Pet Travel Crate

 

There are many details to consider when getting a pet ready for a move, but one of the most important things to remember -- especially during the warmer months -- is the importance of hydration.

Making sure your furry little travelers have enough water in their system before, during, and after a move can make all the difference when it comes to their overall well-being, and it will make it easier for them to bounce back to their normal selves after even the longest journey.

Here are a few general tips, including how to keep your pet hydrated, that will come in handy in the hours before take-off. Travel safely, everyone!

Keep your pets on a normal schedule. Feeding and exercise should be monitored in the days before the flight to keep pets feeling as calm and normal as possible. A couple of extra walks and more playtime than usual will tire them out and increase the chances of up-in-the-air nap time, and having water available in the hours beforehand will allow them to reach healthy levels of hydration.

Don't feed pets right before a flight. Even if there's a long journey ahead, it's better to avoid food for two hours or more before take-off so that an upset tummy will be less likely.

Say NO to sedation. You may have a generally nervous pet on your hands, but sedation can be dangerous and is not advised or allowed. The best you can do is make sure your pet is well-exercised and comfortable with the travel crate, so start working on these factors well in advance of the move.

Monitor water consumption. Give your pets water before they get into their crate, secure water dishes to the inside of the crate so they have access to fluids during the flight, and you can even freeze water in the travel dishes beforehand or bring ice cubes along so that as they melt your pet will have another chance to drink.

Check for temperature embargoes. Many airlines restrict pet travel during the summer months, so make sure you have clear answers about any changes there may be in order to avoid delays or problems.

Double check with your Pet Relocation Specialist that everything is in order. Things are probably well-covered after all of this, but it  never hurts to run down the list once more if you've hired someone to help you.

Keep track of your own stress level. Some people feel inclined to limit their pet's water intake to avoid accidents in the crate -- use your own best judgment here, and don't forget that it's fine to place an old towel or some shredded newspaper in the bottom of the crate to absorb messes. Also, remember that air travel tends to dehydrate humans, too. If your pets are thirsty when they land, simply help them rehydrate as you would do yourself and focus on helping them to settle into their new surroundings.

 

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any more questions about traveling with pets.

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Leigh Ann
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
From: China
To: America

Hi,
I will be moving back to America from China and will be bringing my cat with me. While on the long flight, do I need to provide litter for my cat? If so, in China, you cannot find disposable litter boxes. Do you have another suggestion?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Leigh Ann

 

Hi Leigh Ann,

That's a great (and frequently asked) question. We do not recommend litter in the travel crate -- this would probably make more of a mess than it's worth. Rather, we suggest placing something absorbent in the bottom of the crate, such as an old towel or some shredded newspaper.

Hope this helps! Please contact us if you have more questions about moving a cat to the United States or if you'd like a free quote for our services. Good luck with everything!

Name: Barb
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Golden Retrievers
From: Frisco, TX (Dallas suburb)
To: London, England

Hi! We may be moving overseas ( we will know in about 30 days). We know the rules have changed. Question is: Our one golden is 10 years old and hyper and in great shape. Is she too old to travel nine hours? (Our other golden is only 5 years old.) Thanks!

Will keep you informed....

Barb
 

Hi Barb,

Thanks for your question. You're right, the UK pet import rules have recently changed, but of course it's normal to still have questions about how to move your pets overseas.

Here at PetRelocation.com we have flown dogs that were ten years old and older. There may be greater risks associated with older pets, so it's great news that your pup is in good shape. The best you can do is keep her fit and healthy in the weeks before the flight, choose a large crate that will allow for plenty of airflow, and finally, talk to your vet about the trip to see what she/he advises.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Barb. We'd be happy to help you with your move if you do end up going overseas!

 

 

Name: Maria D
Number of Pets: Three
Pet Type: (One dog and two cats)
From: Dubai, UAE
To: NY, US

 

Hi,

We are planning to relocate to NYC with our dog and two cats in due course. All the pets are up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Could you talk us through the process so that we are 100% prepared when the time comes?

Thanking you in advance,
Maria

 

Hi Maria,

Thanks for reaching out to us.... We'd be happy to direct you with a few links and documents, and if you're interested in our door-to-door services you can also fill out our free quote form if you'd like.

Here are the pet import requirements for the United States as well as some information about pet travel crates and a few helpful resources. We also can't overemphasize the importance of choosing a pet-friendly airline and trustworthy customs agents/drivers who may be helping you along the way.

Hopefully this gets you off to a great start. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with your trip!

It's never too late for a few pet news links... Have a great weekend everyone!

 

What are you doing this weekend? We're going to the Mighty Texas Dog Race!

PCSing with your pets.

Dog distractions. Be careful driving with your pet!

Six Tips For Pet Travel Success via @CheapOair.

The latest, coolest pet gear.

What's cuter than a pet with a new toy?

Preparing for pet travel -- how to crate train a cat.

ICYMI: our 5 quick tips for Easter pet travel.

 

Keeta shows us how a proper weekend should be enjoyed

Planning a relocation that includes your pets adds a fair amount of prep work to the equation. Not only do you have to research pet import requirements, schedule vet visits, and buy an airline-approved travel crate, you'll need to help your furry friend feel comfortable spending time in the crate as best you can.

Some pet owners are lucky to have dogs or cats that tolerate or even like stepping into their home-away-from-home, but others have a challenge at hand. Based on general personality traits it seems easier to help dogs gradually accept crates and learn to treat them as a safe and cozy place, but we all know that cats can be a different story.

Before you throw up your hands in defeat imagining a lot of hissing, scratching, and yowling from your one-of-a-kind kitty, take a look at the following tips and give crate-training a try. Your cat will probably never love the experience, but with time and patience applied to the situation, you can at least remove some of the discomfort.

Familiarity - It's a problem if cats only associate travel crates with being jostled around in the car and then taken into the vet's office to be poked and prodded. Try leaving the crate out in a room where the cat often goes so that the sight of it becomes less of an event and just a part of everyday life instead.

Treats - Always leave the door open and place toys inside the crate to pique feline curiosity. When the cat goes near it or inside it, offer praise and maybe a yummy snack. Soon your little skeptics will begin to put two and two together and will look to you for a handout each time they step inside.

Time - Don't expect change to happen overnight. It might take weeks to see any progress, but with steady exposure and positive reinforcement, even the most stubborn kitty will show signs of progress.

Practice - Once your cat no longer freaks out at the sight of the crate and begins treating it like just another box to crawl inside of, it'll be time for some practice runs. Take a car ride around the block to start, and then try some longer drives so that when moving day arrives, that longer journey won't be such a shock.

Talk to your vet if you have any particular concerns about cat travel, and don't hesitate to ask your Pet Relocation Specialist for their own tips and advice, as well. We have lots of experience moving pets of all breed, size, and temperament, so don't be shy!

 

Travel crate? Yeah, I'll think about it.

 

Traveling with a pet this Easter weekend? Here are a few quick tips that will help make the experience run smoothly.

Plan Ahead - Are your hosts okay with you bringing your pet? Do they have any special requests or rules? Having an honest conversation before you arrive will minimize the possibility for tension. And, if you're staying in a hotel, be sure you've researched their pet policy to avoid any surprises.

Pack Well - Don't forget the basics, like food, medicine, an extra leash, dog baggies, and whatever else your furry pal needs to be safe and comfortable away from home.

Keep Moving - It may be tougher to manage during a fun break from reality, but do your best to take your dogs on lots of walks and give them plenty of attention and playtime. This will minimize the anxiety and possibility for misbehavior that can go along with changing a pup's schedule.

Beware of Treats - Easter, when there tends to be candy everywhere (and within the easy reach of children, no less), is an especially important time to make sure your dog doesn't eat anything harmful. Keep a sharp eye on those baskets and plastic eggs to keep them out of paw's reach.

Drive Safely - Letting pets roam around the car isn't safe for anyone. Use your trusty travel crate or a restraint of some kind when you're on the road, and do what it takes to make sure the driver isn't distracted by any yipping passengers.

Find a few more pet travel tips on our blog, and lease contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions.

 

(And don't forget to stop and smell the flowers)

Name: Stacy
Pet's Name: Neely
From: Connecticut
To: England

 

When I found out we were moving to England I was so excited and overwhelmed all at the same time! My biggest concern with the move was being able to bring my dog with me. The thought of leaving Neely behind was not an option, and the thought of transporting her overseas terrified me. At first, I was determined to get all of Neely's travel documentation and flight plans in order myself. However, with all the other stresses of moving and the possibility of me not being able to fly out with her, my husband decided it was time that I get some help.

My husband's employer had given me Cara's contact information so that I could talk to her to see what PetRelocation.com could do to help me. After the first phone conversation I instantly felt comfortable. Cara and Ashley had both walked me through every single step that I needed to take in order to get my dog over to England. They checked and double checked every piece of paperwork and answered any questions that I may have had. They kept on top of all the changes that were being made by DEFRA, and notified me immediately as to what those changes were. They made sure that Neely's crate was appropriate for travel, and even mailed us out a welcome pack!

When I found out that I needed to go over to England before I could get Neely out there, Ashley worked with my father to complete her travel requirements. On the day of Neely's travel, she was picked up at my parent's home and brought to the airport. Ashley had notified me when Neely was up in the air and gave me a confirmation number so that I could track her. They also kept in touch with my father to let him know the same. During her travel they made sure she had a pre and post- flight potty break as well as water and clean bedding. Once Neely cleared customs they called me to let me know that she would be delivered to me shortly.

When Neely arrived she acted as though she had been on one big adventure! She was so excited to be at her new home, and most importantly she arrived safely, clean, and happy!

It's now been close to three weeks since she arrived and she has settled in without a hitch! PetRelocation.com has made this moving experience stress and worry free. Cara and Ashley always took the extra step to make sure that everything was done right and that Neely would arrive home safely. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who has to transport a beloved pet and I would certainly use their services again in the future!

Thanks again Cara and Ashley!!!

Name: Claire
Pet's Name: Simon
From: Los Angeles, CA
To: Wilmington, NC
 

 

After learning that we could not easily fly with our snubbed nose breed Boston Terrier named Simon for our temporary work relocation to North Carolina, we searched online and discovered PetRelocation.com. We were very nervous to fly our baby in cargo and separate his travels from our own, but Pet Relocation had so many wonderful stories of past successful trips, and the information requests and quote process was so easily and professionally handled by our rep, Joe, that we were quickly put at ease.

Our baby was picked up and transported on two flights with a pet hotel rest in between, and we recuperated him the next day. He wasn't phased by the trip at all and seemed completely relaxed on arrival. His crate was well marked and you could tell he had been closely handled.

We will not hesitate to use PetRelocation.com for our return home! Thank you!!

 

 

Name: Michael
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Rhodesian Ridgeback
From: Czech Republic
To: Scotland

 

Can you advise me about the best way to move my dog to Scotland?

Thanks,

Michael

 

Hi Michael,

Thanks for contacting us! These are the pet relocation requirements for Scotland. You can also find some information about travel crates and other pet travel details on the PetRelocation.com website.

Please let us know if you have any more questions, or fill out our free quote form if you're interested in our services. Good luck with everything, and travel safely!

 

 

Since moving pets can be pretty complicated and will most likely coincide with a busy, stressful time in life, we're not surprised that we receive a lot of questions from overwhelmed pet owners about the logistics, the details and the costs of pet travel.

We've been shipping pets for a while now and have pretty much heard it all... Here are a few of the most frequently asked pet travel questions (along with our basic answers). Remember, no one is alone in this!

 

How do I know what the requirements are for the country I'm moving to?

Making sure that a pet's journey runs smoothly begins with research. Many countries have detailed import instructions on their own official websites; stringent countries like Australia outline almost everything while other places may not be so forthcoming, so you may need to check another source -- like IATA  or the country pages on the PetRelocation.com -- to find out about health documents, vaccines, and possible quarantines.

Which airline should I fly with?

This is perhaps the most important decision you can make related to pet travel. It's key that you choose an airline that has established pet policies and solid safety measures in place to ensure that your pet is properly cared for, not left to sit on the tarmac, and respectfully transported overall. We have a short list of trusted airlines that include KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas and United, but check with us if you have any questions about this.

How do I know my pet will be safe?

This is probably the  most common question requiring the most nuanced answer. Again, safety primarily depends on selecting trustworthy airlines and transport agents, but you can also do your best to prepare your pet physically by keeping them in good shape, acclimating them to their travel crates and setting a good example for them by remaining calm and upbeat in the days before the trip.

Remember that sedatives are strongly discouraged (and generally not even permitted). With so many moving parts it's impossible to guarantee a journey 100% free of hiccups, but by following these basic guidelines you're putting your pet in the best position possible.

Why does it cost so much to ship a pet?

We've addressed the question of pet moving costs in greater depth in the past, but essentially it comes down to the details. By the time you add up import permits, health certificates, customs clearance, delivery fees, plane tickets and a few other considerations, it simply isn't going to be a cheap endeavor. Does it end up being worth it, though? Most pet owners would say "of course".

Should I move my pet at all?

This is a tough one, and for certain people it's a question that must be asked. Air travel is taxing for humans and for animals, and older pets or those in delicate health simply may not be up for it. Also, many people don't realize how much is involved with air travel and crossing borders, so if this is just a vacation (rather than a permanent move), it will probably be better to find a trusted pet sitter rather than jump through so many hoops unnecessarily.

Ultimately it is the safety of the pet that's the most important thing to consider, so often a conversation with your vet, your family, and your pet relocation specialist will help you figure this one out.

 

 

Still have questions? We're happy to help! Give our office a call and be sure to check out our Facebook page to connect with other pet travelers who probably have the same questions as you. Happy traveling, everyone!

 

 

 

Name: John
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Westie and Schnauzer
From: New Jersey, USA
To: Bogota, Colombia

What's the best way to ship my dogs overseas?

Thanks,

John

 

Hi John,

The best way to relocate dogs from the United States to Colombia is to check out the Colombia pet import requirements, plan out your vet visits (vaccines and health documents are required), find out about travel crates and choose one that's airline approved, and look into selecting a pet-friendly airline with established pet policies.

If you have any quesitons or if you'd like to find out more about our services, please contact PetRelocation.com. Thanks for the question, and good luck!

 

 

Thanks again for reaching out to us... Talk to you again soon!

 

More and more people are moving their pets these days, so we're doing our best to keep up by expanding the depth of talent here at PetRelocation.com. Our recent batch of new hires is a fresh, energetic, and capable bunch, and one of them recently took a few minutes to tell us how his first few weeks on the job have been. Here's what Joe had to say about his new role as a Pet Relocation Specialist!

Being a newbie is tough. You’ve got an enormous amount of new information to absorb, a diverse group of co-workers to acclimate to, a mountain of expectations hanging over your head, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool’s worth of respect to earn along the way. This is the mindset I had when starting at PetRelocation as a new specialist.

When I walked in the door the first day, all of those preconceived notions seemed to melt away. I was greeted by a crowd of smiling faces, introductions, and good luck wishes for the future -- not to mention a lovely welcome card accompanied by a Whole Foods muffin. Everyone was so positive about my future with the company, I later told my mom that my new co-workers were “suspiciously supportive” of my new place in their ranks. The dream was slowly taking shape.

Fast-forward to week three. I’ve joined the domestic specialist team, or “The D,” as I’ve begun calling it. I’m getting swallowed up by the intensity of the job, and feeling the heat. I can’t remember if it’s an airline-approved travel crate or a Taconic cage, a CITES-protected Conure or a WBCA lorikeet. My head is spinning to the point that I recently had a nightmare similar to the kind I used to have when I worked in a restaurant. It involves flubbing a move, making my fellow Specialist Amber cry and having to sit through a speech to the entire company, given by our leader Kevin, about how badly I dropped the ball. Wait, is this a dream, or is it a...

Enter supportive staff of all classifications and duties. They take me under their wing, guide me to the truth, answer my questions, and give me praise for the progress I’ve made already. They are the foundation for my growth with PetRelocation.com. They are my co-workers, my teachers and my friends. I tried to thank them by bringing in breakfast tacos one morning, but with the amount of help they’ve given me, nothing short of a Great Pyredane-sized taco will do.

My name is Smokin’ Joe Fraser, and I am a new PetRelocation Specialist.

 

Here's another behind-the-scenes look at being part of the PetRelocation.com crew from Specialist Sarah Smith. Contact us if you need help planning an upcoming pet move!
 

 

 

Name: PC
Pets' Names: Jaja and Leia
From: San Jose, Costa Rica
To: London, UK


Jaja and Leia are sisters, both 10 years old, and of mixed shepherd dog breed originally from Turkey, the first country I lived in overseas with my husband. My husband brought them home when they were pups on the day they were about to be taken away from his factory grounds by the local municipal who were rounding up strays.

Since then, they've moved with us to Honduras, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Costa Rica and now UK! Though they're seasoned travelers, we still dread the day when we have to pull out the carton boxes for packing.....the reckoning of what's coming and the resigned look in their eyes says it all.

The difference with this move is for the very first time, we're using the service of a door-to-door pet agent. For every single relocation in the past, I've personally handled all related paperwork, from the vaccinations to the relevant country's import and export documents, using agents only for certain route of the journey. The reason why we used PetRelocation.com this time was due to the trauma my husband and I experienced at Los Angeles airport when we had to fly with the doggies from Bangladesh to Costa Rica.

We were patting each other on the back after our first two flights went without a hitch, from Bangladesh to Hong Kong (overnight to rest the doggies), and then from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. During our last leg from Los Angeles to Costa Rica whilst we were on board, no one would tell us if our doggies were in the hold! After threatening to walk out of the plane, they finally told us that the doggies are still on the ground and have not been loaded due to missing paperwork! The airline then had to reopen the cabin door, remove our luggage and we then made a few frantic calls to try and retrieve our doggies from the cargo building. This all happened at 2 a.m. at the Los Angeles airport, us standing at the airport with two large dogs and crates, four suitcases, no taxis and no one in sight! To cut the long story short, after finding a taxi kind enough to accept the doggies we then hopped from hotel to hotel to search for a pet-friendly hotel. The following day was equally stressful because then we had to rebook all our flights and cargo space for the girls!

When we heard we were relocating to UK and knowing the quarantine laws have changed effective Jan 1, 2012, we both decided that we definitely cannot afford to have a repeat of our last experience and we wanted to make sure that everything goes smoothly this time. Not even the snow at Heathrow airport posed a problem....just unbelievable!

The girls went on their first walk in the woods today. We're introducing them to their walks slowly to acclimate them to the freezing weather in UK now. How I wished I could've read their mind when they saw snow since the last time they saw snow was almost 10 years ago in Turkey.

Everyone involved from Costa Rica to Houston to London were wonderfully attentive and professional. It makes such a huge difference not to worry about the "what ifs"! We'd like to thank Andreas and Dr Jose in Costa Rica and Jayne in London, and last but not least dear Ashley and Sarah. Your prompt replies by email and more importantly how you never hesitated to pick up the phone to call really makes all the difference. Thank you for bringing our girls home safe and sound.