When you woke up this morning, you probably stumbled to the coffee pot, and let the dog out, or fed the cat, or chatted for a few minutes with your parrot. It's amazing how these little moments can be taken for granted, until you realize that there are men and women out there who find themselves separated from their pets for six, twelve, and sometimes even eighteen months at a time, protecting our country.


On this Veteran's Day, consider remembering those who fought and those who continue to fight by helping a four-legged friend of a military member. Here are four great organizations whose missions, while very different, contribute to our veterans and their pets.

1. Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets

Military deployments and relocations can be difficult enough, but many military members find themselves faced with giving up their pets due to expenses related to long-term boarding, care and transportation for their pets. Guardian Angel's for Soldier's Pets works to "ensure the pets are reunited with their owners following a deployment (combat or peace-keeping mission)." They are looking for contributions in the form of monetary donations, volunteering and even foster homes.
Read more and donate via PayPal here.

2.  Operation Baghdad Pups

We first learned of SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups when we were contacted by a member of the military who found a cat in a pile of rubble while serving in Iraq and rescued her.  He came to us looking for a way to send Jasmine to his family's home in the States.  When we first looked into moving "Jasmine" out of Iraq, we didn't know where to begin.  Terri Crisp, an animal welfare activist, had just started Operation Baghdad Pups and -- even though Jasmine was technically not a "pup" -- she helped us get her to Kuwait and on a flight out of Kuwait City.  The emotional bond between soldiers and refugee pets in Iraq was featured in a documentary called No Dog Left Behind, which aired on the Military Channel (view the trailer).
We've set up a fundraising page on Operation Baghdad Pup's website - can you help us meet our goal of $500 to help make sure no buddy gets left behind?

3. Operation Noble Foster

This group is dedicated to providing foster homes for military cats during deployments. They are in need of tax deductible donations to help keep their program going, or anyone with a home they are willing to open temporarily to foster a military member's cat.

4.  Military Working Dog Adoptions

Have you ever wondered what happens to retired military working dogs (MWD's)?  Many of them are in need of loving forever homes.  We've written about this organization before, and highly recommend them if you are considering adopting a dog, particularly if you're looking for German Shepherd.  Many soldiers consider these dogs to be their best friends but cannot adopt them after service.  Help make sure a soldier's friend is taken care of by making a donation to MWDA via PayPal (scroll down to the "Donations" section of the page).

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A special thank you on this Veteran's Day to our nation's members of the military. We offer a 10% discount on all military relocations as a way of saying thank you, every day, for your service.

This video by the AdCouncil's The Shelter Pet Project focuses on the fact that many people are forced to give up their pets when moving domestically or internationally.  We realize not everyone can afford our door-to-door services but there's still a way to take your pets.  Check out MyPetRelocation, a great resource for pet moving and pet travel.  Best of all?  It's free!

Last week, I took my rescue dog Charlie into the vet's office and noticed some staggering statistics on a poster on the wall: obesity in pets is the number one health problem facing pets in America, with over 40% of pets dangerously overweight.  Today, for National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, I thought I'd focus on the dangers of pet obesity when traveling.




Obesity in pets can have similar health issues as humans, leading to arthritis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes.  Treats often hold hidden fat and sugar amounts. While you might think twice about drinking six sodas at lunch, the amount of sugar and fat in six soft drinks is equivalent to those in a premium pig ear available at local pet stores.

When traveling by air, obese animals can be more at-risk to have respiratory or cardiovascular issues because of their additional weight.  We typically recommend that overweight pets go on a diet prior to travel, particularly if they'll be traveling long distances, to prevent them from having weight-related problems when flying.

The video below from the Today Show offers advice on how to tell if your pet is obese. So help your pet today by doing a quick check to make sure he or she is a healthy weight.  It could add years to your pet's life, which means more wagging tails for you.

So you're planning on traveling with pets and you think you've gotten everything sorted out, when suddenly these questions cross your mind: What if my pet gets sick during travel or when he gets to his destination? What if my pet accidentally gets hurt?

We have human medical insurance for ourselves in case we should become ill or get injured and it's a good idea to get medical insurance for our pets for these same reasons. It is especially beneficial to have insurance for your pet if you are planning to travel because you never know what could happen.

Pet insurance will also help lower the costs of your pet travel expenses. When your pet is insured, you can get any of his ailments or conditions treated in a timely manner without having to worry about the costs so that your pet is healthy and ready to travel. In addition, you can visit any veterinarian with your pet insurance coverage, whether you're at home or across the country.

It's important to get your pet a thorough check by your veterinarian before traveling. That way, you can make sure that any possible issues are taken care of, and that all of your pet's prescriptions are filled and ready to go.

If you're planning a big move or trip, then you've already got enough on your mind without having to worry about what to do in the case of a veterinary emergency. Pet insurance provides peace of mind so that you can afford the costs of treatment if your pet gets hurt or sick so that you can get on and enjoy your trip. Happy travels!

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Stacy Kowalchuk is a rescue dog owner who works for Trupanion, an international pet insurance company based out of Seattle. Please feel free to contact her with any questions about pet insurance at stacy@trupanion.com.

Your pets are best friends.  They go everywhere together: they shop at the pet store, huddle together when at the vet's office and they even sometimes share a bed!  Many pet owners love seeing their pets bond together and, when it comes time to travel, take comfort in knowing that their pets will be making the big trip together.

But how close is too close for comfort and safety?  This question comes to us from our Facebook page (have you "Liked" us on Facebook?  No?  Why not?  It's fun!).  Jen H. writes "Is it possible if my two dogs are more comfortable together in one large crate to fly them in one together that is larger, so they keep each other company?"  Great question, Jen.  The answer is, as most things go with pet air travel, "It depends."

The Rule

For the most part, most dogs will not be able to travel in the same crate together, even if the crate is larger than necessary.  The reasons for this have to do with rules known as IATA LAR's (Live Animal Regulations).  The LAR's set the global standard for conditions for animals of all species, ages and sizes to travel by air.  Airlines must follow LAR's requirements for dogs and cats, which state that, "A maximum of two adult animals of comparable size up to 14 kg. (30 lbs.) each, that are used to cohabitation, may be shipped in the same container. Animals over that weight must travel individually."

The LAR's go on to say that, "Animals up to six months old from the same litter, up to a maximum quantity of three, may be shipped in the same container/compartment."

Simple, right?  Right?  Well, not so fast...

The Exception

Pet air travel always has a lot of exceptions.  Even if you have two small dogs you'd like to ship in the same carrier, the airline could reject the pets if they feel there is not sufficient ventilation or not enough room to move around within the crate.  Another issue can be your own pet's safety.  Sometimes even pets who are best friends can, when put in close quarters in stressful situations, turn on each other.  We do not allow any of our clients' pets to travel in the same container unless they are small enough to be separated by a partition (like mice).

The Bottom Line

Unless your dogs or cats are very small, they will not be able to travel in the same crate together.  And even if your pets meet the weight requirements to travel in the same crate together, it can still be risky to put them in the same container.  We recommend crate training well in advance of the flight to get your pets used to being in the same area but in different crates.  For the most part, airlines keep pets together throughout transport anyway so your pets will never be far from each other -- they'll just have their own comfortable space.

Ultimately, think about it from your perspective.  You may love your husband, wife or best friend, but would you want to sit in their lap all the way to Germany or Hong Kong?  Space can be good for pets, just like it's good for humans.  Help your pet get used to his crate ahead of time and you'll have two smiling faces in two roomy crates when you pick them up at the airport!

They called it "The Big One" and for good reason:  Hurricane Katrina, which swept through coastal states five years ago, was one of the five deadliest hurricanes on record as well as the costliest natural disaster ever recorded.

While the nation worked to help its friends and family in New Orleans, one NOLA-based business, K-9 Cab Pet Taxi, turned to help the group they knew couldn't help themselves: the pets.


Operated by Pat Spicer and her husband Dan, K-9 Cab Pet Taxi transported rescued animals to the rescue center in Gonzales, Louisiana by the dozen.   The Lamar Dixon Rescue Center housed dogs and cats, as well as horses, cattle, pigs, chickens and even exotic animals during the aftermath of the storm.

Not long after the rescue operations began, philanthropists T. Boone Pickens and his wife Madeline wanted to help relocate 20 rescued dogs from Tylertown, Mississippi to Rancho Santa Fe, California. 

"Problems arose due to spotty communications, limited fuel and FEMA had contracted every cargo vehicle in the area," Spicer told us.  "It was proving to be nearly impossible to accomplish our task."  Spicer put out a call to her fellow members of the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and our CEO, Kevin O'Brien, offered to help.  From our offices in Austin, PetRelocation.com coordinated communications and helped get Operation Pet Lift off the ground.

Mr. T. Boone Pickens and his wife flew into Baton Rouge, chartering a 737 flown by Continental Airlines, which accomodated even more rescues to be flown out of harm's way that day.
 
The plane was retrofitted so that pets could fly in the passenger cabin as well as the cargo hold, their crates secured in the seats of the plane. Pets were loaded on board and flown to Rancho Santa Fe, where they were able to receive improved care and more individualized attention.

It's hard to believe it's been five years since Operation Pet Lift.  The effort caught the attention of the world's news media, as well as animal lovers who sent in food and supplies for the abandoned pets.  Many pet owners were later reunited with their pets after the floods -- pets that they were forced to leave behind, not knowing what would become of them.


For her efforts in the Katrina pet rescues, Pat Spicer was awarded the 2007 IPATA Millie Woolf Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes a lifelong committment to the safe, reliable transportation of pets and further advancing the international pet travel community.  Pat is a true asset to the pet transportation industry and we encourage pet owners in New Orleans who might be looking for pet taxi and travel assistance to reach out to K-9 Cab Pet Taxi.
 

While we know our door-to-door pet travel services are top-knotch, we also recognize that they sometimes aren't be the best solution for everyone.  A huge factor when deciding whether or not to a pet relocation service is your anticipated budget, along with time constraints and individual travel logistics.  We often equate  the process of moving your pets with building a deck.  With the right supplies, information, planning and, yes, heavy lifting, anyone can build a deck.  However, most people don't have the time or resources to handle building a deck from scratch.  While it can cost more to hire a contractor to build a deck, ultimately you'll save yourself some struggle along the way.

But what if you simply can't afford pet travel services?  With a "Can-do!" attitude, moving your pet on your own is a possibility.  We read a post over at Wild Dingo today about a couple who moved their two dogs, Juno and Loki, from San Francisco to Geneva, Switzerland.  Their experience offered several lessons to be learned about how to move pets on your own, so we thought we'd recap them here:

1. Training, Training, Training.  While regular readers of our blog know how important it is to crate train their pets prior to travel, the Wild Dingo blog really drives the point home.  In San Francisco, to "escape the hustle and bustle of the airport" the dogs happily hopped into their crates.  They credited this with the crate "games" they'd played in advance.  Another more touchy situation came when, while going through customs clearance, one of their dogs slipped out of his collar.  Because their pets had been obedience trained, a simple "Come!" command sent their dog trotting back over to them. 
    
2. Ask for help.  In Mr. and Mrs. Wild Dingo's case, they enlisted the help of a couple of friends to drive the van with the dogs in it to the airport, while the pet owners followed behind in a rental car.  "Sure, they look a little unprofessional, but for the price of a few beers and a sushi lunch, you just can't go wrong," they wrote on their blog.  If you can't find a friend to help, there are always a lot of local pet relocation and pet taxi services who will arrange the origin (delivery to the airport) services for you.  Check out IPATA.com for a full listing.
    
3. Don't forget to have fun.  We've written a lot about how pets can pick up on your stress levels, which can often cause your pets unnecesary anxiety.  For Mr. and Mrs. Wild Dingo, their whole post recapping their pets' travel exudes a definite sense of confidence and calm, even in some particularly hairy situations!  In most of the pictures, Mrs. Wild Dingo is seen smiling and, despite a stressful situation, you can tell they were enjoying observing their pets' reactions to traveling.  This kind of attitude can make a world of difference in a pet's mental state.

We give the Dingo family an A+ for their excellent travel preparation and a fun recap to go with it!  With the right kind of attitude, even international pet moving doesn't always have to be stressful! 

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Looking for additional pet travel resources?  Check out MyPetRelocation, a free online guide to moving and traveling with your pets!

With the American Veterinary Medical Association hosting their annual convention in Atlanta this week where our our Director of Client Relations, Matt Kincaid, spoke about international pet travel regulations, we thought this would be a good time to post some pictures sent to us recently by a Facebook fan, Taylor, of her dogs enjoying a layover at the new dog park at the Atlanta airport!

Taylor lives in Switzerland with Slurpee and Klösti, her two "Klee Kais" who are miniature Huskies. She often finds herself traveling back and forth to the States with them and had promised to get some shots of them at the airport dog park at Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport.

The 1,000 square-foot airport dog park opened in December 2009 and features plenty of grassy space to run around, as well as a very cool dog sculpture!  Thanks for the pictures Taylor and safe travels!

Snub-nosed breeds like pugs, English bulldogs and Shih-Tzus are some of the most popular breeds of dogs out there.  Unfortunately, these short-nosed (also known as "brachycephalic") dogs are often at risk when flying or traveling because of the difficulty they can have when breathing.

However, pet owners who need to travel with their snub-nosed pets can take precautions to make sure their pooch can travel safely and comfortably.  Aside from at-home precautions like making sure your pet is crate-trained so he will experience less stress, and keeping pets well-hydrated during travel, a surgical procedure known as "soft-palate resection" could help your favorite snub-nosed dog breathe more easily-and stay safer while traveling.

We decided to ask veterinarian Patrick Mahaney, VMD CVA, a Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist at California Pet Acupuncture and Wellness (CPAW), Inc., to answer some common questions that pet owners might ask when considering the soft-palate resection for their pet travel needs.  Pet owners interested in the surgery for their pet should also contact their veterinarian to see if it is right for them.

1)       What exactly happens in the procedure? The procedure trims excessive tissue from the soft palate to better allow air to move from the mouth and nose into the trachea (windpipe).  The procedure may be paired with a rhinoplasty (yes, a "nose job") to increase the nostril diameter and nasal air transporting capacity of those dogs born with stenotic (abnormally narrow) nares (nostrils).  Additional surgery on other structures involved in the respiratory process may be included on an as needed basis.

2)       How long does it generally take?  The procedure takes less than 60 minutes, depending on the experience of the surgeon and the surgical technique used (laser may excise tissue more quickly than traditional surgical instrumentation).  The entire process of anesthetizing these high risk dogs, performing the surgery, and allowing for recovery from anesthesia must be accounted for when determining the time required for the procedure.

3)       What pets are good candidates for this procedure?  Dogs that are brachycephalic (brachy= short, cephalic= of, in, or relating to the head) are the primary candidates for this procedure.  Examples of Brachycephalic dog breeds include the Pug, Pekingese, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Shih Tzu, and mixes of these breeds (i.e., the "Puggle").  All brachycephalic dog breeds are inherently born with a combination of defects collectively termed Bracycephalic Respiratory Syndrome.  The degree to which if affects a particular dog varies based on genetics, body condition (overweight and less fit dogs are typically more affected), and environment (warmer and more humid environments often exacerbate respiratory difficulties).  Brachycephalic dogs having fewer defects and better body condition (i.e. not overweight) may be lower candidates for surgery.

4)       What are the risks?  There are inherent risks with any surgical procedure, including death.  Risks associated with the soft-palate resection include (but are not limited to) post-operative hemorrhage (bleeding), pain, infection, swelling, anorexia (decreased appetite), and prolonged surgical recovery time.

5)       Will all pets who undergo this surgery see an improvement in their respiratory system?  Every brachycephalic dog I have seen undergo this procedure shows improvement in their ability to oxygenate.  If a pet has a surgical complication, then a reduced degree of improvement may be seen.

6)       How much does this surgery generally cost?  The fee for this surgery depends on a variety of conditions, including geography (cities more expensive than rural), experience of the surgeon (board certified veterinary surgeons are likely more expensive than general practice veterinarians), length of hospitalization (shorter time period is less expensive), and need for resolution of surgical complications.  A reasonable estimate range is from $750-2500.

7)       What is the recovery time?  A pet undergoing the soft palate reduction surgery should stay hospitalized until the attending doctor can be certain that the pet is able to adequately ventilate.  Discharge from the hospital could be within 24 hrs post-surgery, but an owner should expect their pet to stay hospitalized as long as needed to ensure the best outcome.  Once home, a convalescent period of 10-14 days (or longer) must be undertaken to ensure adequate healing.

8)      Would you recommend it for pets who are going to have to travel by air?  Do you think it will help them fly more safely?  If a brachycephalic dog shows visible signs of reduce ability to breathe in a normal fashion, then that dog is at a greater risk for potentially life threatening health issues from the stress of travel.  Having surgery to correct their conformational abnormalities may lead to improved oxygenating ability and less stressful travel.

Interested in hiring Dr. Mahaney and live in the LA area?  Contact Dr. Mahaney on his website, or send him a message on Twitter or Facebook.

 

The day before the big move.  Kids are deciding which Barbies and Hotwheels to keep, you're throwing the last of the bathroom supplies in a box and that carefully planned packing list?  You packed it under your grandmother's china hours ago.  

But what about the pets?  Here are some last minute reminders to make sure your pets don't get caught in the moving day fray.

1.  Check over the crates.

We can't stress enough how important it is to make sure your pet's travel crate is up to travel standards before you get to the airport.  Bottom line: You do not want to be that person at the airport whose pets get refused for check-in because of a crate problem.  Go over the three S's of crates:  size, safety and style.

Size - Are your pets able to stand up comfortably in their crates, with 2-4 inches of clearance over the top of their heads when standing?  What about turn around?  The crate size is crucial to your pet's comfort, safety and ability to get on the flight at all.  A good rule of thumb: if it looks too small, it probably is.

Safety - Use zip ties to secure the bottom half of the crate to the top half, as the plastic bolts can sometimes become loose or break in transit.  You'll also want to have a few spare zip ties to secure your pet's crate door after you get him checked in.  Does your pet have a comfortable-fitting collar on with your new contact information and location?  Is there a leash attached to the top of the crate?  If someone needs to take your pet out of his crate in an emergency, they will need a way to securely walk him.

Style – For travel under the passenger cabin, crates must be hard-shelled plastic with ventilation on at least three sides (for international travel, ventilation is required on all sides). Collapsible crates made of wire or mesh are not accepted in the cargo hold. Got a snub-nosed pet? Snub-nosed breeds, like Pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats, should travel in crates with ventilation on all four sides to allow them plenty of air-flow.

2.  Keep them hydrated.

Water is your pet's best friend when traveling, but you can also help your pet beforehand by making plenty of water water available to him the day leading up to the flight.  Stressed out pets can sometimes forget their basic needs (like food and water) so be sure to monitor your pet in the days leading up to the flight to make sure they are not growing increasingly dehydrated.  Pushing on your pet's gums is a quick test for catching dehydration.  If you push your thumb into your pet's gums and the color does not quickly return, it could be a sign that your pet is getting dehydrated.

Your pet will need two bowls of water in his crate that are accesible from the outside of the crate door (so the airline doesn't have to open the door in order to pour the water in).  We advocate freezing water in the bowls the night before so that it won't splash around on the way to the airport.  We also send our clients funnels to attach to the outside of the crate door.

3.  Plan the paperwork!

Your pet's travel documents -- health certificate, rabies certificate and any other required documents for your pet's move -- are his ticket to fly, so you'll want to make sure that all your paperwork is in order before you even head to the airport.  Regulations change frequently, so the day before the flight, call the airline you plan on using and go over your paperwork to make sure you have all the documents you'll need in order to check in. 

Finally, take a deep breath.  Remember that your pets will pick up on your stress levels so by staying calm yourself, so will your pets.

Okay so this may not have a ton to do with pet travel, but it is so adorable we had to share it!

Plus, we'd love to help this little marmot with his travel arrangements someday!

What do tennis star Andy Roddick, king of hoops LeBron James and PetRelocation.com have to do with each other?

Last night, while watching the James signing, Andy Roddick tweeted about our UK pet travel specialist, Scotty Walkwitz, volunteering to sign with the Miami Heat:




The tweet subsequently made international news, with the UK's Mirror reporting it in a story by Ann Gripper titled "LeBron James reaction: What celebrities said on Twitter about his Miami Heat move."



Scotty and Billie Jean, Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker's English Bulldog, hanging out at the PetRelocation.com offices.


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Continental's PetSafe program announced today that they are is placing some restrictions on adult snub-nosed dogs flying this summer.  

Like many pet airlines, Continental is working on how they can provide the best possible service to their snub-nosed passengers.  From May 15 through September 15, all adult Bulldogs (French, English, and other) as well as the Pug and the Boston Terriers will be prohibited from flying as cargo on Continental Airlines' flights.

The rest of the year (September 16th through May 14th) these snub-nosed pets will be allowed to fly as long as the forecasted temperatures at arrival and departure will not exceed 85 degrees F (29 degrees C).

Previously, Continental had a complete embargo of all adult Bulldogs (and their mixes) on their pet flights.

Snub-nosed puppies will still be allowed to fly throughout the year, until they reach 6 months of age or 20 lbs (6 kg), whichever comes first.

Earlier this week, amid lots of Eclipse talk, Kristen Stewart, the lead actress in the Twilight series, made the rounds of the morning talk shows.  During Stewart's appearance on Live with Regis & Kelly, the talk quickly went from vampire tales to tales of the four-legged kind: Kristen Stewart's cat Max.

Stewart and Max have a very close relationship but Stewart's upcoming schedule has her stressed out about how to take Max along with her.  "We're going to be shooting in Montreal and New Orleans and Mexico," Stewart said. "He hates to fly...he would rip all his claws out and...hate me [if he flew]," Stewart added.  "I might pay someone to drive him, I don't know."



While driving might seem like an improvement over flying, a three-stop, international drive certainly wouldn't be much fun for Max.  Max probably hates being in his crate more than he hates the actual act of flying.  After all, once pets are up in the air on the plane, they really don't know the difference between the motion of a car or a plane, and a plane ride is much shorter.

If Stewart was one of our clients, we'd work with her on how she could get Max to and from her destinations by addressing the following issues:

1.  Face the flying fear

Is Max truly afraid of flying?  Most likely not.  He probably hates being in a crate and if he's in a crate at Stewart's feet, he probably just spends a lot of time trying to convince her that he should be sitting in her lap instead (read: meowing a lot and making a fuss!)!  If Stewart's afraid of flying Max as cargo, we'd talk to her about the pet friendly airline options for Max, where he would be kept in climate-controlled, pressurized conditions the entire time.  He'd be fed and watered and be given the royal treatment, just like all the pets we move safely around the world.

2.  Help Max have a safe haven

Max is going to need to learn how to be a cat on the go, and his temporary home--his travel crate--could do wonders for making him a happy, relaxed traveler. A pet's travel crate is their safe haven when they're on the road, in a plane or hanging out in the green room!  Crate-training Max prior to his big trip would help relieve some of his stress while in the crate and prevent him from ripping his claws out.  We'd work with Stewart to make sure he got a pet travel crate that has plenty of room for Max to stand up and turn around in (think "first class!") and start feeding him in the crate every day, placing his favorite toys and blankets in it.  Over time, Max would grow accustomed to his crate and even find comfort in it when he was on the road.  We've had many past customers, whose cats hated their travel crates in the beginning, report to us that after their big move, their cat slept in the crate every night!  The

3. Plan the paperwork

While vampires may not have too many laws other than avoiding crosses and daylight, Max would definitely need to comply by international pet travel regulations for import into Montreal, Canada, back into the US for his trip to New Orleans, and finally the pet travel requirements for Mexico.  As part of our services, we would arrange the paperwork for Stewart to make sure Max's move would be a smooth one!

The good news for Max and other kitties like him?  You don't have to be a celebrity to get this kind of star treatment.  Simply give us a call at 877-PET-MOVE or shoot us an email and we'll get started planning your pet's star-studded travel arrangements -- champagne not included!

Cat fanciers will enjoy this one:  there's a cat cafe in Osaka where for around $9 USD an hour, you can hang out in the coffee shop with some furry friends.  If you're planning a pet move to Japan, you might stop by here after you get there to see what it's like!

No word on whether they need us to help with any upcoming cat transport needs but we're guessing cats that end up at the kitty cafe never want to have to move away!

A few months ago, we transported Conrad the bird from Virginia to Frankfurt, Germany.  Conrad is a 13 year-old Yellow-Naped Amazon (scientific name Amazona auropalliata) and is very talkative!  His owner reports that he's been enjoying the sunshine and sent us some great pictures of Conrad taking a shower outside.



Moving pet birds internationally always requires a lot of paperwork and advance planning to meet the pet travel requirements for exotic pet moves.  If you want to import pet birds to Germany, you'll need to first see if your bird is listed on the CITES species database.  In Conrad's case, he was a CITES-listed bird so it took us about 10 months to prepare all of the paperwork.  Advance planning before moving your pet bird is crucial and we typically recommend working with a professional pet travel services company that is experienced in exotic pet moves, as it can be very overwhelming to try to arrange this sort of transportation on your own.

If you're anything like us, you can't get enough of reading about your favorite topic:  pets!  That's why we we're so excited to be featured in FIDO Friendly magazine, a pet magazine that features dog travel articles, tips on pet friendly hotels and destinations for your next big escape, and the latest and greatest pet products for your furry best friend.

You can get a sneak peek of the article below, or pick up the August edition of FIDO Friendly at your local newsstand or bookstore.  Also, as a special bonus for all our fans and followers, FIDO Friendly is offering a 20% discount on new subscribers from PetRelocation.com.

To subscribe, just click here to head on over to FIDO Friendly's subscription page.  The coupon code to use when subscribing to take advantage of the 20% discount is "JUNIOR."
FIDO Friendly Magazine: On the Move with PetRelocation.com

This question comes into us from Margarita, who left a note on our Facebook page asking for help with the in cabin pet travel crate requirements for her pet.   She's flying from the US to Germany with her mini-Dachshund and would like to take him in cabin, but isn't sure what size travel crate he needs if she's flying Delta to Paris and then connecting with Air France on to Germany.

If you're planning pet travel on two different airlines, you'll need to fulfill the requirements for both airlines.  So let's take a look at the pet travel rules for each.

Delta Airlines Pet Travel Policy

• Delta allows pets in the cabin and defines "pets" to include dogs, cats, and household birds.
   
• The Delta website states the following about pet travel crates for in cabin travel:
  
  Your pet must be small enough to fit comfortably in a kennel under the seat directly in front of you. Maximum carry-on kennel dimensions are determined by your flight. You must contact Delta Reservations to determine the appropriate kennel size.  
  
  In Margarita's case, I called the reservations line (800-221-1212) and the person I spoke with said the maximum crate sizes were as follows:
  
  Hard-shelled in-cabin crate: 17" L x 12" W x 8" H
  Soft-shelled in-cabin crate: 18" L x 12" W x 12" H
  
  Maximum weight of the pet with the kennel is 20 lbs.
  
  The agent I spoke with on the phone said these kennel sizes and weight restrictions apply to in cabin pet travel on most of Delta's major jets.
   
• Fees:  $200 USD/CAD/EUR one-way for international in cabin travel (currency is based on your departure location)

Air France Pet Travel Policy

• Air France's website states that only cats and dogs are accepted in the cabin.
   
• The container is considered as cabin baggage. For pets in the cabin, the allowable weight is 6KG maximum for the combined weight of the pet and the container.
   
• The pet must be kept in a kennel with air vents at the owner's feet throughout the flight. The kennel can be made of hard plastic, metal or wicker, but not cardboard. The sum of its three dimensions must not exceed 115 cm, or 45 inches.
  

Since Air France's requirements ask for a smaller crate than the largest maximum size allowed by Delta, in Margarita's case she would need to go with a smaller crate that would be allowed on both Delta and Air France.  One option for her is a soft-sided pet travel carrier called the Sleepypod Air.  The Sleepypod Air meets the size requirements for Delta and Air France, as it can be compressed to a size of 16" L x 10" W x 8" T.  Once on the flight, the ends of the carrier can be expanded to a length of 22" to give pets a little extra leg room while still being small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.  This could be a great option for Margarita's mini-Dachshund, since those types of dogs tend to be a little longer.

Whatever type of carrier your purchase, it's important to make sure that if you are going to purchase a carrier for in cabin travel, it will still need to be large enough for your pet to fit comfortably inside.  If the airline feels that your pet is not in an adequately-sized travel carrier, then they typically will refuse it for shipment.

We mentioned this move the other day in our post about the Bolivian circus lions, but today we got some pictures of these very special wolf hybrids and wanted to share them with you.
Our Domestic relocation specialist, Derrik, recently oversaw the move of two wolf hybrids from Oregon to a wolf sanctuary in Montgomery, Texas.
The St. Francis Sanctuary is a dedicated nonprofit group that provides a permanent home for captive-born and wild wolves whose owners are no longer able to care for them.  Apache and Lakota are two of those wolves who are now able to enjoy the rest of their lives in their natural habitat with other wolves.
We were contacted near the end of April by the St. Francis Sanctuary, who needed our help in moving these two twelve year-old wolf-hybrids from they sanctuary they were at in Oregon that was closing.  The St. Francis Sanctuary wanted to make sure the wolves were securely and of course safely transported, and were concerned about their wolves' stress levels initially. 
Derrik talked to them a bit about our exotic animal transportation services and how we are able to keep pets in climate-controlled, secure conditions when they are on and off the planes.  We also helped them find the correct size airline pet carriers so the wolves would be comfortable during their trip.
Lots of paperwork, one flight and a few months later, these guys are now safely in Texas.  Here are some great pictures of them being delivered and released into their new home.

Warning:  If you have been contacted by someone wanting to ship you a puppy, kitten or bird from Nigeria and they are asking for you to send a Western Union, it is a scam - do NOT send any money.  Please see here and here on puppy scams for more information.

One pet friendly airline, Continental, will soon begin offering flights from Houston, TX to Lagos (LOS) Nigeria. IAH-LOS Beginning Nov. 10, 2011, subject to government approval, Continental will offer service of daily nonstop flights to Nigeria.  It will be the first daily scheduled service offered between Texas and Africa by any carrier.

From the release: