PLANNING YOUR PET(S) NEW TRAVEL ADVENTURE
From the moment you realize you must make arrangements for pet travel, a NEW form of stress sets in ! VERY natural.... That is why we exist ! To help ease this situation....
You just might feel that you do NOT know where to begin. Well, hopefully, you begin HERE..... If not here, at least start with some professional pet shipper. Most are helpfull, but some are NOT.... You will soon realize if you have contacted the right person...
You will want to know: How much will this cost? What veterinary services do I need? What are the requirements for travel, especially to another country? How safe is pet air travel? Do you help Military Families with their Pet Relocation? Do you etc etc
COST?
Can only be determined once the kennel(s) size is known. Most airlines base their charges on size of shipping kennel(s). This is called volume or dimensional weight. Also is necessary to know the actual weight of pet and kennel. Without this info, NO ONE can provide an honest estimate... Also need to know point of departure and point of destination. Also, the airline(s) needed to be used. These are the MOST important factors in determining shipping cost....
Each foreign country also has their own entry requirements. We have up to date facts for this. For foreign entry requirements, the general rule (general ONLY) is: rabies vaccination at least 30 days old and less than 1 year. Also, the APHIS 7001 international health certificate, usually good for ONLY 10 days from date your veterinarian signs, and then endorsed by USDA. EU countries ALSO require the EU form 998 bi-lingual which in most cases records only the microchip (ISO 11784 or 11785 is most recommended) and rabies info. For EU, now is required that sometime AFTER the implantation of the microchip, a new rabies booster MUST be provided, then, the wait of 21 to 30 days before travel. NOW then, there are exceptions, additions, etc to ALL rules. Our job is to make this clear and easy for you ! And, at NO charge on our part. AVOID using 3rd party pet shippers (middlemen) whenever possible. You will ONLY end up paying higher charges, MUCH higher. Please read page 3 of this website. You will be VERY glad you did !
Purchasing the correct shipping kennel
We address this elsewhere on our www. Also how very important to get the pet acclimated to the shipping kennel in advance of travel.
Please follow our guidelines about feeding prior to travel (see page 4). Also, to use ONLY bottled water, AT ALL TIMES, for pets in their travel mode....
My advice is to NEVER use a 3rd party animal transport company. They are ONLY a middleman. They NEVER see your pet, or have any hands on. You will end up paying megabucks for their so called assistance, and knowledge (?). Contact pet shippers ONLY, at either end of your journey. We will gladly advise you on this, and, also, at no charge, and NO HIGH PRESSURE... Be VERY cautious when a pet shipper pushes 'door to door'. You will pay very dearly for this. We will show you how to handle this dilema if you need pickup and/or delivery....
Some pet shippers are VERY clear on their website that they are NOT interested in your business if you are interesed in ONLY airport to airport service. They want your 'door to door' because they make BIG bucks on this....
Your first contact with a professional pet moving agency is often an ipata member. Use extreme caution! Ipata has NO special requirements for membership other than money to pay dues, and the willingness of the member to NEVER question the dictates of the ipata administration... It is a fact that most ipata members in the USA have little or no experience in shipping, especially international....
Ask whomever you speak with if they have any personal pet travel experience. NOT just to the vet or groomer; but rather, real travel experience....
I have that experience...... In 1966 I took my car and very first mini-schnauzer, Schatzie, by ship: the S.S. United States to Europe. Spent nearly four months just motoring.... She saw and did more than most people have ever done... We returned on a Dutch ship the ms Statendam. She also flew by prop-plane to Hawaii to go thru the full 4 month quarantine, in 1967. We returned together to San Francisco on the APL ss President Cleveland. On all our ship travels, Schatzie spent the nights in my cabin, even though she wasn't supposed to! We had many travel adventures. REAL experience, the HARD way !! Over the years I and my other schnauzers have done much travel. My current two: Schatzie II and Storm are also International travelers having gone to Canada and all the the eastern provences. They have visited the Hank Snow museum in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.... Have You? Better yet, have the so called pet travel specialists of the other firms done any real pet travel ?
I really enjoy talking pet travel.... I've done it, and can provide you with some really good advice...
REMEMBER
First things first.... Get the correct info regarding necessary requirements for your pet's travel. .... Get the correct shipping kennel(s) Then, you can get the correct estimate of travel cost.... Get pet(s) acclimated to travel kennel.... Try to take pet(s) with you as excess baggage (checked baggage) MUCH cheaper and they clear customs with you.... 2nd choice is as cargo..... We gladly advise you on ALL this... Read our entire website for VERY important travel information...
YES! You CAN take your pets from the USA to the United Kingdom as EXCESS BAGGAGE (CHECKED BAGGAGE) and SAVE the VERY expensive cargo charges !! Ask us. We will gladly explain, and at no charge......
We wish you ALL a VERY HAPPY PET TRAVEL ADVENTURE .....
