WorldPetTravel.com

We all see the heartbreaking animal abuse commercials and feel the hatred for the inhumane people that are responsible for the torture of the innocent animals.

We wish that there was more that we could do to help those helpless creatures.

Thanks to a movement that started in Suffolk County, New York, it may be possible soon.  The objective of the movement is not only to cut down the amount of animal abuse, but to bring to light and prevent domestic abuse in the areas where you live.

One of the arguments for this movement is the proven fact that those that abuse animals are much more likely to escalate to domestic abuse at a older age.

The plan is to pass this law and have convicted animal abusers register online with a picture of themselves along with the address where they currently reside.

To date, Suffolk County, New York is the only one that has an active online registry, though it is currently a strong movement making progress in several other states.

It is with great sadness I post this.  The very sweet but very large, Miss Lillie Mae died recently while living the life of Pura Vida with her family in Golfito area of Costa Rica.

Lillie Mae was a pot-bellied pig that was pushing 200 lbs.  She was very loved by everyone that came in contact with her.  She had a loving disposition and never met a stranger.

She moved to Costa Rica a few years ago from her home in Miami with her mom, Wendi and several other 4 legged friends.

The family has a finca near Golfita where Lillie lived very happy until her life was cut short by natural causes.

We will miss Lillie Mae!

Inari and Shadow made it to Abu Dhabi successfully last night. They left Louisville on Friday then went to Atlanta and boarded for the day before heading out to Abu Dhabi.  They spend 24 hours in Amsterdam mid-flight where they had time to rest up and re-hydrate, get a little snack before getting on the last leg of their trip.  They arrived at 21:00 UAE time which was approximately 12:00 noon EST here in the US.

The UAE runs about 9 hours ahead of us on the east coast so we have to get up early to talk to them before they close up for the evening.

 
As I stated in an earlier post, Inari and Shadow are going to board for a couple of weeks until Maria gets her housing arrangements in order as she hasn’t found a home yet that will allow pets.  Hopefully she will be able to find a home soon and they will all be reunited sooner rather than later!

John and the kids taking a break

After a long week of moving pets around the world and back John decides to take a break with our 4 legged creatures.

Pictured here are Dooney, Bourke and of course our mascot, mini-Cooper

Notice who is sleeping in the dog bed.  I think maybe someone got their channels mixed a bit.

Dooney always has been the alpha male in this relationship.

World Pet Travel has joined forces with ATA (Animal Transportation Association) to improve the services we offer our clients.

ATA provides an important opportunity for individuals, businesses, organizations and groups involved in any phase of animal transportation to become part of an international effort to find solutions to a variety of problems related to the transport of animals. At the same time, members are linked to information, resources, contacts and key developments in the field that can help them provide better services and conditions for animals in transit.

We are excited about this new association and look forward to what it will bring to our clients.

Noche and Dia are in route from Houston, Texas to Cape Town South Africa to meet up with their mom and dad, Darren and Jen.  They made a brief stop in Amsterdam to rest and rehydrate and play a bit before getting on their onward flight to Cape Town.  Noche and Dia will arrive tonight where Estelle will greet them, clear customs and deliver them to their new home.

World Pet Travel acquired their import permits for them before they flew so it will be a quick release for them upon their arrival.

Another happy family reunited!

Angela,

THANK YOU!!!!! You are truly amazing!

Thank you to Andrea (and Merlin) for looking after Tangle, and all the work you have done to make this a reality.

I am currently running around with errands, but will try to reach you tomorrow.

Should I fail at reaching you… we wish you all the best for 2012!

Once more… thank you is not enough.

Cheers,

Kathy Chelew

Flying with your dog can be stressful. Here are six checklist items to keep the stress level down so both you and your dog can be happy travelers.

1. Bring a Kennel
First and foremost, buy an airline-approved crate and be sure that your dog thinks of this crate as his den. You may need to spend time getting your dog comfortable with being in his crate for long periods of time. There will also be a lot of loud noises on the plane and strange people walking around in the cargo-loading area. To prepare him for your trip, place your dog in the kennel and try carrying him in it by taking a drive to a park or busy location. This way, your dog can get used to loud noises and a busy environment while being handled inside his crate.

2. Outfit the Crate
There are certain items that you will want to place on the outside and inside of the crate to prepare it for travel:

• On the outside of the crate, attach a few bright orange stickers that read “LIVE ANIMAL.” Most airlines will do this as protocol, but it doesn’t hurt to have them on the crate before you arrive at the airport.
• Include a typed one-page profile of your dog that includes your contact information, including your cell phone number.
• Make sure water and food dishes are attached to the inside of the crate.
• Tape a small bag of food and a leash to the top of the crate.

3. Flight Time
To avoid plane changes or delays, check the length of the flight and try to book a direct flight when possible. It is important to match the length of the flight with your dog’s temperament and what you know he can handle. Whether your dog is being shipped as cargo or is riding in the cabin will help determine his experience during the flight.

4. Health Clearance
Before taking off, get a clean-bill-of-health certificate from your veterinarian. Your dog cannot fly without veterinarian records stating he is in good health. Most airlines require veterinarian health certificate records no more than 30 days out, while some require a certificate that is dated no more than 10 days before your departure date.

5. Exercise a Go-go
Every dog has a different energy level. A young Labrador runs on high octane and will need to expend this energy before being cooped up in his kennel for a long flight. An airport with an onsite dog area is a perfect place to play with your dog before placing him in his crate. This will also give him a good chance to relieve himself before the flight. But stay away from sedatives. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) say that sedation could lead to injury if your dog’s crate moves during the flight and your dog is not able to brace itself. The increased altitude may further cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems for sedated animals.

6. Nervous Nelly
You have decided to make the flight with your dog, but sometimes no matter how safe something seems, you may feel nervous sending your dog down into the belly of the plane. Even though you know the probability of nothing happening to him is in your favor, the separation and inability to see what his environment is like can be unnerving. Here are a few ways for both of you to keep your cool:

• Give plenty of reassuring hugs and kisses to your dog. When you’re calm and confident, your pet will follow your lead and realize there is nothing to worry about. If you’re emotional about the separation and the trip, your pet may pick up on it and become concerned about the adventure.
• Keep the mood light with a little preflight play to relieve any tension.
• If your dog is in cargo, ask the flight attendant to confirm that your dog is loaded and secure once you’re on board. They may be able to give your dog a little extra water in his dish before take-off.

I can’t imagine going anywhere without Tasha if I can help it. She adds so much to my adventures that I feel like something is missing if she’s not by my side. In Colorado, half the fun was seeing her play in the snow and bounce everywhere with excitement as if to say, “What’s next?! What’s next?!”

Taking the extra time to become mentally and practically prepared for a trip involving extra logistics will make all the difference to you and your dog.

Justine the yorkie just finished her long journey from Moscow to Oklahoma City to meet up with mom, Elisa.  Dad had to stay behind but will be following shortly to make this family complete.

Justine stayed with us for 4 nights in New York before she caught her flight to Oklahoma City. She was a delight to have in our care for the short time that we had her.

Tico and Fiji left San Diego last Thursday headed to Los Angeles for the night.  Took their health certificates to the USDA to be endorsed before being checked into KLM for their flight to Amsterdam.  All went well at check in.  We had the import permit and all of the required documents as usual so all went smoothly at check in.

Cats arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday morning at the KLM pet hotel where they hung out for 24 hours.  Gives them time to rest and rehydrate before they get to the 2nd leg of their journey.  Both ate well during their stay in Amsterdam.

Sunday morning at 10:30 the flight took off for Abu Dhabi.  Fiji and Tico arrived in Abu Dhabi at 20:50.  After they cleared customs we delivered them to Page at her home in Abu Dhabi.  She was very excited to see them.  We hope to post her testimonial on the website soon along with a picture of the kids.