Countries vary when it comes to pet import requirements and vaccines, but many do require vaccinations against Bordetella, or kennel cough.

This is interesting news, then: there's a new product on the market that allows the vaccine to be administered orally. Bronchi-Shield ORAL has recently been approved by the USDA and is the first vaccine of its kind.

Check out their website for more information, and if this is an issue that interests you then be sure to ask your vet about Bronchi-Shield ORAL at your next appointment. Pet travel is tricky sometimes, so anything that might make the process easier is welcome news!

It's Friday, once again! Before you unplug and unwind, enjoy these pet news links...

Cutting-Edge Pet Products via @CNBC (we especially like Slide 11!).

United has a new pet travel rule that's not making military members very happy.

A new survey of dog travelers reveals that yes, this is an important market niche.

Forget the Oscars. Dog News Daily held the first ever Golden Collar Awards in LA this week.

Is this the oldest cat video of all time?

For our compatriots: Pet-Friendly Places in Texas.

Presidents and their pets.

And yes, just for fun, Is Ryan Gosling Cuter Than a Puppy? Tough decisions!

George & Riley enjoy water sports on the weekends. What do you like to do with your pets?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Pets influence holiday travel plans, survey shows

International pet travel survey finds travelers pick holiday lodging, destination with pets in mind

AUSTIN, Texas - November 9, 2010:  PetRelocation.com released today the results of its first annual Holiday Pet Travel Survey of more than 7000 pet owners worldwide, finding that sixty-three percent of pet owners say they travel at least 50 mi. (80 km.) with their pets during the holidays.

Staying Stateside

Of pet owners who travel with pets, a majority of them (71 percent) choose to travel within their state of residence during the holidays.  Twenty-eight percent travel out of the state, and eighty-five percent of those who travel with pets for the holidays said that their pets influence the distance of how far they'll travel for a holiday vacation.

Short and Sweet

Pet owners keep their holiday travel short and sweet.  Most pet owners surveyed (45 percent) typically spend between $50-$100 on pet-related products and services during the holiday season.  Eighty-five percent of those who travel with pets take holiday trips which last seven days or less, with the remainder of pet owners indicating their trips can last up to two weeks.  A majority of pet owners (57 percent) said their pets do not influence the length of their holiday travel.

Friends and Family

While a third of respondents said they stay at pet-friendly hotels during their holiday travel, 66 percent said they stay at the home of friends or family during the holidays.  This may have something to do with the availability of pet-friendly lodging during the holiday season-a majority of pet owners (85 percent) said that their pets influence where they choose to stay during the holidays.

Pets are Family, Too

Of those who travel with pets during the holidays, nearly all of them indicated they only travel with dogs.  When asked why they choose to travel with their pets, a majority of pet owners (71 percent) said it was "because pets are part of the family and should be with the rest of the family during holiday occasions."

Holiday Challenges

When traveling with pets during the holidays, 42 percent of pet owners listed making sure their pets don't become stressed as their biggest challenge.  Finding pet-friendly transportation or airlines was the second biggest challenge according to 28 percent of travelers with pets during the holiday season.  This is a similar sentiment to the 2010 Summer Pet Travel Survey (http://www.petrelocation.com/summer-pet-travel-survey) results in which pet owners indicated airline fees and airline selection as the most difficult road blocks in their pet travel plans.

About PetRelocation.com

PetRelocation.com, the pet travel and transportation industry's leading service provider, offers full-service arrangements using pet friendly airlines for domestic and international pet travel services.  Founded in 2004 in Austin, Texas, PetRelocation.com places a strong emphasis on assisting companies with relocating employees who own pets. For more information, please visit http://www.PetRelocation.com.

Media Contact: Rachel Farris, Rachel@PetRelocation.com / +1-512-264-9800 x124

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You more than likely already have this info, but here it is for easy reference:

Director General, Department of Animal Production & Health P.O. Box 13 P, readeniya 20400 , Sri Lanka Tel. 00-94-91-2388195, Fax. 00-94-81-2388619

We move pets all the time using KLM and have outlined some pet friendly perks of the top destinations accessible on KLM Cargo flights. 

1.  Amsterdam, Netherlands

In addition to hosting the AF-KL Cargo Animal Hotel at its main airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the city of Amsterdam offers pet lovers plenty of pet friendly options.

The Ibis Amsterdam City Stopera hotel is ideally located in the city centre a few minutes from the Stopera Opera House Dam Square Rembrandtplein and Waterlooplein.  They allow up to two dogs per night for a fee of 5 euros/night per dog.  Pet owners who want to get out and enjoy some of the Netherlands beautiful parks can stop by Sarphatipark, which has a doggie playground on the opposite side of a small pond.  It's also conveniently located to Albert Cuyp Market, which makes a great picnic stop!  De Bakkerswinkel also offers outdoor seating for pets and their owners.

Since Amsterdam is AF-KL Cargo's main hub, there are plenty of pet friendly flights for pets from the US and other international airports all over the world.  Pets that fly into Amsterdam will need to clear through customs at Schiphol and will need to meet the Netherlands Pet Import Rules.

We moved Murphy to Singapore using KLM Airlines - here he enjoys a ride on a pedicab!2. Singapore, Singapore

Singapore is a popular destination for expats and their pets.  There are plenty of leash-free dog parks available in Singapore where pets can run and socialize.  Bishan Park Dog Run, one of the largest dog parks in Singapore, is fenced in and centrally located.  Weekends can get cramped but it has some perks:  big breed dogs are kept separated from small-breed pets at the park.  While the park is open daily 24 hours, it is only lit from 7pm-7am.   For more dog parks, check out Time Out Singapore's dog park rundown!

AF-KL Cargo offers pet flights to Singapore Changi from their hub in Amsterdam.  For information on rules and requirements for moving your pet to Singapore, see our Singapore Pet Travel page.

3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Every dog has its day in Kuala Lumpur!  Dogathon, an annual carnival of dogs and their owners, was started in 1997 as a 2.5km run to benefit Pro-Kasih, a public education program that supports catch-and-release spay and neuter services to help control Malaysia's stray dog problems.  Now in its thirteen year, the Dogathon offers games and events for pets and their owners. 

Pets can travel to Malaysia via AF-KL Cargo's pet flights from Amsterdam, but will need to fulfill a seven-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur at the government quarantine facility. Check out our Malaysia Pet Travel page for more details.

4. Stockholm, Sweden

If you're looking for a pet friendly place to stay in Stockholm, try the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, which allows up to two dogs of any size for no additional fees.  For a little exercise for your pooch, check out Vasaparken, a dog-friendly park located in Vasastaden and named after the Royal Vasa Dynasty.  Your pet will feel like he's king of the castle!

Don't forget to check out the Sweden Pet Travel rules before you go.

Here's Wheezy, a Boston Terrier we moved to Bali using KLM Airlines!5. Bali, Indonesia

Bali is an exotic location that has been booming with tourism and business-which means the pets followed shortly behind!  The Bali Street Dog Foundation is a non-profit animal welfare organization that aims to reduce the numbers of unhealthy, neglected street dogs in Bali and hosts occasional events to raise awareness.  Most recently, they had a Fun Walk for Animals to help raise money to control the spread of rabies within Bali.  If you run out of supplies for your favorite pet, not to worry:  the Bali Pet Shop has four locations in Sanur, Denpasar, Kuta and Seminyak selling "complete products for your lovely animal."

If you've got a pint-sized dog or cat, chances are you'll want to travel with him at some point in the cabin of the plane.  While it may sound like fun, traveling with a pet can be a lot of work if you aren't prepared.  Here are some tips for in cabin pet travel with a pet.

1.  Practice perfect "Pettiquette. ^TM" 

If you're planning on traveling with a pet, you're not just representing yourself-but every pet loving person who wants to travel with their pet!  Looking for a rundown of rules of the road-or sky-to follow?  JetBlue's "Pettiquette^TM" policy gives travelers with pets some convenient guidelines to help them act as considerate pet ambassadors when at the airport or on the plane.

2.  Accidents happen.  

Be sure to bring along wet wipes, paper towels and pet waste bags in case your travel partner has an "oops" at the airport or while flying.  A pet travel kit, like the one offered by JetBlue for $20 on their site, ensures you'll always have a wipe, water bowl and dog toy handy.

3.  Skip the sedation. 

While you might think you're doing your pet a favor by slipping him a little something before the flight, you could be potentially endangering your pet's health and safety.   At altitude, pets can have adverse reactions to sedation that they might not normally have at sea level.  To help with your pet's anxiety, bring toys and treats that he can play with while flying and don't forget the importance of crate training.  You can also try aromatherapy options like Earth Heart's Canine Calm or for cats the popular anti-stress product Feliway.

4.  Head for the back row. 

If you're flying coach, be prepared to be booked in one of the last rows of the aircraft so that you won't disrupt other travelers.  Don't forget that you'll need to book your flight early.  JetBlue allows up to four pets per flight which means that in order to secure your pet's ticket, you'll want to call ahead.

5.  Check the carrier. 

Purchase the largest size carrier for your pet's travel to give him extra leg room for your flight.  But buyer beware:  you'll want to make sure it will still fit under the seat in front of you, or it won't be allowed on the flight.  JetBlue offers a custom-made JetPaws^TM pet carrier designed by Cindy Adams from Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products that is guaranteed to fit under their aircraft seats. 

PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series features our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets.  These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May.  We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures.  For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

Since its inception, pet friendly airline JetBlue Airways has allowed pets to fly in the cabin with their owners.  However, in December of 2008, JetBlue began offering their JetPaws Pet Program, which offers pet owners not only a convenient way to travel with their pet as well as pet travel products and information.  Here are three free resources JetBlue offers travelers with pets:

1) The JetPaws Travel Guide

If you're looking for "the what's, where's, when's and how's" of "jetting" with your pet, the JetPaws Travel Guide offers great information on JetBlue's pet jetting policy.  They even have pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and animal hospitals listed for their major hubs to ensure that you and your pet will enjoy a purr-fect stay.

2) JetPaws Pet Travel Checklist

Want to hit the tarmac running with your best four-legged friend?  The JetPaws Pet Travel Checklist gives you a rundown of what you'll need in order to hop on a flight with JetBlue and get on your way.  Use this handy checklist on your day of departure to keep everything organized and your pre-travel jitters away.

3) JetBlue Pettiquette^TM

Need to keep up with the McTerriers?  Look no further than JetBlue's Pettiquette^TM page, a handy list of social graces for pet travel.  Need to look the part?  JetBlue's got you covered.  Online you can purchase a special JetBlue line of pet travel products made by Cindy Adams from Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products. 

Pet friendly airlines

PetRelocation.com's Pet Friendly Airline Spotlight series features our favorite pet friendly airlines for travel with pets.  These Spotlights will highlight one airline each week, Monday through Thursday, through the month of May.  We'll take a look at the various aspects of their pet programs, including amenities offered for pets, how to book a pet flight on each airline and their fee structures.  For a look at the rest of our Airline Spotlight series, check out the Airline Spotlight page or on Twitter as #PetReloAS.

How To: Book a Flight on JetBlue for Your Pet

If you can remember being twelve years old, you'll remember what it felt like to look around you and wonder where on earth you belong (heck, many of us feel this way even as adults!).  As a native pet friendly Austinite who went from a pet-crazy kid to a professional horseback rider to overseeing the online strategies of one of the world's leading pet travel companies, Petrelocation.com, I feel extremely fortunate to have ended up where I am.

So when I was invited to speak by a local program called GENAustin (which stands for "Girls Empowerment Network") for their ClubGEN Career Week, I was excited to get a chance to help other girls learn about careers in social media and online marketing.  ClubGEN is an innovative after school program for middle school girls led by high school students from surrounding schools.  The program puts an entertaining spin on educating middle school girls about high-risk behaviors like eating disorders, teen pregnancy and juvenile delinquency.  During their Career Week, they bring in other women from the community to talk about their career paths and what they've learned along the way.  ClubGEN is completely elective, so the fact that these girls stick around after school until 5 PM shows that the program is not only working, but also fun for them!

When I arrived at Covington Middle School, the school I was talking at, there were two other women who were also speaking.  One was a product manager at a high tech company who had spent several years traveling the world as an international software sales associate.  Another woman worked with non-profits on their strategies and development.

We met in a classroom and spent the first half of the afternoon playing "Career Charades," which is exactly what it sounds like!  My "team" picked a news anchor, a nurse and a veterinarian (one of the little girls did an excellent job pretending to be an angry cat about to get his vaccinations!).  Then it was time for the career speakers.  I talked about my experience at PetRelocation.com and how my childhood interest in writing and online communications had helped shape my career path.  I talked to them about social media and how I am able to use it to stay in touch with past clients and their pets, while also building relationships with future ones.  What was really fun was to see the girls' faces light up when they realized I worked for a "pet" company.  They were really interested in the concept and asked some terrific questions.  The questions were very similar to the ones we get asked the most by people who love their pets:  Why can't I just travel with my pet? (You can, sometimes!  We can help you figure out how.) How do you feed them when they travel? (We make sure they have water bowls in their crates and food attached to the top of their crates for their rest stops.) Have you ever moved a tiger? (Loved that one!  The answer was "Not yet!") Do you have any pets? (Yes, one big white fluffy cat named Chubby Charles!)

I encouraged the girls who were interested in pursuing careers in communications, social media or who had an interest in writing, to start now.  I told them if they love cats to blog about cats and use Twitter and Facebook to talk about their cats.  It's never too early to establish yourself as a thought leader. 

At the end of the talk, one of the girls raised her hand and shyly said, "This isn't so much a question as it is something I just really want to say.  I think it would be really great work somewhere where you got to hear about people's different pets and then help them move them...I think that would be a really great job."

I definitely agree with her!

Here's a fun new pet friendly product - Puppy Tweets, a small device that goes on your dog's collar that allows him or her to dispatch tweets from the doghouse!

From the CNNMoney article:

Puppy Tweets is a plastic tag with a sound and motion sensor that you attach to your pet's dog collar and connect its USB receiver to your computer. Then you create a Twitter account for your dog and enjoy updates all day from Sparky or whatever its name is on your computer or smartphone.

The pre-programmed tweets will be based on your dog's actions -- or lack thereof.  For example, if your dog spends most of his day napping, you might get an update about him being tired.  If he's running around barking, a tweet about barking will be sent out based on the noise he's making.

Seems pretty cool, or at least like a good party trick!  I think my cat @ChubbyCharles might want one for cat travel!  In the meantime, is your dog following PetRelocation on Twitter?  Click here to start following!