How To Prevent Losing A Pet

From Ann Patsell, Animal Land's Senior Domestic Personal Move Counselor

From Our Friends over at Pets911.com comes a great article about how to avoid losing your pet.

1. Always license your pet with your county or city. If your pet is lost, many shelters offer extended services if the pet is wearing their license - ex. They may hold them longer, try to reach you by phone, post a flyer on your door, or return the lost dog or cat before it ever enters the shelter. Plus, the money you send in helps to support shelter animals waiting for homes! Please comply with your license requirements - it saves lives, and maybe even the life of your beloved pet.

2. Have a personal tag made up with your pet’s name, and your CURRENT contact information - an address and phone number with area code.

3. Always keep your collar on your pet with its tags. If the tag jingles, buy a tag silencer. Make sure you have a properly fitting collar and your pet will adjust to it.

4. Indoor cats need collars and tags too. They can sneak out when a delivery person arrives or when the door just doesn’t close all the way.

5. Consider getting a microchip for your pet. It is typically a simple procedure not requiring anesthesia. Be sure to learn about the cost and actual procedure so that you can make an informed decision.

6. Take a photo of your pet with a digital camera and keep it current on your computer. If you don’t have a digital camera, photo development locations can put your photos on disk for you. If your pet ever gets lost, you’ll have a photo to show, post and print. Photos can make a HUGE difference in getting your pet back faster.

7. If you move, UPDATE everything - tags, microchips, vet information, etc. Keep your pets records in one place so that you can easily update these items.

8. Learn where your local shelter is located. Keep in mind, there may be several branches. Pets can travel far, or are picked up by kind strangers who take them home - on the other side of town. Knowing all of local shelter locations in advance can help out in a frantic situation.

9. Keep your pet safely secured inside if they are spooked by fireworks, thunderstorms, etc.

10. Train your pet to stay in your yard. It may not work all the time when tempted by a seductive rabbit, but it can work!

11. If your backyard is gated or fenced, consider putting a lock on the gate so that no one from the outside can open the gate - especially when you aren’t home.

12. Walk around your fence checking and repairing as needed. Look for holes that need to be filled in. If your dog is a digger, consider pouring concrete by your gate so that they can’t dig themselves out of the yard.

13. Crate or buckle your dog in the car. If they are crated or buckled in during an accident, they are less likely to be thrown or flee the scene out of fear.

14. Teach your dog some commands. Trainers consider “come” to be the most important command to teach your dog. If they associate “come” with a favorite treat or toy, even if they are chasing after something exciting they will stop and come back to you. Another tactic is to try “sit.” Many dogs master “sit” before anything else. If they don’t respond to “come” try “sit” instead.

15. Have your pet spayed or neutered - it reduces the roaming urge! This is also a fantastic time to have a microchip implanted or tattoo id given.

16. Be extremely vigilant when you are in unfamiliar situations. For example, if you are having work done in your house or yard and a door or gate is propped open, confine your pet to a safe area where you know they won’t get out. If you are on vacation with your pet, make sure they are wearing the proper size collar so they won’t slip out of it when you are out for a walk.

How to Measure Your Dog for a Flight Kennel

By Jason Ricketts, Animal Land's Customer Service Manager

One of the most frequent questions we get here at Animal Land is " How do I know what is the right size kennels for my pet?" A great start is to use the image at the right with the following legend.

A = Length of animal from nose to root of tail.
B = Height from ground to elbow joint.
C = Width across shoulders.
D = Height of animal in a natural standing position from the top of the head. It is also helpful to get the measurement to the ear tip.

We recommend that you give it an inch to an a inch and a half bigger so that it gives the pets some room to move in and also then there shouldn't be any problems at the airport. Many airlines "require" 3 inches. But this is not always followed or possible. A great way to be certain of the right size would be to take your pet into PetSmart or Petco and try out a few kennels .

We Are Always Up for A Good Cause

What a great idea! A website called www.missdogooder.com with the motto "Fight the World's Injustices one t-shirt at a time."

Even better, the first target is stopping animal cruelty. 20% of the net proceeds go to the ASPCA, so if you are looking for a good place to park $25, this seems as good as any.

Twas the Night Before..........

Twas the night before "Operation Paris," when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring (except me, who was up wrapping Paris' new toy mouse).

On ahead to London I had gone, and while I dreaded the separation,

I had checked Paris into Camp Cat Safari, without any hesitation.

The pet moving team were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Abyssinians danced in their heads.

But me, with my eyes wide open, I sat awake in my chair,

In the hopes that Paris soon would be there.

When across the big pond, there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to my computer I flew like a flash,

Clicked open my email, and downloaded fast!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But my Pet Movers counselor, with a list for all to hear!

More rapid than eagles, my friends and helpers came,

As she whistled and shouted, and called them by name!

Now Linda, now Andre, ready the crate and take Paris to the vet!

Now Gordon, now Sue, get Paris on the Continental jet!

From San Franciso to Atlanta, into action they sprang,

"We must get Paris home to Terry," they harmoniously sang!

As word of his check-in reached me in London,

"Could this really be happening?" I found myself wonderin'.

As I tracked his flight throughout the night,

I found myself believing "you know, this just might!"

With excitement, I drove to the Animal Reception Center,

And to my amazement, there was my beloved Paris, in his pet carrier!

A few simple signatures was all that it took,

Paris had sailed right through customs, with not so much as a second look!

With Paris all settled in his new London flat,

To my friends and team of helpers, I took off my hat.

"Operation Get Paris to London" was a tremendous success to my delight-

Many thanks and best wishes to all, and to all a good night!

Best Dog Parks in America

John Woestendiek over at The Baltimore Sun has posted a list of the top dog parks in the country as selected by Dog Fancy.

They are as follows:

The rest of the Top 10 are:

Jakcass Acres in New River, Ariz

Bow Wow Beach, Stow, Ohio

Broemmelssiek Park Off-Leash Dog Area, St. Charles, Mo.

Frankfort Bark Park, Frankfort, Ill.

Hammel Woods Forest Preserve Dog Park, Shorewood, Ill.

MonDaug Bark Park, Fort Washington, Pa.

Paw OK Dog Park, Oklahoma City, Okla.

South Brohard Beach Paw Park, Venice, Fla.

Wantage Dog Park, Wantage, N.J.

Woof! Pac Park, Santa Maria, Calif.

Dealing with Airline Embargoes During the Summer

Summer is upon us and many airlines have placed their annual embargoes on pets traveling as checked baggage or even as air cargo on specific routes. Different airlines have different rules once the temperature reaches 85 degrees and not being properly informed can be a huge inconvenience. Also, be aware that customer service personnel for passenger flights are most likely NOT well versed in the policy for pets. You should always contact the cargo desks for the most up to date policies.

Please remember these embargoes are in place for a very good reason, the safety and comfort of your pet. There are already numerous aspects of travel which create stress for your pet so there is no need to take needless chances with the heat. So is it possible to work with these restrictions and allow for safe pet travel during the summer?

The answer is a resounding YES. At Animal Land Pet Movers we work with airlines which have specific pet programs programs that allow your pet to travel comfortably and safely during the summer. All pets are kept in a climate-controlled area of the airline’s cargo offices before and after their flights. They are kept in this environment until it is time for them to board, so they are never left out on the tarmac where they can suffer the effects of inclement weather. We also monitor ever flight so in case of delays, we are able to notify the appropriate personnel to make arrangements.

Also, because of our status as professional shippers, there are some instances where we are able to accomplish certain moves when the general public could not.

General Information for International Pet Travel

Relocating pets internationally can be a complicated process. There is a great deal to consider, including import and export documentation, veterinary procedures, timing, airline policies, travel crate requirements, the possibility of quarantine and custom's policies in your destination country.

There are many sources to find information regarding the specific country you are traveling to. Of course we have a complete database of requirements and are glad to help. However, you can also check with the consulate and the agriculture department in your destination country.

Below are the general questions you should seek answers to before shipping your pet:

* Are there any special restrictions for pets being imported into your country?

* What documents are required to import my pet?

* Are any special vaccinations or tests required for my pet?

* Are there specific country restrictions?

* Are there any special quarantine requirements for a pet being imported?

* Is there a way to avoid or minimize the qurantine?

* Are there any country/local holidays during or around the time of my planned trip?

* What airline will I use?

* How will my pet clear customs?

There are other nuances for each country, however the above list of questions is a good start. One word of caution, there is also a great deal of misinformation on the internet so it is always a good idea to double check with an independent source. We are always here to help, so please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

The Truth about Relocating Birds

Many parrots and other exotic birds have life spans in excess of 50 years. This in conjunction with their engaging and unique personalities make them a cherished member of the family. We are often asked about the regulations for traveling abroad with birds.

The good news is that it is possible (to most locations). With the scare surrounding avian flu, some countries have instituted a complete ban so please check with us regarding your ultimate destination.

The bad news is, it is an expensive and involved process. The first obstacle we usually encounter is many exotic pet birds are actually endangered species. You can check if your pet is on the Endangered Species List by going here http://www.cites.org/.

If your pet is indeed on the list, then we will have to obtain special export permits as well as arrange inspections on the day of travel. We usually also must obtain similar permits for import in the destination country.

The second hurdle is that quarantine is often involved in the destination country. As many countries are still formulating their policies surrounding pet birds, reliable information can be difficult to obtain.

There is a mandatory 30 day quarantine for birds returning to the US. However, if you have the proper paperwork when you leave the States, it is sometimes possible to avoid quarantine upon re-entry.

Our best suggestions for planning to travel with your pet bird is as follows:

1) - Check with www.cites.org to see if they are an endangered species;
2) - Keep all paperwork surrounding when and where you got your bird as this will help tremendously with the paperwork;
3) - Do lots of research (we can help) on the regulations in your destination country.

Dedication is the Key

Persistence, hard work and dedication is our motto at Animal Land Pet Movers. But this pug certainly gives us a run for our money.


Pesky Pug - Watch the best video clips here

Myth vs. Fact - "The Cargo Hold is Indeed Pressurized"

There are many misconceptions surrounding the safety of transporting pets by airplane. One of the more common myths is "the cargo hold of the plane is not pressurized".

For the record, not true. The fact is the cargo hold of the commercial aircraft which accept pets for travel are pressurized. An airplane is just a big tube with the floor separating the passenger compartment from the cargo hold. It is more efficient to pressurize the entire tube than to attempt to compartmentalize.

One source of the misconception may come from some of the larger airplanes such as 747s. Many larger planes actually have 4 separate compartments or "bins". In these aircraft bins 2 and 3 (the middle two) are often unpressurized. However, bins 1 and 4 are pressurized which works out well because this also ensures pets are the last to be loaded on the plane and the first to be taken off.