Though there's something special about each and every pet move we carry out, some stories are especially memorable. Meet Mahalo the cat, our featured pet move this month. After enduring a natural disaster (the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan), Mahalo's owner Marian sent her beloved cat to live with friends in Colorado while she left Japan and searched for a new place to live. When she was able to get settled in a cat friendly condo in Hawaii she knew it was time to bring him home, and of course we were happy to help arrange their reunion.

Read more about Mahalo, a one-of-a-kind cat with a very dedicated owner.

Thank you for speaking with us, Marian! When was the last time you saw Mahalo before this relocation? You surely missed him...

The last time I saw Mahalo was last year around August 2012 during a visit to Boulder, where my friend was taking care of him. We had our high school reunion in Boulder so I stayed with her. The timing was great -- I attended the reunion and visited my friend and Mahalo.

What I missed most about him is hard to say because he just IS. He has a presence. He has a matter-of-fact way of getting on with life no matter what the circumstances! I guess if I had to pick, it was his inquisitive nature, his friendliness, and how he would come running when called by name. He also has a sit and shake routine! When I say sit, he would do it and then lift up his right paw for a snack!

Did anything concern you about the idea of moving Mahalo?

For the move from Boulder to Hawaii, I was most concerned about there being a hiccup with quarantine -- although I KNEW I had faxed all the paperwork and documents to Mandy. Still, windows of dates create anxiety. I have had pets experience Hawaii quarantine back in the day when there were NO shortcuts, and even with shortcuts you hear of horror stories. I have also shipped cats from Oregon to Hawaii in 2002 so I should be used to it, but in reality everything has worked out and the quarantine people are fantastic. Not sure why I was so anxious!

How has Mahalo been adjusting to life in Hawaii?

Interestingly there have been some changes. Back in Japan, he used to love dark tight corners, like underneath my bed frame, between the bottom of the bed and a futon I stored underneath. Tight! But back in Boulder he loved the crate they put out to get him acclimated, and also slept in the closet with the little girl of the house. He also licked my face to wake me up like an alarm clock back in Japan and did that with the little girl. But once he got back here, he jumps into my bed to wake me up, rolls around, etc... but no alarm clock licks of the face. He also does NOT like the crate at all, even though he did back in Boulder before leaving. In fact, when I put him in there with the fleece he loves, he growled! Gee! But he still sits and shakes on cue!

 

 

Is Hawaii a pet friendly place to be?

I am a resident owner of my condo and it is a pet friendly complex -- a new one, and I wouldn't have bought in if it wasn't. That was a condition when I started looking two years ago; while pet friendly is growing in Hawaii, it is not easy (especially for large dogs or multiple pets). I am planning to get a second cat, but I have to check out the rules.

Homeowner rules are pretty strict in Hawaii even in condos -- dogs have a weight restriction of about 25 pounds I think, and one pet is generally the rule. However, some condos have been known to grandfather in long time residents and change rules for new buyers. There are lots of vets in the city and in suburbs so you have to wonder where do these owners live? Small animal vet services are very lucrative and busy. Boarding starts at about $25 a day and there are plenty of pet sitters, but again I always advise folks to get personal referrals only. Many pet owners want people to come to their homes, and the going price is $25-$35 a day. Finally, there is a Petco in the city of Honolulu and the suburbs as well as Walmart, Walgreens and other stores that support pets, so there is certainly nothing to worry about.

The one piece of advice I would give to pet owners moving to Hawaii is to nail down a place to live first. Be sure it allows pets. Dog runs (mostly in suburbs) and parks I think are available in the city and the beach, but people must pick up after their pet. Of course that doesn't apply to cats; my cats are strictly indoors. I am not a fan of letting cats run amok outside, as Hawaii has a lot of birds and they are tame, which means they are fodder for cats. Also, living in a condo means there is no good way cats can be let outdoors.

You've moved Mahalo by yourself before, so what made you decide to hire the services of PetRelocation this time?

I found about PetRelocation through a friend in Japan who used your services from Florida to Japan back to Florida. Also, I saw you on Facebook after the friend told me about your services. I decided to use your services because I was not planning to go to Boulder to meet Mahalo, as some other issues came up precluding my doing the arranging. Also, after talking to my friend from Florida, I realized I did not want the hassle of taking him to the airport in Denver, yaddah yaddah.... Also that he would be delivered to me in Honolulu was the best part. I did not want to do the send off and pick up I have done too many times.

I liked the prompt response emails from Mandy. She went into detail about every concern I had. I also liked that you have local vendors and that you start the process early on, which was good for a planner like me. I couldn't have done without the hand-holding on the communications regarding departure, arrival, and quarantine. For me, just firing off emails and getting an answer was the best!

Thanks again, and we're looking forward to Mahalo becoming famous. Just as an FYI - he was a show cat in Japan and has won his share of ribbons, although he is now retired. He placed in his class of neutered short hair cats.

 

Thanks to Marian for sharing this wonderful story with us. We're glad Mahalo is home safe and sound at last! Please contact us for more information about moving pets to Hawaii, and travel safely, everyone.

 

PetRelocation belongs to an international network of pet shipping specialists called IPATA (the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association), which means we are able to meet and share information with some of the world's best service providers in our field. 

Last week we attended a regional IPATA meeting in Dallas, TX (that's just a few hours away from our Austin headquarters), and there we were able to get to know a few of our colleagues a little bit better. In fact, a few of them were so interested in what we do that they decided to prolong their time in Texas and come down to our office for a visit. Today Manuel Leunda from Las Lunas in Argentina and Simon Jackson from Dogtainers in Australia were kind enough to spend some time with us for a "Lunch & Learn."

Manuel is actually the current president of IPATA, and he updated us on all the latest pet shipping news and plans for expansion in South America. Simon is the IPATA Treasurer, and he answered our questions about Australia import rules and how they may be changing in the coming years. The world of pet travel is busy, complex and dynamic, so we were happy to have the chance to catch up with these friendly experts. It's always beneficial to have face-to-face meetings with people we normally do business with by phone and email, and we love showing off the great city of Austin to out of town guests, as well.

Thanks to Manuel and Simon for stopping by and giving us great overviews of the important work they do. Thanks also to Kyle Freeman from VIP Sitters in Canada, who stopped by last Friday to say hello. Come back anytime, y'all!

 

Lunch & Learn with fellow IPATA members

 

Beginning Feb. 1, many pets brought to Germany from outside of the European Union may be required to pay a new pet import fee.

Previously for military members, the EU fees applied towards making sure animals with rabies are not introduced to the country have been covered by Ramstein Air Force Base officials, but a new law requires that pet owners must pay the inspection fee themselves. According to Military.com News, the fee will apply for military pets entering Frankfurt International Airport (FRA), as well.

The fee will range from 35 Euro (about $47) to 55 Euro (about $74) depending on the airport and whether or not the pet is accompanied. The fee must be paid by credit card, and at this time FRA and Ramstein Air Base are the only airports slated to implement this change.

Service members moving to Germany with pets should take note of this news and contact the relevant German authorities with any questions. Please contact PetRelocation if you have any questions about moving pets to Germany or about pet travel in general.

 

photo by || UggBoy♥UggGirl || PHOTO || WORLD || TRAVEL ||'s via Flickr

Name: Shirley
Number of Pets: 3
Pet Type: Horse, Dog, Cat
From: France
To: US

This inquiry is on behalf of a family we are helping in their relocation to the US. What are the rules for quarantine for their three animals? Where do they need to be held?

Thanks,

Shirley

 

Hi Shirley,

There is actually no quarantine for dogs and cats coming into the United States provided you meet these requirements, and these are the United States horse import requirements per the USDA.

Please take a look at this information and contact us if you have more questions or if you need some assistance. Thanks for the question, and good luck!

 

Anyone who has ever tried to relocate a pet has learned that each country has its own way of doing things, and just to make things even more challenging, nations often change their import requirements from year to year, as well.

Recently we've heard some questions about shipping pets to Colombia, a country that in the past has followed breed restrictions and has not allowed cats to be brought in from certain countries. Unfortunately doing a quick internet search might reveal outdated information, so we wanted to share the latest Colombia pet import rules as we know them.

Here is some updated information regarding importing pets to Colombia:

• Cats are allowed entry into Colombia, and must meet the standard requirements as followed.
• Pets need to have a health certificate (the original and a copy in Spanish) issued by a veterinarian 48 hours before shipment. This must certify that the pet does not have any infectious or parasitic diseases. The certificate must include race, sex and age of the animal.
• Dogs need to be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus.
• Restricted dog breeds include the following, as well as any mixes of these breeds: Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier , Pit Bull Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier.

More information about bringing pets to Colombia can be found on the USDA website, and you're always welcome to contact PetRelocation.com for assistance.

 

Most of the time our Pet Relocation Specialists are working hard to help individual families bring their pets along when they have to move, but sometimes larger organizations find themselves interested in our pet relocation services, too.

Recently we were contacted by Cindy Crawley, president of the Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation and founder and president of the Mid-Atlantic Poodle Rescue, about an urgent situation. Over two dozen puppy and adult Poodles were found living in terrible conditions in Washington, and after being rescued and temporarily cared for by the Forget Me Not Animal Shelter, it was time to place them in their forever homes.

Cindy contacted us to see if we could help get the dogs from Washington to Las Vegas and Phoenix where they would be adopted, and we were happy to have the chance to be hired for such a noble cause. Read on as Cindy answers a few questions about what she does -- and what we can do ourselves -- when it comes to helping animals in need.

 

How did you first become involved in animal rescue? 

I was recruited to Poodle Club of America Rescue Foundation in 2007 to help the founding president, Sally Poindexter, with administrative work. I had never had anything to do with dog rescue prior to this. I had belonged to the local Poodle Club in Maryland where I live, but the Club really did not do much rescue work at all. I quickly realized that if I was going to gain the respect and trust of the Poodle Rescue community, I was going to have to start doing hands’ on rescue work myself. It has all fallen into place for me since then!

 

 

How did this particular Poodle rescue come about? 

The Poodle world is not very big, especially from a rescue standpoint. We sort of know where the breeders are and who may be in trouble -- not 100% of course, but it is not often that we are surprised when problems arise. Almost one year ago, I offered help to an individual in Washington. I had been informed by mutual friends that this person was having a hard time financially and possibly had too many dogs, so I had five Standard Poodles transported from Washington to Maryland to relieve her of this burden. 

I had pretty direct conversations with this individual and told them that Rescue is not a puppy broker for people who breed too much and cannot sell their puppies, and we are not a dumping ground for people’s broken-down breeding dogs. I checked in with this person over the past year and was told in no uncertain terms that no more help was needed. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I discovered that this person was preparing to ship an older stud dog out to a property across the country. When I was not able to get a satisfactory answer to questions about the purpose of acquiring a stud dog, a wellness check was done on the property by local animal control. The animal control officers who saw the situation in which the Poodles were living immediately went back to town and got a search warrant and decree for seizure. It was that bad.

 

What is the most challenging part about what you do? 

We must fundraise constantly. Money is needed primarily for vet work and transportation. Poodles (for better or worse) have been among the top 10 breeds in the American Kennel Club for many decades.  There is a lot of indiscriminate breeding that goes on in people’s backyards in what are basically puppy mills. We try very hard to educate people searching for a Poodle to find the best breeder, one who cares about their dogs and insists on spay and neuter contracts for their pets.  

 

What’s the best way for people to get involved in helping animals in need? 

If people want a hands’ on experience, any Poodle Club of America Rescue organization would welcome help from the public, as would most local humane societies or SPCA’s. Poodle rescue organizations are always in need of foster homes. We need people to drive dogs from place to place.  If people cannot do hands’ on work, donating to a reputable rescue group is another way to help. Reputable rescue groups are 501c3 not for profit. The new social media has been a real benefit to rescue organizations, as information can be shared in a pretty timely way.

Do you have pets of your own? 

Like many members of Poodle Club of America Rescue, I also breed Poodles. We believe that as breeders, it is our obligation to rescue. We love the breed. We are here for them in their time of need. I breed and show Standard Poodles under the Beauciel prefix. I am very proud to say I have a homebred Best in Show winner.  
 

--

Thanks to Cindy for sharing this story with us! We helped move 10 adults and 12 puppy Poodles earlier this week, and it sounds like all are adjusting well.

Keep up with the Forget Me Not Shelter blog to find out how everyone is doing, like them on Facebook, and if you'd like to make a donation to help cover the costs of this endeavor, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Name: Enrico
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound
From: St.Vincent
To: Romania

I would like to move my pet (a dog) from St.Vincent and the Grenadines (in the Caribbean) to Romania. It's a long trip and I am hoping that you can help me with some information and tips on requirements etc. There is no direct flight, so my route I plan to take would be from St.Vincent and the Grenadines to Antigua to Germany then to Romania.

Thanks,

Enrico

 

Hi Enrico,

Thanks for the questions. First, here is a basic rundown of the pet import requirements for Romania. It will take a little time and planning, as you can see, and it's also important that you choose a pet-friendly airline for your journey. Note that if you transit through Frankfurt using Lufthansa, you may be able to take advantage of the Animal Lounge there.

Be sure to contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with your trip!

Name: Mike
Pets' Names: Cash/Money/Bank
From: San Francisco, CA
To: Bangkok, Thailand

I was left with the difficult challenge of shipping my friends' three dogs to Bangkok (Thailand) from San Francisco (USA).

I actually looked for several pet relocation services on the web and attempted to contact five. The same day I submitted my request to PetRelocation.com, I received a phone call from one of their representatives.

I explained my situation, and they got me in touch with their international pet shipping specialist Scotty.

I was given an estimated ship date of 30 days from the submission of my materials and they stood by their deadline! Of course there were things I had to do (vet checks/documents/buying supplies/etc) but Scotty helped me through every single thing! I am extremely detail-oriented myself, and Scotty was very accommodating and was available by phone through every step of the process.

It turns out shipping a pet is not such a terrible task as long as you have guys like Scotty as well as the rest of the team at Petrelocation.com backing you up. In the rare situation that I need to ship more animals overseas, these guys will be the first people I contact!

 

 

What happened in the world of  pet news this week? Glad you asked.

 

Neat-o animal tourism in Japan.

Goldfish companions as hotel amenities?

Researchers find that looking at cute animal pictures improves productivity. (We like this study.)

Tips from our experts: all about shipping pets to China.

Are you tuning in to DogTime's Pet Blog Awards?

October is National Pet Wellness month.

Here in Austin we have a Dogtoberfest that includes a DogTrot-- do you have something similar in your town?

Taming exotic pet owners.

News of our own: Boris and Mia are our Pet Move of the Month.

 

Enjoy the weekend!

Here at PetRelocation we're hard at work shipping pets all around the world, but we also set aside some time for fun stuff, too. Our Culture Club was recently created in order to provide activities that might complement our regular work day schedule, and every now and then they sneak something educational into the mix, too.

Following communications expert Dr. John Daly's visit a couple of weeks ago, on Tuesday we welcomed another special guest to our office --  Antonella Del Fattore-Olson, a Distinguished Senior Lecturer from the University of Texas. Ms. Fattore-Olson is originally from Rome, Italy and has been teaching at UT for more than 20 years. She was kind enough to sit down with us over some delicious pizza to chat about life and customs in Italy, and everyone who attended walked away a little bit wiser about Italian culture.

During our lunchtime chat, PetRelocation employees asked questions that touched on business practices, dining customs, and of course, attitudes towards pets. Talking with Ms. Fattore-Olson helped us to think about how we interact with our Italian customers, and we're glad we had the chance to learn from a dedicated Italy expert.

Here are a few facts we learned from our session:

-City homes in Italy rarely have yards, so it's tough to keep dogs if you live in Rome, Florence, Milan, etc. Cats are more commonly kept as pets in the cities.

-Dogs have long been viewed as working animals, and that attitude is still prevalent throughout much of Italy.

-Many Italians travel over the Christmas holiday and during the summer, and the overall lack of kennel facilities also make it tough to have a dog.

-In terms of cultural norms, Italians are usually late (but not out of a lack of respect, assured our guest).

-When it comes to signing up for a service like pet relocation, Italians value quality of service above all.

 

 

What will our next Culture Club activity be? We'll be sure to tell you about it, and if you have questions about pet travel in the meantime, be sure to contact us.

 

Top photo by OliBac via Flickr

 

We recently hired a few interns to help us out during the busy pet shipping season, and it's been fun to introduce these fresh young talents to a whole new world (pet transportation isn't exactly standard curriculum at our nation's colleges). Here they are, our summer interns:

 

Elli is originally from the Austin area and currently attends Purdue University in Indiana. She likes to read, she works a lot (Elli has about three jobs at any given time), and she also plays the clarinet and likes music, food, and video games. This summer she’s helping the pet shipping team by sending information out to clients and agents, and she's also helping to book flights and talk to airlines and veterinarians. Ellie has a miniature dachshund named Lily in addition to her mom's five dogs.

 

Here are a few words from Elli: So far it seems like I’ve learned so much about what goes in to actually moving animals (or really anything) around the globe, and I know it’s only the surface.  I just hope to learn more about how all of this works and glean a little bit of information about how each part of the world relates to every other part. Outside of that, this is a wonderful experience and learning opportunity for how things out in the real world work! I’m really enjoying everything here and can’t wait to see what else I can do and learn!

 

Yang attends Colorado State University in Fort Collins, and he’s originally from Shaanxi, China. Yang is here for the summer as a Data Analyst Intern, so he’s busy learning to crunch the numbers and stats associated with our pet moves. Yang’s parents have been taking care of his cat Misha for the past few years, and he hopes to have a pet of his own soon.

 

Ethan is from Katy, Texas and he’s a Senior Marketing major at Texas State University. Ethan likes to play with his dog (Kona) at the river, and also enjoys mountain biking, backpacking and cooking spaghetti. Here at PetRelocation.com, Ethan is creating pricing spreadsheets, collecting info on vet offices, talking to vets, airlines and clients, and is also learning to find routes to countries all over the world (even the “crazy” ones).

Ethan hopes to learn more about how the sales staff interacts with customers, and is also interested in finding out "how a private company can maintain a positive competitive advantage."

 

Lauren was born and raised in Dallas, TX (the actual city, not a suburb). A huge part of her life while growing up was playing the violin—she attended an arts magnet high school to focus in music and orchestra until she moved to Austin for college at UT in 2008. She is currently completing a dual major in math and psychology (two majors that have little to do with music or with each other), and she is a huge pet lover. This summer, Lauren is working on data-mining and marketing with PetRelocation.com (to continue the pattern of pursuing fields that actually interest her), and she is looking forward to learning a lot during her internship.

 

 

Puppy scams are cruel, frustrating, and unbelievably common. We frequently take calls from pet lovers who have been scammed, and we've discussed how to avoid being the victim of a puppy scam numerous times on our blog.

Often puppy scams consist of people offering to give away (usually extremely cute) puppies at no cost, asking instead for a "relocation fee." They typically stipulate that money be transferred via Western Union to a faraway place (that's a huge red flag -- never wire money to an unknown source), and then they often continue to request more payments when problems arise surrounding the transfer of the "dog," which most likely doesn't even exist in the first place. 

Recently we've seen a new twist to all of this -- we're starting to hear from people who have fallen prey to bird scams, too. They seem to work in much the same way, with the arrangements involving a "relocation fee," wired money, and routing to Cameroon. We recently received an email from an animal lover who was contacted about receiving an African Grey Parrot "free of charge except for transportation" for the dubiously low cost of $280. Exotic birds, such as African Greys and also Macaws, seem to be the focus of these new scams. (Note that the realistic costs for shipping such a bird will probably be over $1,000.)

We offer the same advice to people looking for birds as we do to people looking for puppies: do not send money to people you don't know, check out credentials and web sites to uncover anything fishy, and if you're truly looking for a new pet, it's best to deal locally.

If you are taken in by a bird or puppy scammer, what can you do? Unfortunately the people committing the fraud are difficult to report because they tend to disappear easily and quickly, but you can try reporting them by faxing a letter to the Cameroon Embassy (if the scammer worked out of Cameroon) or you can post the information on Fraudwatchers.org.

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about bird or puppy scams. Unfortunately there are some dishonest people out there, so be smart and deal locally!

 

 

Pet travelers going to Edinburgh, Scotland now have more airline options. Until now, Lufthansa has been the only airline authorized to ship pets directly to EDI under the Pet Passport Scheme, but the Edinburgh Animal Reception Centre has just announced that United is approved to do so as well.

This news further illustrates United's pet-friendliness as an airline; they also have a PetSafe program and recently reversed a decision that banned certain dog breeds from flying. It is expected that more airlines will soon be granted the same access, so stay in touch for updates.

Find out more about Edinburgh pet import regulations and the Pet Travel Scheme, and be sure to contact PetRelocation.com with any other questions.

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

Alaska Airlines has announced a new partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital that will help travelers navigate the pet transport process more easily. Banfield, which has more than 800 facilities in over 40 states, will now give Alaska Airlines customers a free office visit, a travel consultation, and a $10 discount on the required health certificate.

Alaska Airlines flies pets in both the cargo and the cabin areas of the plane, and in the statement they issued Monday, professes a commitment to pet care and safety. Starting on May 1, they will be implementing new kennel standards for pets traveling in the cargo hold, and through June 9 will offer a 10% discount on PetStreak Animal Express shipments (the service for shipping pets via freight when the owners are not on the same flight).  Visit this website to find out how to redeem these offers.

This partnership shows that travel service providers are truly taking notice of the fact that more people are traveling with pets these days. It's a trend that's on the rise, so smart businesses will likely continue to innovate and expand in order to safely accommodate the needs that go along with shipping pets.

We can't wait to see who steps up next, and we'll certainly keep you informed as life becomes even more streamlined for pet travelers.

On that note, have you taken our pet travel survey yet? We're checking in with as many pet owners as possible so that we can get an idea of current and future trends. Let your voice be heard by taking the survey, too!

 

Since moving pets can be pretty complicated and will most likely coincide with a busy, stressful time in life, we're not surprised that we receive a lot of questions from overwhelmed pet owners about the logistics, the details and the costs of pet travel.

We've been shipping pets for a while now and have pretty much heard it all... Here are a few of the most frequently asked pet travel questions (along with our basic answers). Remember, no one is alone in this!

 

How do I know what the requirements are for the country I'm moving to?

Making sure that a pet's journey runs smoothly begins with research. Many countries have detailed import instructions on their own official websites; stringent countries like Australia outline almost everything while other places may not be so forthcoming, so you may need to check another source -- like IATA  or the country pages on the PetRelocation.com -- to find out about health documents, vaccines, and possible quarantines.

Which airline should I fly with?

This is perhaps the most important decision you can make related to pet travel. It's key that you choose an airline that has established pet policies and solid safety measures in place to ensure that your pet is properly cared for, not left to sit on the tarmac, and respectfully transported overall. We have a short list of trusted airlines that include KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas and United, but check with us if you have any questions about this.

How do I know my pet will be safe?

This is probably the  most common question requiring the most nuanced answer. Again, safety primarily depends on selecting trustworthy airlines and transport agents, but you can also do your best to prepare your pet physically by keeping them in good shape, acclimating them to their travel crates and setting a good example for them by remaining calm and upbeat in the days before the trip.

Remember that sedatives are strongly discouraged (and generally not even permitted). With so many moving parts it's impossible to guarantee a journey 100% free of hiccups, but by following these basic guidelines you're putting your pet in the best position possible.

Why does it cost so much to ship a pet?

We've addressed the question of pet moving costs in greater depth in the past, but essentially it comes down to the details. By the time you add up import permits, health certificates, customs clearance, delivery fees, plane tickets and a few other considerations, it simply isn't going to be a cheap endeavor. Does it end up being worth it, though? Most pet owners would say "of course".

Should I move my pet at all?

This is a tough one, and for certain people it's a question that must be asked. Air travel is taxing for humans and for animals, and older pets or those in delicate health simply may not be up for it. Also, many people don't realize how much is involved with air travel and crossing borders, so if this is just a vacation (rather than a permanent move), it will probably be better to find a trusted pet sitter rather than jump through so many hoops unnecessarily.

Ultimately it is the safety of the pet that's the most important thing to consider, so often a conversation with your vet, your family, and your pet relocation specialist will help you figure this one out.

 

 

Still have questions? We're happy to help! Give our office a call and be sure to check out our Facebook page to connect with other pet travelers who probably have the same questions as you. Happy traveling, everyone!

 

 

 

Name: K.
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Rat
Pet Breed: Dumbo Rat
From: Japan
To: Maryland (though Washington, Dulles airport)

I am leaving Japan in the summer (expecting to leave in the last week of July) and want to take my two fancy rats home to the US with me. I have contacted the CDC in both countries and they have said there are no specific regulations for pet rats, however I am having a difficult time just getting a list together of everything that I am going to need at the airport. As time starts to run out I am getting very stressed that there will be some sort of last minute thing that I forget!

Also, as I have never shipped a pet before, I am a little confused about how the whole process works. Do I just walk in the airport with the carrier and hand them over when I check my bags? I worry that with the stigma most people have of rats that they won't be treated as well as a larger companion animal would, but I haven't been able to find any airline that will let me take them as carry on (I'd even be willing to buy a second seat!).

I guess what I am asking is just for some idea of what to expect and what forms/ vet information I will need to have for them. Using a service such as your own also isn't out of the question. More than cost, I am just concerned about my (clearly very spoiled) rats getting home safely.

Thank you so much for your informative site. Any information that you can give me will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
K



Hello,

Thanks for your question about traveling with your rats; your concerns are certainly understandable! First of all, you're right that it's important to start the process early in order to avoid being surprised about anything.

Here is some information from our site about obtaining customized rodent crates as well as how to travel with an exotic pet, and we also recommend contacting your airline directly in order to find out about their most up-to-date regulations. The good news is that the United States allows rats to be imported without much fanfare (here's a document from the Official U.S. Customs and Border Protection site that may be helpful).

Hopefully this information is helpful to you, and please let us know if you have any more questions or if you'd like a free quote for our services. Good luck with the move!

Chances are you're still working on your holiday shopping, and if you're reading this blog, you most likely have a few pets and pet owners on your list.

We always have pet travel on the brain, so you bet we have a few gift suggestions that will make your holiday pet travel plans run a little smoother. Have some fun with these gift ideas, and happy holiday traveling to you all!






Pet Travel Gift Basket includes a dog bowl, baggies and  tasty-to-your-pup treats like "Duck 'n' Rice Ringles" and "PupPuccino treats".













This portable pet house from Animal Planet is made of soft foam and is easy to assemble -- perfect for bringing along to grandma's house.











The Thunder Shirt provides a gentle, constant pressure to a dog's body, and according to many pet owners, has a calming effect that makes travel and stressful situations  -- like thunderstorms -- much easier to handle.

*Note: PetRelocation.com has never shipped a pet wearing a thunder shirt, but we've heard of people who have (KLM is apparently open to allowing them). If you're traveling with a sensitive pup, just check before you go to see if your thunder shirt will be allowed.









Traveling to colder climates and worried about your pet's paws? Protect them from the elements with these sherpa/suede fully lined Pet Boots.










Make things easy on yourself by picking up a carry-all for the various accessories you'll need for your big holiday trip. This functional bag by Doggy Baggage has multiple pockets and a cute design.









And last but not least (because they probably don't travel quite as often but kitties do hit the road sometimes), here's a great cat bed for the feline owners out there. The Eco-Buttercup Bed can be adjusted so that it's either flat or a snuggly buttercup shape, depending on your cat's preference. Hat tip to our Facebook fan Kim for bringing our attention to this one!








What are you getting your pet (or favorite pet lover) for Christmas? Tell us about it on Facebook!