must possess "intermediate or better" equestrian skills, and horses must have the demonstrated skills to pass the CHA-certified Horsemanship test level 3. The OSU Horse Center is open to the public and hosts a number of teaching activities throughout the year; check out a tour of the facility in the video below.



Another school that opens its doors to horses is Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA. Not only does this women's college offer riding classes for newbies, fun riding events and opportunities for competition, they accept horses for boarding as well. Sounds like a great place to be for students wanting to stay connected to a beloved horse or who want to have the option to try something new when it's time for a study break.

There are several more horse-friendly schools out there, which makes the issue of horse travel an important one. Take a look at our tips for transporting horses, and feel free to share any related stories or photos with us here or on Facebook. Happy trails, everyone!

According to our archives, in the 1972/73 academic year a pet policy was created.  The reason we started a pet council and created a pet policy was because we noticed that students were bringing their little creatures to campus and there were no policies or procedures to deal with issues that we might come up against.

How did you draft your pet policy?

Our policy was drafted by creating what would work best for the college.  Because there are only a handful of colleges or universities that have a pet policy, it was hard to turn to others for help. Staff and students have generated this policy, and we feel it represents what is best for us.

I don't believe the rules have changed.  They have more or less been adapted to fit the population as well as maintain the welfare of the animals. We have separated animals into two categories: pets, which are cats, dogs (under 40 pounds), rabbits, ducks, and ferrets, and domestic animals, which are fish, small birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, amphibians, and reptiles.

We have adapted our policy so that students cannot bring animals to campus that the Pet Council would feel would not be sufficient for college life.  We do only have five houses on campus where a student can have a "pet." In all the remaining houses on campus, students can have a "domestic animal."

How has Eckerd been a model for other college pet programs?

Eckerd has been a model for other colleges and universities because we have been able to share our policies and procedures as well as given insight into what works and what doesn't work.  Schools are contacting us now with questions on how to propose the idea of having pets/animals on campus to the upper administration. 

Do you know of any instances where a student has specifically chosen to attend Eckerd because it is pet-friendly? 

There are several stories where students have chosen Eckerd because it is pet-friendly.  We recently filmed an episode of Must Love Cats on Animal Planet and the student stated that she chose Eckerd because we allowed pets.  She was able to be thousands miles away from home and bring her cat with her.  I believe that is typical of a lot of the stories that we hear.

Animal Planet's Must Love Cats from Eckerd College on Vimeo.

Do you have any memorable stories about pets on campus that you’d like to share?

I believe my favorite story to tell is the story of one student that had two ducks as pets.  Those ducks would follow her around everywhere she went. The student was also a Resident Advisor and a member of the Softball team. The ducks were well known and brought a sense of pride to the community because you could not go to any other college or university and say that there was a student that had a duck there.


Do most students transport their pets to campus by car or by air? 

Most students transport their pets by car. There is a small majority that will transport them by air. Some students will purchase the domestic animals (like fish and turtles) once they arrive to campus if they choose.

Do you see this as growing trend or one that has leveled off? Do you have any changes or expansions in mind for the future?

This is definitely a growing trend. We have seen an increase in the number of students that have requested pet housing on campus. The Housing Department also increased the number of pet houses from four to five.  We have also been receiving a lot of national recognition about our pet policy that has assisted. Our Admissions Department also does a great job in letting prospective students know about this amazing feature of our campus life.

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Be sure to check in with us tomorrow, when we'll be back with more information about the rising trend of pet-friendly college life.

Name: Fariha
Pets' Names: Fluffy & Mittens
From: Karachi, Pakistan
To: Issaquah, WA

Our two Persian cats are like family, so when we had to move to the USA, we couldn't leave them behind. The challenge was figuring out how to take them! Most airlines have restrictions against taking Persians, and then there's the length of the journey from Pakistan.

We found PetRelocation.com online and I mailed them for a quote, half expecting a reply saying they couldn't transport from Pakistan. Pakistan is extremely unfriendly towards pets, and even locals struggle with the system! But we promptly received a positive reply, and our agent worked with us through our indecisiveness and chaos that surrounds a big move!

I think the best part was that our agent understood our anxiety completely. What surprised us was the selection of agents at each port! Even the local agent in Pakistan was pet-friendly, sending us constant detailed updates and showing genuine concern for the cats. Initially we had reservations because of the cost associated with such a move, but this turned out to be a great decision!

The cats arrived in Issaquah in good condition and spirits, and immediately began exploring their new home. We had expected to receive stressed animals that would need days to recuperate from the trip, but the cats seem better than fine & have settled right in! In fact, they can't stop looking out the windows at their beautiful new Washington surroundings! We are so excited to have them and are grateful to all the PetRelocation.com agents who helped them get here! :)

When moving from one state to another or across the world, there are a million things to arrange. Selling the old house, finding a new one, packing, hiring movers... The to-do list can go on for miles, and when pets are part of the equation, their well-being certainly ranks as a top priority.

It's this basic reality that caused Louis to hire us. This Chicago resident was starting a new job in India and he wanted some time to travel there, find a house, and settle in a little bit before his cats, Sampson and Fiona, joined him.


After enlisting the help of PetRelocation.com, Louis was able to fly to India a few days ahead of the cats while Christina, their Pet Relocation Specialist, arranged for them to have their final veterinary work done. A housesitter was watching Louis' home for him, so Christina had a local transport agent pick up the cats and take them to the vet. When it was time for the big move, the same agent returned and then took Sampson and Fiona to the airport, making sure they were properly checked in.

Louis said the cats arrived healthy and happy in Chennai, and he was able to locate kitty litter and litter boxes (which apparently aren't easy to come by in India) with the help of the local agent there.

Allowing the pets to fly separately and a little later made life easier in this case, and we were glad to help make Louis' move as stress-free as possible. We look forward to helping out if these three ever need to return to the US.

Name: Catherine
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
From: Nairobi, Kenya
To: South Africa

Do you offer clearance and delivery services?



Hi Catherine,

PetRelocation.com offers door-to-door pet moving services, meaning we take care of all the flight bookings, transportation, pick-up and delivery and customs clearances. If you're not looking for the whole package but need a little advice or direction, please feel free to peruse our site (we have plenty of tips for how to move your own pet) or check with IPATA, the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association, for possible alternatives. For your information, here are the pet import requirements for South Africa, as well.

Good luck with your move and feel free to contact us if you have any more questions!

Name: Joi
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Male
From: USA
To: Barbados

How do I obtain a veterinarian seal of approval to transport my cat to Barbados, and coming from the US would my pet have to be quarantined in the UK?



Hi Joi,

Thanks for the question! Unfortunately, importing pets to Barbados isn't the easiest thing to do. Since the US is not rabies-free, your cat will need to spend six months in quarantine in the UK before you he be admitted to Barbados. Find more information about the process here, and please contact us if you need any assistance or have any more questions. Good luck!