F.A.Q.
How do I know what type of travel kennel to get for my pet?
The proper type of kennel for airline flight should be ventilated on all 4 sides. It should have a metal door, NOT a plastic door and metal screws holding it together, NOT plastic screws. The kennels with the plastic doors and plastic screws do not hold and cats and small dogs have been known to escape from these while in the aircraft because they bend and they animal can get out.
How do I know what size kennel I need?
Your dog or cat should be able to stand up and turn around in the kennel. They should also have at least 2-3 inches of head room in the proper size kennel.
Where does my pet fly on the plane?
There is a special place on each plane designed for live animals. It is pressurized and temperature controlled. The temperature is within 10 degrees of the temperature in the passenger cabin.
How long will my pet be subjected to the heat or cold while in transit?
Pets are transported in temperature controlled vehicles from the cargo facility to the plane and back. They are transferred immediately from the van to the plane and from the plane to the van so it is only a matter of minutes that they are actually outside. Animals are the last ones on the plane and the first ones off at each destination.
What vaccinations do my pet need to fly on an airplane?
This will depend on the destination. A good rule of thumb is…rabies should always be over 30 days and less than one year when traveling internationally.
Does my dog have to go into quarantine?
This depends also on the country that you are going into and the country that you are coming out of. Some countries allow you to do an in home type quarantine prior to entering their country but again, this depends largely on where you are coming from and where you are going to.
Can my dog/cat fly alone?
Yes, your dog/cat can be booked as manifest cargo and can fly alone to most locations.
Can I do this move myself?
Yes you can. Many people do handle their moves on their own to save money, however, there are MANY mistakes made when this is done. If you are going to another country and you are not VERY clear on the laws of that country, your pet will be the one to suffer. The conference that I just returned from, there were representatives there from England Ministry of Agriculture that spoke. They stated that there were so many pets that were going into quarantine unnecessarily because the owners had tried to do the paperwork themselves or with their vet. It had in turn been done incorrectly and the pets ended up spending 6 months in quarantine and the owners spending several thousand more in quarantine fees than they would have spent to hire a professional pet transporter to do it for them right the first time. They went onto say, the moves that were done by the pet transporters all were released upon entry into England.
So yes, you can do this yourself but if you’re I’s are not dotted or your t’s are not crossed exactly right, your animal will be the one to suffer. And it will cost you MUCH, MUCH more than you can possibly imagine. Do NOT rely on your vet to know what he/she is doing either. I have personally redone the work of several veterinarians for pets moving internationally after the owner called me in for help, realizing something was wrong.
