General concerns about international pet travel
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Bichon Frise
From: Venezuela
To: California, US
Hello, I am actually not moving the dog, but my mom and her dog would just be visiting me in California from Venezuela. The problem is my mom (and I to a lesser extent) don't trust most commercial airlines in regard to their pet handling policies, and she does not want to come because she won't put the pet on a flight that requires a layover (there are no direct flights). Do you have a suggestion or plan that would work around this situation? I read you offer flights in which pets enjoy the same conditions as cabin passengers. Would this be possible in this case? We need reassurance the dog will be taken care of and most importantly, won't be lost in transit!!! - Bolivia
Hi Bolivia,
Thank you for contacting us; we are happy to address your pet travel concerns! First of all, take a look at the Pet Import Requirements for the US to get an idea of the paperwork that will be involved with this trip. You mentioned this is a visit and not a move, so we always suggest that you evaluate whether or not it's worth it to undergo such a process if this isn't a permanent relocation.
If you do decide to go ahead, rest assured that pet travel - when planned carefully - is very safe. We've shipped hundreds of pets without incident, and if you'd like to give us a call, one of our Pet Relocation Specialists would be happy to explain in greater detail how a trip like this would work.
Basically, we would advise that you choose a pet-friendly airline that will place your dog in the cargo hold (which would be temperature-controlled and pressurized, just like the cabin), and the fact that you can't get a direct flight isn't necessarily a bad thing. For long journeys, pets often fare better with a break in the middle.
Please take a look at our site for more information, and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to find out more about the door-to-door services we offer or about pet travel in general. Once you learn more about the logistics, you'll see that this isn't so scary after all.
Good luck!