International Pet Travel - Taking Pets to Mexico

Mexico City with its 23 million people is the largest city in the western hemisphere by population and second largest in the world!

Needless to say, we send a pet or two there. The good news is that it is really easy to get there. The one caveat is that we highly recommend using an agent to clear customs. We have had clients who have had difficulties doing it on their own. Of course we can help set this up for you.


The requirements are as follows:

1) Rabies shot between 30 days and a year old with the original rabies certificate;
2) All pets must be fully vaccinated.
Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, Leptospirosis, (DHLPP);
Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP)
3) International Health Certificate - Most Vets carry the APHIS Form 7001. If not, we can instruct them on where to get it. It must be issued within 10 days of arrival.

There is no requirement that the health certificate be endorsed by the USDA. Let us know if you have any questions. Ole!

A Healthy Pet Travels Better

By Valerie Marshall, Animal Land's Director of Marketing

Diet is always the first line of defense and is the foundation of health. A pet of sound mind and body will deal with the stress of traveling easier.

If your companion is consuming highly processed food that provides only minimal nutrition and includes any number of toxins such as chemical preservatives, food dyes, additives and fillers, his immune system is being depleted daily just to cope with his diet. Fresh food is the first step in building a strong immune system. Many people wait until their animal has a serious or chronic illness such as cancer, kidney disease or allergies (to name a few), to finally change the diet. Prevention is so much kinder and immeasurably more effective. Feeding a varied diet that includes as much fresh food as possible does take a bit more effort than scooping kibble out of a bag, but it is truly worth the effort in the long run.

One of the benefits of a healthy diet is a healthy gastrointestinal tract. If the digestive tract is weakened by inflammation from allergies or inflammatory bowel disease or other digestive disorders, even the nutrients in a healthy diet are harder to process and absorb. Healing and maintaining the digestive tract is vital to overall health and immunity. Digestive enzymes, probiotics and essential fatty acids all play a role in gastrointestinal health and proper digestion.

Exercise must also be mentioned for its role in helping build and maintain a strong immune system. Moderate exercise has been shown to improve immune factors in humans and animals. Weight control is also key – overweight animals are much more susceptible to chronic and acute diseases and infections. Proper diet AND exercise are needed to help with weight control.

Keep your pet's health in mind during the preparation of your move. It is just as important as acclimating your pet to his new travel crate. Make the commitment and the whole family will enjoy the venture more.

Happy travels,

Valerie Marshall

Handling Heat 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.

How To Move 4 Dogs over Ten Thousand Miles!

Some pet relocations are easier than others. We are pleased to report Animal Land Pet Movers successfully completed one of the more involved relocations. Where there is a will, there is a way!

The challenge: Get 4 dogs from Mauritius to Freeport, Grand Bahamas, a distance of over 10 Thousand miles. Seemingly impossible, but Elvis, Carlos, Suki and Jimi are now relaxing by the shore.

We enlisted the help of our good friends at Move-A-Pet in South Africa and arranged the flight from Mauritius to South Africa along with all the necessary import and export permits. Next it was on to Amsterdam and then Atlanta. Next, all of the paperwork for The Bahamas had to be completed in Atlanta and because there are limited flights for pets into the Islands, we arranged for a friend with a plane to get them to Freeport.

We landed and hand delivered the paperwork through customs to unite the guys (and girls) with their relieved owners. In all, this pack traveled over 10 thousand miles during the span of six days and were troupers throughout! Thanks again to all who made this possible.

Pet Travel - Taking Your Pets to South Africa

We send quite a few pets to South Africa as it is a gorgeous country and many expats return.

Johannesburg is the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills. Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from the rest of southern Africa.

Cape Town is famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Although I have never been, it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a climate that puts San Diego to shame.

The requirements for dogs are quite detailed and they are not done properly, the South African authorities will send the pet back at the owner's expense. We get calls!

Luckily Animal Land Pet Movers have Igna Traube as a International Personal Move Counselor. She is from South Africa and with Afrikaans as her native language, we are able to navigate the waters for our clients. The basic requirements are as follows:

1. Microchip: Each pet will need to be microchipped prior to departure.

2. Rabies Vaccination: Each pet will need a rabies vaccination between 30 days and a year old.

3. Blood Tests (For Dogs Only): Dogs must have the following blood tests within 30 days of arrival :

• Brucella Canis
• Trypanosoma evansi
• Babesia Gibsoni
• Dirofilaria immitis
• Leishmania

Your Personal Move Counselor will give you and your vet a check list of exactly how to accomplish the above as specific methods of testing are required in order for the results to be valid .

4. Import Permit: We will arrange this for you.

5. South African Health Certificate: South Africa has its own Health Certificate which needs to be issued and endorsed by the USDA within 10 days of arrival. We will fill out the form and email it to your vet to sign. We will also instruct you on where to send the document for endorsement.

6. International Health Certificate (Aphis Form 7001): Most vets carry this standard form.

7. Six Months of Heartworm Medication: This must accompany each pet.

You and your pets are now ready for Safari!

Animal Transportation - The Best Airline to Use When Flying Your Pet

There are many airlines to use when attempting to relocate your pets. As with any business, some companies are better than others.

First a quick word about airlines that won't move your pets. Jet Blue, Skywest and US Air are the main ones who do not move pets at all. Air Tran will allow small pets on the plane, but you should check with them about availability as they restrict the number of pets they will allow on any one flight.

When it comes to the airline to use when transporting your pet, there is one that stands above the rest, Continental Airlines. They have dedicated equipment in addition to well trained, friendly employees who truly have your pet's safety in mind. The easy answer is if your routing is serviced by Continental Airlines, you should use them.

Pet Resources In London

London is one of our most popular destinations. We have previously posted on how to avoid quarantine for pets going to the UK, and thought we would list some resources once you get there.


Veterinarians



The Hyde Park Veterinary Center

Website: www.hydeparkvet.co.uk

Email: hydeparkvet@aol.com

Telephone: 020 7723 0453



Portman Veterinary Clinic

Website: www.portmanvetclinic.co.uk

Email: info@portmanvetclinic.co.uk

Telephone: 020 7723 2068



The Park Veterinary Practice

Website: www.parkvets.co.uk

Email: info@parkvets.co.uk

Telephone: 020 8542 4524


Complete List of Veterinarians in the London Area by Location


Boarding Facilities



Loggerheads Cattery

Website: www.loggerheads.org.uk

Email: info@loggerheads.org.uk

Telephone: 020 8531 2134


Silverdale Boarding Kennels
Website: www.Siverdale-kennels.com
Email: info@Silverdale-kennels..com
Telephone: 020 8890 1784


Windmill Farm
Website: www.windmillfarm.com
Email: info@windmillfarm.com
Telephone: 020 8660 7511


Complete List of Boarding Facilities in the London Area by Location



Pet Sitting


Paws & Claws
Website: www.pawsclaws.co.uk
Email: enquiries@pawsclaws.co.uk
Telephone: 07985 743719 or 07739042391


Fetch
Website: www.fetchdogcare.co.uk
Email: jcooper49@btinternet.com
Telephone: 020 8480 7061

Getting Started With Pets to Australia - Pet Relocation

Australia is certainly one of the more involved countries to send pets to and we highly recommend consulting a professional pet relocation service.

The key is to get started at least 5 months before you plan to depart. There is a mandatory 30 quarantine at a facility in Australia. However, you must do the correct blood tests and paperwork to be eligible for only 30 days.

To correctly begin the procedure, you need to:

1. Insert a microchip - AVID and Home Again are the most popular
2. Give your pet a rabies shot - It doesn't matter if he had one a month ago if he didn't previously have a microchip inserted
3. Blood draw for the Rabies Titre - We can provide your vet with details on where to send the sample

The clock starts ticking when the blood is drawn so the above will at least get you started on the right path.

Also, please do NOT vaccinate your dog against Leptospirosis (the "L" in a standard DHLPP vaccine). Instead please give the DHPP vaccine. Giving the Lepto vaccine can result in a false positive on the Lepto test which is required before your dog can enter.

Tips on Moving With 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/.