International Pet Travel

 

"So, what exactly do you DO?" That's a question we often receive here at PetRelocation.com. People who walk by our downtown Austin, TX office look in our window and wonder what we're up to, and visitors to our Facebook page check out all the cute pet pics and find themselves enamored with, but also a little confused about, all the furry faces they see.

The simple answer is, we move pets! New jobs, military assignments, or simple wanderlust often make domestic and international moves necessary for individuals and families, and who wouldn't want to bring their pets along on this new adventure? Pets are part of the family, and figuring out how to move them safely usually becomes a top (if not THE top) priority.

Import requirements vary from country to country and airlines operate with different rules, so pet travel can quickly become a complicated endeavor that presents a number of challenges and decisions to made. Handling a pet move yourself is sometimes possible but not always preferable, so this is where we come in.

Handing over a specialized task to experts is what we're used to doing for all kinds of things (think building a deck, repairing a car engine, or talking to a financial planner), and though you may never have stopped to think about it, organizing a pet relocation falls into the same category.

There you have it! Rescue organizations are great and we fully support pet adoptions, but our business is all about helping families move the pets they already have so that everyone can stay together during a time of change.

Find out more about the services offered by PetRelocation.com, read about the reasons people end up choosing to get help with a pet relocation, and remember if you ever need to plan a move, we'd be happy to offer our assistance!

 

 

Name: Diana
Pet's Name: Minnie
From: Vicchio, (Firenze) Italy
To: Scottsdale, AZ
 

We are very connected to our Pomeranian Minnie who had to travel a long way back to the U.S. It was so great to have PetRelocation.com to take care of her during a stressful time for our family!!!

We knew she was well taken care of door to door. Their correspondence was exemplary and always cheerful too. I would never move her any other way.

 

Congratulations to Marshmallow for being named our Pet Move of the Month! This Dalmatian mix traveled from Maryland to the UK when her owners were called overseas, and we were happy to help them navigate the process during the hectic time that military families must so often face.

This was the family's first pet move and they had all the typical concerns (safety, paperwork, costs), but in the end everything turned out well and Marshmallow is enjoying life in the UK with all her favorite people. Her owner Tarnna, was kind enough to share the full story with us below. Read on to find out more about Marshmallow's military move!

What were some of your concerns going into the move?

We didn't want to put Marshmallow through the stress of a long flight only to arrive and have to be quarantined, that would have been devastating for her and our family.

Another big concern for me was how much is was going to cost. Moving internationally is not cheap, even if the military pays for some of it, so adding in this cost was a worry.

Did anything surprise you about the pet moving process?

I was shocked by the price to move a pet. Not just with this company, but every company I contacted and even trying to do it on my own. It is not an inexpensive thing to do and it made me change my thought process about military members who move around.

Most of the time military families will just give up their pets when they PCS, and I could never understand why until now. Luckily for us we had saved for emergencies and this seemed like a good time to use it.

Another thing that surprised me was how dismissive of my concerns some companies were -- luckily not this one -- but many that I contacted were and even the airlines directly. Getting these types of responses from other places is another reason I went with PetRelocation.com, everyone seemed genuine and like they actually cared that our animal got to us safe and sound.

How is Marshmallow adjusting to her new home?

Marshmallow loves our new home, just like we do! When she first arrived she was a bit scared and confused but she quickly settled in. The only thing that has changed is she has a bigger back yard to run around in, which keeps her happy. She has actually lost some weight from all the extra playtime she is getting. She was always a pretty laid back, good dog and nothing has seemed to change that.

How is life in the UK? Is it a dog-friendly place to be?

The UK seems to be a pretty dog-friendly place to be. We haven't searched out any dog parks yet, but we have taken her hiking, where she was loved on by everyone that passed us. Other than that we have only been here a little over a month so there aren't too many stories.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?

To other people who are moving I would say that they need to understand that if they want their pet to arrive in good condition it will cost them, but in the end it is so worth it. I would also say to people to go with their gut feeling about a company who is moving their pet; if you get a not-so-good feeling there is probably a reason. They are your pet and they are a part of your family and they deserve to be as comfortable through the moving process as you do!

Anything else you'd care to share?

At first I was put off by the cost, but after dealing with other companies and the airlines I realized that I could not do this on my own and saw that PetRelocation.com was actually the best company to go with. Like I said earlier, everyone I dealt with from my first call to the gentlemen who brought her to our home in England seemed like they really cared about her and animals in general, and they didn't put my concerns on the back burner. There are good people working for this company!

Once I decided to hire Pet Relocation.com it was like a huge stress filled ball was lifted off me. I had enough stress just trying to get me, my daughters and my house ready all while worrying about my husband, who was still gone. I felt defeated for awhile in the process and was feeling I could not get her here, but once I hired this company I knew it would be okay.

That may sound dramatic but this was the most stressful move I have had during my husband's military career, and we have moved a lot. Nothing was working out and everything seemed to be happening to hinder our move, so when the things with the dog worked out it brought some much needed sunshine. I enjoyed all the people who helped us through the process, everyone had their part, and they did it well. We are planning on using PetRelocation.com for our next move and I have referred my sister and brother-in-law to PetRelocation.com to move their dogs during their next move. They are also in the military and coming to the UK in November. 

Hopefully I didn't get too mushy, but we are very grateful for everything this company has done. We really feel like everyone went above and beyond and worked with us and their team to get us our dog!

 

 

 

We've been following the news and developments accompanying the United/Continental Airline merger, and over the past few weeks United has been following a path of general expansion.

Beginning on May 1, Manchester will become the 15th transatlantic destination served from the hub of Dulles International Airport (IAD). Also on May 1, Doha will become the fourth Middle East destination served by United Airlines.

In terms of pet travel, Manchester will be open to pet shipments immediately and Doha is expected to be animal-accessible at a later date.

We'll keep you updated with all the latest pet transportation news, so keep in touch!

 

(via TripAdvisor.com)

 

Here are a few pet travel news links for you. Happy Friday, pet lovers!

 

Pet travelers flying with Alaska Airlines should be pleasantly surprised at this news.

Pet business news: Rover.com has raised $3.4 million with the goal of being the Airbnb for dogs.

National Pet Day + The New York International Auto Show = Pet safety tips and fun for everyone.

A kennel cough vaccine for dogs can now be administered orally.

The Mighty Texas Dog Walk was a great success!

Foreign Service officers aren't too happy about United's new pet policies.

A loose bat on an airplane inspired officials to track down passengers due to rabies fears.

More luxury hotels are going pet-friendly these days.

 

Karma wishes everyone a happy weekend

 

 

The prospect of moving can be both exciting and overwhelming -- that's according to Stacy, the owner of our featured Pet Move of the Month. That seems to be how most of our customers feel about pet moves, which is why PetRelocation.com is happy to step in and help move treasured dogs like Neely when the family is called overseas (it was for military reasons in this case).

Military moves can be especially daunting, but Neely made the trip just fine and is doing well in her new place. Read on to find out the whole story (you can also check our blog for even more info about this pet move). Congrats, Neely! We're so glad we could help you in your journey across the pond!

 

Is this the first time you’ve ever moved a pet?
Yes it was.

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
The two major concerns that I had when it came to Neely’s move were her safety and the possibility of her needing to be quarantined.

Why did you decide to use PetRelocation.com to help out with your move?
I decided to hire your services because it took the work out of trying to figure everything out. Also, after reading all the great testimonials I knew Neely would be in great hands and would arrive home safely.

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
It wasn't that I found anything surprising, but I would say that some of the steps that were required in order for Neely to travel were a bit confusing at times. We were traveling to the UK during a time where a majority of the rules were changing rather quickly, thus making it difficult to keep up. That is why I am SO glad that we had the people at PetRelocation.com there to help us. With all the things that you have to remember to do in order to prepare for moving, it was a relief to know that I didn’t have to worry about keeping track of all the rule changes and requirements for Neely's travels.

How is Neely adjusting to the new location?
Neely is loving England! On her first day here she just slept the day away in an attempt to recover from doggy jet lag. It has taken her about a week or so to settle in and adapt to all the new sights and smells, but now its like she’s been here forever!

What is life like in the UK? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
The town where we are living at in the UK is in the Lakes District and is very pet friendly. Many of the dogs here are very socialized and are often off leash. Some of the pubs and stores even allow pets in, just as long as they are well behaved. There are plenty of footpaths where we can go on walks and there is a very nice park in our area as well. On weekends we often go out for long hikes, which Neely loves!

When we first arrived here I had set up a vet appointment for Neely to make sure that there were no other vaccines that she needed, especially because there is so much livestock around where we are. I also wanted to make sure that her current heartworm prevention and flea and tick treatments were appropriate for the region. The vet we took her to was extremely helpful and thorough. We had copies of Neely’s vaccination records from the states which definitely helped the vet figure out what she had already been vaccinated for and what she needed boosters for in the future.

There are plenty of small locally owned pet shops in our town as well as some chain pet stores in some of the larger towns (which are not that far away) for pet food, toys, etc. One thing I would advise pet owners to do before moving is to make sure that the local pet stores carry the brand of food that your pet is currently eating. When we came over here we found out that the brand of dog food that Neely was currently eating was not supplied here at the local or chain pet stores. As a result, we had to switch her food over to something else, which was kind of a pain because Neely is a fussy eater. The only un-pet friendly thing we found about the UK was trying to find a rental property that allowed pets.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
The advice that I would give for anyone who might be planning a move is to prepare as far in advanced as possible, educated yourself on the process, and ask TONS of questions. This will greatly help in reducing the amount of stress that is involved with moving because you won’t find yourself running around trying to do things at the last minute. Also, make sure you have copies of your pet’s full vaccination record as well as any records in regards to illnesses or procedures that he or she may have had.

And just out of curiosity, where does the name “Neely” come from?
Neely was a rescue dog that my mom had found for me through Petfinder.com. When I had adopted her that was the name that she had came with. I was thinking about changing it when I brought her home, but she already new her name at that point. However, she does have a nickname of “Bean” that I call her very frequently. She earned that nickname because she was only a tiny eight pound pup when I got her.

 

 

 

Yesterday we discussed some of the changes United Airlines has made regarding its pet policies, and now they've made another announcement.

Beginning April 6, 2012 United Cargo will now offer nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buenos Aires is the largest city in Argentina and is home to many large corporations, so connecting it to a major US hub will surely make life easier for customers interested in cargo services -- which includes pet travelers moving to Argentina, of course. Remember, now that United and Continental have merged, United is operating under the PetSafe program.

This flight will depart from Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) daily at 9:50 p.m. and leaves Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) each day at 8:10 p.m.

Please contact PetRelocation.com for more information about moving pets to Argentina.

 

Name: Richard
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Yorkie
From: Texas, USA
To: South Korea

I am being offered a two-year contract in South Korea. I would like to accept the position, but my wife will not leave her dog. What are all the requirements, and is there an quarantine in Korea for the dog?

Thanks,

Richard

 

Hi Richard,

Thank you so much for contacting us. It's definitely a challenge to plan an international move and make all the decisions associated with one. Of course your wife wants to bring her dog along (we're pet lovers, too -- we understand!), and we're happy to help.

These are the pet relocation requirements for South Korea. You'll need to have updated vaccines and a few documents endorsed by the USDA, and we recommend spending some time to choose a pet-friendly airline. At this time, there is no quarantine if all requirements are met.

Please contact us if you have any questions or if you'd like a free quote. Thanks again, and good luck with everything!

 

 

And a happy Friday it is. Enjoy this news round-up before heading out into a great weekend!

 

Cool slideshow of politicians with their pets.

More on the United/Continental merger and what it means for various pet breeds.

Traveling this summer? Tell us about it!

More on the pampered pet trend.

Official documents to help guide an international pet move.

Are you into Pinterest? Check us out!

Also from our blog: spotlighting our West Coast pet agent.

 

Ron, a horse we moved to Kansas

 

Do you live in the US and have an international pet move in your future? See the official instructions from the USDA below --  included is a step-by-step preparation plan, links to FAQs, information about USDA endorsements, a sample 7001 Form, and more.

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about moving pets. We're happy to help make sense of the process and/or assist with your move.

Happy traveling, everyone!

 

USDA Document: How to Prepare Animals for International Travel (2012)

 

 

Laura had never moved a pet before, let alone two pups all the way from one continent to another. Feeling overwhelmed by the process and unsure of where to begin, she turned to PetRelocation.com for some help.

We were glad to step in and offer our assistance (working with such cute pups made it that much easier!). Here's what Laura had to say about Jake and Eddie's move to Australia.

What were some of your concerns going into this move?

Everyone we spoke with advised us that Australia is one of the strictest countries in terms of the process for relocating pets, so our biggest concern was ensuring we first got educated on the process as a whole, including requirements needed, timing, costs, options for help, etc.

Our second biggest concern was ensuring our US vet was not only government approved, but also willing to go through this involved process with us. Our ultimate goal was to ensure our boys served the minimum 30 day quarantine period and that they'd remain healthy during that time.

Why did you decide to hire PetRelocation.com to help with your move?

We were impressed by the information available on the site, as well as the super-informative blog. We spent quite a bit of time perusing the PetRelocation.com site, where we immediately felt at ease about the process and level of knowledge available through your services.

Also, plain and simple. . .  because of Scotty!  First, having a relocation specialist familiar with the country you're relocating to is a huge benefit and was a must for us.  More importantly, even when we didn't yet have a contract for services with PetRelocation.com, Scotty was corresponding with us via email on questions we had a long the way, and that said a lot about your company.  

We knew PetRelocation.com was in this business for all the right reasons. Also, having been in the process of corresponding with and courting multiple pet relocation companies at the same time, Scotty was always the most responsive and informative in his responses.

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?

It was definitely a learning process every step of the way. We were surprised at how much preparation was required, the level of approvals the boys would need, the time-sensitivity of the various steps along the way, and oddly, that the boys got their import permits before our visas were even approved!

How are the dogs adjusting to the new location?

Jake and Eddie are loving their new Aussie lifestyle; their tails didn't stop wagging for the entire ride home when we finally were able to take them home from quarantine! It took them a few days before they completely let their guard down and realized they were in there new "home" with us to stay, but they've adjusted extremely well. They were able to be quarantined together and we were able to go visit them while in quarantine, which helped their mental and physical health tremendously (and ours too!).

What is life like in Australia? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?

Australia is a pet-friendly place in terms of people having pets and loving to socialize with Jake and Eddie, however, it is very pet-unfriendly in terms of securing housing as a renter. Having pets, especially two dogs, has made it extremely difficult for us to find rental properties that will accept us as tenants; most properties are not pet-friendly here, unfortunately, especially in the city center.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?

Research and educate yourself on the process, requirements, etc. of relocating your pet(s) to your specific relocation location (for Australia, the AQIS website was invaluable), do everything you can to ensure your pet(s) serve the minimum quarantine period if applicable, ask lots of questions, ensure your local government approved vet is fully onboard and involved in the process and fully educated on the requirements for your specific relocation location; we couldn't have had such a smooth relocation without ours!

On a side note, getting our boys to Australia safely and in good health was a huge concern for my husband and I as we planned this relocation and we can't thank PetRelocation.com enough for your big part in ensuring this happened for us. THANK YOU!

 

Happy Travelers!

 

 

 

 

Owning multiple pets already means living a life filled with a little more adventure than the average person, so imagine if, on top of that, you were traveling the world with a menagerie in tow.

That's the story behind February's Pet Move of the Month -- with three cats (Tom, Pom and Mobster) and two dogs (Felice and Worsie), Cindy and her husband Luigi have relocated more than once and haven't yet settled anywhere for good. Read more about their recent move to Sri Lanka, and join us in wishing them all the best as they continue their world travels!


Is this the first time you’ve ever moved your pets?
No, we’ve relocated quite a bit actually. The first time was from the Netherlands to Italy and the last time (before moving to Sri Lanka) was from Scotland to Namibia.

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
Our relocation from Scotland to Namibia did not go well at all, so we were actually concerned about everything! In particular about Felice, as the blood tests in Scotland went wrong as a result of which he could not travel with the rest and even had to make an additional stopover in Zimbabwe, as the results were not available on time.

So, all in all we were very, very concerned. But this gradually all disappeared as Christina really knew what she was doing and really seemed to have it all under control. I must admit that we were worried about the time frame -- in particular the blood samples that had to be shipped to South Africa, as the testing could not be done in Namibia. We had just seven days from drawing the blood to receiving the test results, but it all went very well and everybody involved was really great!

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
Well, not particularly about the international pet moving process itself, as we’ve become quite familiar with it, but the approach of PetRelocation.com was definitely refreshing!

How are your pets adjusting to the new location?
Very well!! The temperatures are somewhat lower than in Namibia and the humidity is many times higher, but they don’t seem to be bothered by it. The dogs love the garden and the cats love running around the house.

At night (we live “on top of a hill” as the last house of this “street”), thousands of bats fly past our house, and this is something our cats love! They have actually already become accustomed to this and they wait for it to happen (and then Pom starts climbing the window bars hoping to catch one)!



What is life like in Sri Lanka? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
I would not describe it as pet-friendly actually. There are so many dogs living on the street, which is something I find hard to accept. It’s difficult to take the dogs for a walk, as street dogs might attack them. Fortunately we have lots of land around the house where they can run about.

We do live close to the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the University of Peradeniya, and vet services are said to be good around here. So far I haven’t seen any pet stores yet. I do know of a specialized K-9 store in Colombo (the capital of Sri Lanka), but here in the Kandy region there's nothing so far!

Supermarkets generally sell cat and dog food (Whiskas, Pedigree, etc.), but nothing really fancy. Litter boxes and litter box sand is nowhere to be found, so we had to improvise. We now use large plastic washing bowls with wood fluff in it as litter boxes, and the cats don’t really seem to mind.




Luigi created a scratch pole from pieces of wood and coconut rope, which they appreciate very much. We normally cook for all the guys twice a day, and they do appreciate the fresh fish that is abundantly available over here.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
Start early if you know you’re about to relocate! We contacted PetRelocation.com about 10 months in advance, and this might seem ridiculous, but in the end it really worked in our favor as we were able to think of a Plan B or even a Plan C if Plan A would not appear to be feasible. And it also gave Christina lots of time to organize all the people involved and find the best agents throughout the route.


--

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about moving pets to Sri Lanka (or anywhere else). Who knows, maybe you'll be our next Pet Move of the Month!

Hi Taylor,

Thanks for submitting a question to us. First of all, here are the pet import requirements for Norway. We definitely recommend starting the process well in advance of your date of departure, and it's very important to choose a pet-friendly airline. We often use KLM and Lufthansa for international pet travel.

Take a look at our blog for more information about cabin vs. cargo travel and common pet travel misconceptions (most people assume that cabin travel is better, but when orchestrated correctly cargo travel is actually safe and even preferable). Hopefully you find this information helpful!

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Taylor, and good luck with your trip!

Name: Sundii
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Chihuahua
From: Las Vegas
To: Abu Dhabi

I have multiple concerns because of the length of flights, my dog's very small size, her lack of tolerance for cold and the fact that she must arrive as 'manifest cargo' in the UAE. She has always traveled in the cabin with me when we fly. How would you suggest handling this problem so she arrives safely?

Thanks,
Sundii



Hi Sundii,

Thanks for contacting us! It's understandable to have concerns about international pet travel, but we're here to help.

It's very important to start preparing for your move well in advance and to choose a pet-friendly airline. Take a look at our website and blog to find more information about pet travel to the UAE, and please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Also, if you're interested in finding out more about our door-to-door services you can fill out our free quote form.

Remember that Abu Dhabi may be far away, but many pets have moved there safely. Good luck with your move, and we hope to hear from you soon!

Name: Marwa
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Pit bull Mix
From: Orlando, United States
To: Lebanon


Hello,

I would like to know how to get my dog from Orlando to Lebanon. I'll be using Lufthansa airlines and am just wondering about the exact paperwork needed for import and export.

Thank you,
Marwa


Hello Marwa,

Thanks for your question! Here are the pet import requirements for Lebanon. In addition to getting all your vaccines and a microchip, you'll need an International Health Certificate as well (that's the APHIS 7001).

Please contact us if you have any questions about this! We'd also be happy to offer you a free quote for our services if you're interested in enlisting some help.

Thanks again and good luck!