Moving overseas can be both exciting and daunting. Organization is critical for relocation to another country, and while focusing on the necessary steps to transfer school records, medical records and personal belongings, well-meaning pet owners may underestimate the time and steps required for a seamless move of the family’s furriest member.
1. Plan Ahead
The movement of cats and dogs between countries is monitored by different agencies for the US and new host country. While some countries require the completion of specific steps over a mandatory time period, or even quarantine, other countries only require proof of health and a rabies vaccine. The important part is planning as far in advance as possible, and being armed with all knowledge and paperwork necessary so that you can arrive at your new home at the same time as your pet. Below are five tips to help get you started on the right path.
2. Importation Requirements
Each country in the world has different requirements for brining pets into their country, and these also differ depending on which country the pet originates from. Consult the country’s government websites on requirements for entry with a pet. In the case of England, to avoid quarantine, a very specific set of guidelines has been set out by their government called the PETS scheme. The process takes at least six months to complete, and forgetting one step can force a pet owner to quarantine their pet in the UK for another six months.
If you have any doubts, check with a local vet experienced with pet exports, or consult a pet export company. If they have moved pets around the world, they will know what to look out for, and who to consult for additional information.
If taking your pet out of the US, consult the FDA on their rules for the movement of pets out of the country. You may need to file specific paperwork with them to prove to your new home country that you pet has legally left the United States. The more paperwork you compile, the less likely you are to run into problems when you arrive at your new home.
4. Flying with Pets
There is great debate among pet owners who regularly travel with their animals is the best way to fly with animals overseas. Depending on the country you arrive into, you may not be given an option. For import into the United Kingdom, there are specific routes and airlines that the shipper must adhere to, and pets must arrive in the cargo hold. For other countries, you may have the choice to travel with your pet in the cabin beneath your seat, or check him or her with your baggage to be shipped as cargo.
The under-seat option is really only humane for short flights and for very small animals. If your pet cannot comfortably stand up or stretch out for a nine hour flight, there will also not be room for food or water throughout the trip. Keep their comfort in mind. Would you want to ride for nine hours in a duffle bag that you can’t turn around in? Be reasonable, and you pet will thank you.
Cargo is sometimes dismissed as dangerous to pets because of their exposure to heat and cold while waiting for loading on the tarmac. Luckily, because of a demand from pet owners for safer ways to transport their pets, some airlines now offer pet friendly routes. By booking your pet with the cargo department’s pet shipping specialists, they can offer first on, first off service to minimize your pet’s exposure to heat and cold on the tarmac, and also offer layovers in onsite kennels. Here, pets are walked, fed and watered, and soiled bedding is replaced. They are transported in air conditioned vehicles to the plane and secured in a pressurized and climate controlled section of the cargo hold. If you have the flexibility to choose an airline, investigate which company offers special pet features. Consult with the airline’s pet shipping specialists for more information.
No matter which way you fly your pet, confirm with the airline as to what documentation is required for shipment. Most only require a vet’s health certificate, but make sure that yours has been obtained within the required period of time. Some accept certificates as valid for 30 days, while others only accept certificates obtained in the last 10 days.
Also, each airline has specific requirements for shipping kennels. Be warned, their construction and size must meet the airlines requirement, or they can refuse shipment of your pet on the spot.
5. Hiring a Professional
If all of these steps seem overwhelming, or you find yourself pushed for time on a last minute move, check the prices for moving your pet with a certified pet shipping company. Many of these are run in conjunction with kennels who offer a full service experience for only slightly more cost than doing it on your own. These companies can offer kenneling on either end of the trip to obtaining health certificates for flight and even providing airline approved kennels. For summer travel, some airlines put an embargo on flying pets where the temperature is too high, no matter which way they have been shipped. Pet shipment companies are experts at getting around these issues, and for me, managed to ship our cat to Las Vegas in July. Transport companies also serve as a point of contact if you find yourself traveling in the air on a flight apart from your pet. For complicated moves, sometimes peace of mind is worth the few extra dollars.
