Importing Pets Into The United States

We here at Petmovers.com are committed to moving pets safely around the world. We focus a great deal of attention on all of the regulations for various countries and how to best comply with both the written word and the nuances we have uncovered through years of experience.

However, I am always surprised by the number of requests we get for the regulations for pets coming into the US. Luckily they are pretty easy.

1 - The pets must have a rabies shot which is between 30 days and a year old;

2 - They must have a health certificate dated with 10 days of arrival.

That's it! There is an additional form required if you are importing a puppy or kitten which we can provide.

Some countries do have export regulations and you should check to make sure you comply with those. Also, if your pet is not traveling as excess baggage or in cabin, you will need to make arrangements to clear customs in the US. If your flight is arriving late in the afternoon, you should make arrangements to "pre-clear" your pet so they don't have to spend the night in a kennel waiting for Customs to open.

The Importance Of A Good Feeding Schedule When Traveling

Pets are like humans in so many ways, and the importance of a regular eating schedule is one of these areas. Like human, pets stay healthier when they are on a regular eating schedule, and especially when traveling. So how can you make sure that they are well taken care of as they travel? Here are a few tips.

First, when you know what the travel schedule is going to be, start ahead of time to adjust the pet’s eating schedule to be consistent with the schedule they will have while traveling. Don’t wait until the last minute if possible to make any changes, since their digestive systems do better with gradual changes instead of rapid changes.

Second, don’t change the food that they eat when traveling. Plan ahead to provide the same food that they normally eat, so that they are used to the food, and you know it agrees with them.

Third, pack what your pet will need for the trip, and then some. Don’t get caught short in case of delays, This includes your pet's food, water and food bowls, grooming equipment and any medication they may require.

Fourth, make it easy for those moving your pet to properly take care of it. Food and water dishes must be securely attached and accessible to caretakers without opening the kennel. Keep their general feeding schedule in mind, and make sure that all those taking care of your pet have this information.

Fifth, do not feed your pets within 6 hours of travel. Pet's stomachs can become irritated and unsettled during travel. By not giving them anything to fill up their stomachs, you greatly reduce their chances of undue stress during their journey.

Lastly, make sure you walk your pet right before he leaves for the plane. I am sure we can all relate to the stress of having to "hold it" during a long trip and your pet will appreciate the chance to avoid it!

Is Your Dog Hot? In Need of Exercise?

Then you definitely need to install one of these:

Pet Travel - Best Airline to Use when Moving 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.

Be Prepared for Your Pet's Medical Emergencies

Being prepared, whether traveling or at home is always important for your pets. We would like to offer some helpful suggestions for knowing what to do.

Find out if your veterinarian accepts emergency and after-hours calls. Get that phone number if it's different from the regular clinic phone number. If your vet doesn't take emergencies, find the emergency veterinary clinic closest to you. Always have the emergency phone number on hand, in case you need it. Once an emergency happens, it's too late to go searching through the phone book.

Attending to cuts or bites-The first thing to do is muzzle your pet to protect yourself from getting bitten. Even the friendliest pet will bite when afraid or in pain. If you don't have a muzzle you can fashion one out of old nylons or an old tie. Let it slide as far back (toward the head) as possible. Don't muzzle an animal that's having difficulty breathing or is unconscious. It's difficult to muzzle a cat.

Try wrapping her in a towel to help control her movements and protect you from her claws. Once the mouth is secured, inspect the wound. Remove any debris, dirt, or foreign objects. Gently rinse the abrasion with saline or regular water and a mild soap. It's OK to apply an antibiotic cream or spray; just be sure to bandage the wound so your pet doesn't lick the cream or spray.

If there's a gaping wound, once it's cleaned, cover it with a gauze bandage and wrap it with a roll of gauze or a clean towel. Then, the bandage should be held in place by adhesive tape. The bandage should be snug, but shouldn't cut off circulation to the wounded area or cause further damage. If there's bleeding, use an old towel or gauze bandage to apply firm pressure to the wound to help stop or slow the bleeding then, take the animal directly to the veterinarian.

Treating Stings - If your pet is stung by a bee or wasp, use tweezers to remove the stinger. Apply a cool compress on the sting or bite, such as a towel soaked in cold water, or an ice pack (ice in a plastic bag, wrapped in a cloth or towel) Cortisone cream can be applied to the bite; just be sure the pet can't ingest the cream. You'll need to put on an Elizabethan collar or bandage the wound.

Treating Burns - Rinse the burned area with cool water. Apply an ice pack to the area. The ice shouldn't be placed directly on the skin. Put it in a plastic bag or wrap and cover it with a cloth or thin towel. Then take the animal directly to the veterinarian. Note: DON'T use any ointments, gels, Vaseline, butter, or other oily substance on the burned area. That may cause further damage.

It IS possible for your pet to get sunburned, especially animals with white fur, thin hair (as young or old animals are more likely to have), or in areas that have no hair. The best idea is to prevent sunburn by putting sun block on the exposed skin of your pet, such as the nose, tips of ears, and hairless part of the abdomen. If these areas do get sunburned, applying a cool, wet towel will provide immediate relief for the pet. And applying aloe vera gel to the burns will help with the healing process.

Treating Heat Stroke - Your pet us susceptible to heat exhaustion or heat stroke when exposed to prolonged periods of heat and sunlight. Signs of heat exhaustion are excessive panting, anxiousness, dry gums, redden skin (most easily seen on the ears). The signs of heat stroke are lethargy, wobbly walking, and loss of consciousness. If either of these occur, cool the pet right away and, as always, get him or her to the veterinarian. Put the animal in a shaded or air conditioned area, wet the body with cool (not cold) water. Rubbing isopropyl alcohol on the belly and fanning the area will help dissipate the heat. If a pet is suffering from heat stroke, don't try to give water. Get him or her to the vet immediately.

Prepare Your Pet for Summer Travel

As the summer heat approaches, we wanted to offer some tips to make sure your pets' travel during the summer is as safe and comfortable as possible!

Under Coat Removal: Most experts recommend against shaving your pet for the summer months. A dog's coat helps to protect his skin from the sun and provides insulation from the heat. Dogs don't sweat to cool themselves the way people do, so they don't need exposed skin to stay cool.

Shaving double-coated breeds like Golden Retrievers, German Shepards and Shelties does not keep them cooler as their undercoats help protect them from the elements. By shaving them down you destroy the natural protective properties their coats offer them.

However, regular brushing and combing to maintain the coat are important during the spring and summer months. If your dog is badly matted or tangled, their coat may actually trap the heat and humidity close to the skin, adding to their discomfort.

You can improve their comfort by removing just the dead undercoat as this will eliminate the natural barriers which can trap heat. Bringing your double-coated breed into a salon for a professional undercoat removal prior to departure is a great way to help them feel comfortable.

TRAVEL CRATES: Your pet will spend most of their travel time inside their travel crate. The following tips will help make this as pleasant as possible:
Acclimate your pet to his crate: The #1 most important step in the process! Please make sure you give as much time as possible for your pet to acclimate to their travel crate. Our previous post for some suggestions here: http://petmovers.blogspot.com/2008/03/how-to-prepare-pet-for-travel.html.

Ventilate all four sides: Every travel crate should be ventilated on ALL FOUR SIDES of the crate. If your travel crate does not have holes on the back, you can use a drill to make them. Depending on the size of your pet, we recommend that you drill even rows of holes, about 5 holes across and 3 rows down. The holes should be as big as possible, without your pet being able to stick his nose or paws through. Generally a half or 3/4 inch drill bit does the job.

Always Provide Water Dishes: The clip on bowls from the pet store work ok, however if you have a bigger pet, consider fastening a plastic Tupperware bowl to the door of the kennel with a zip tie. A great way to ensure your pet has access to water for as long as possible, freeze the water in each dish the night before travel. This will ensure it doesn't spill out during the ride to the airport.

Provide Suitable Bedding: The airlines require there to be "absorbent" material in the bottom of all travel kennels. We have found that shredded newspaper is the absolute best. A liberal amount is recommended. The newspaper is easily discarded at the other end and provides comfortable padding during the trip. An old T-shirt with your scent on it for comfort is also a good idea. Try to avoid thick blankets and beds as they trap heat during the summer.

Avoid Battery Operated Fans: While they are great for cooling your pet at home and in the car, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) will no allow any batter operated devices on the plane. If you attach them, they will most likely be confiscated.

Dog Proverbs

"In dog years I'm dead" -- Unknown

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear." -- Dave Barry

"To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs."

-- Aldous Huxley

"A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down." -- Robert Benchley

"Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in? I think that is how dogs spend their lives." -- Sue Murphy

"Did you hear about the dyslexic agnostic insomniac who stays up all night wondering if there really is a Dog?" -- Unknown

"No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture unless

absolutely certain that he can hold his own in the conversation."

-- Fran Lebowitz

"I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious

cult." -- Rita Rudner

"My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That's almost $7.00 in dog money." -- Joe Weinstein

"You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with

pets." -- Nora Ephron

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are

wonderful." -- Ann Landers

"Women and cats will do as they please and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." -- Robert A. Heinlein

"In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should

have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him."

-- Dereke Bruce, Taipei, Taiwan

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."

-- Ben Williams

"When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem."

-- Edward Abbey

"Cat's Motto: No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look

like the dog did it." -- Unknown

"Money will buy you a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his

tail..." -- Unknown

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his

life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the

last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"

-- Unknown

International Pet Travel - When to Get Started

International Pet Travel is not something best left to the last minute. Many countries require advanced planning and it is rarely too early to get started. Advanced planning is crucial to either avoid quarantine, or even enter at all in some instances. Below is a quick guide on when you should start making arrangements for various countries:

JAPAN - 7 Months - The requirements to get into the Land of the Rising Sun are quite arduous and a good 7 months of planning is required.

UK - At the very least 6 months in advanced is required. Quarantine time in the UK can be avoided all together if the proper procedures are followed.

AUSTRALIA - 6 months are required. The pet must do 30 days in quarantine but all procedures must be followed or more time could be required.

SINGAPORE - Technically only about 45 days preparation are required, however there has been a recent run on actual space and we would advice making contact at least 90 days in advance.

Pet Travel - Myths and Facts

There is a tremendous amount of questionable information on the web regarding moving your pet. This is compounded by the fact people often turn to the airlines for advice. The problem is the passenger information representatives are not trained on pet travel requirements so they often give wrong or inconsistent information. We thought we would go over some common misconceptions.

Myth - There are Pet Only airlines. Fact - All pets fly on commercial flights.

At the current time there are no Pet Only airlines. All pets fly on commercial passenger and cargo airlines.

Myth - My pet can fly in the cabin with me. Fact - Most pets fly in the cargo area of the airplane.

The vast majority of pets fly in the cargo compartment of the plane. If the pet is small enough to fit under the seat (about 15 pounds or less) AND the airline you choose allows, he may be able to fly in cabin. It is wise to double check this with the specific airline as information is often inconsistent.

Myth - My pet will freeze/suffocate to death in the cargo hold. Fact - The holds where pets fly are pressurized and temperature controlled.

The cargo holds where pets fly are the same temperature and pressure as the cabin as it is the same air circulated throughout the entire aircraft. On some larger planes there are indeed cargo compartments which are not temperature controlled, however pets are not loaded in these areas.

Myth - I'll just book my pet as excess baggage. Fact - It is not always that easy.

Many airlines do not allow pets at all. Others restrict the time of year they can travel as excess baggage as well as the number of pets which can travel on a certain flight. Also, the size of the pet is a big factor as larger dogs can only fit on a few types of aircraft. Pet owners should call the cargo department of the airline they would like to use (not the main number for passenger reservations) and make sure the flight they would like is available for pets.

Myth - So I have to use a Pet Moving Company? Fact - No, you can do it yourself.

For most domestic moves, a careful pet owner can arrange for relocation on their own. However, there are many pitfalls and advanced planning and follow up are crucial. A Pet Moving service is certainly recommended for the majority of international relocations as one missed detail can mean months of quarantine or refusal of entry.

Dog Shipping - How To Move 4 dogs over 10 Thousand Miles

Some pet relocations are easier than others. We are pleased to report Animal Land Pet Movers just 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 Relocation - Pets to Australia

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.

Pet Travel - Best Pet Friendly City in the Country

In the "Who would have thought" category, New York City was named as the top pet-friendly city in the United States by Animal Fair Magazine.

Animal Fair also named Continental Airlines as the best pet-friendly airline because of their PetSafe Program. We at Animal Land Pet Movers could not agree more. Continental is a wonderful organization to work with and we use them whenever we can.

Pet Travel - WHAT KENNELS ARE AND ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE

To be acceptable for flight, a kennel must have hard plastic sides and a door with a clasp in front. It is preferable that you get the ones that screw shut. We have never had a problem with the other kinds, however if you use them, we always add some zip ties around the edges just to make sure. The most widely used brands are the Pet Travel Mate, Vari Kennel and PetMate.

The kennel pictured is our favorite. They come in a variety of sizes, are ventilated on all four sides and screw shut. You can view the various sizes HERE: If you have the type of kennel with the type of latches that twist closed, we recommend putting zip ties on each side of the kennel to secure it. We have never had a problem with ALL of the latches coming loose, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

The wire kennels are not acceptable for flight. Neither are the Nylabone collapsible kennels or anything with wheels on it. The kennels which have the doors that open from the top are also not acceptable.

As USDA rules require that anyone be able to open the door of the kennel without use of any special tools, in case of emergency, it is not permitted to put a regular zip tie on the kennel door. However, they do manufacture zip ties which have a release mechanism and you can us these. It is very helpful in case the kennel is accidentally jostled as it will prevent the door from popping open.