Your Pet Travel Questions

Name: Jerry
From: Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, China
To: San Francisco, California, USA
Pets: Our dog, Jake, is a friendly 4-5 year old Collie, 30 or 40 lbs. Our cat, Mimi is a yellow Tiger colored cat maybe 5-6 lbs. Both of our pets are quite healthy.

 

We will be moving them to our home, but first they will be arriving at the San Francisco International Airport, probably in April. We want them to be safe & be with us when we deplane. How should we best prepare them... AND ourselves??? Nervous & quite concerned about them! (Concerned about the safety of our pets that we love.) How long before we begin traveling to the airport & giving them to the care of the airlines should they no longer eat or drink water & food? Please advise.

 

Thank you,

Jerry
 

 

Hello,

Name: Lucy
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
To: Melbourne, Australia
Pets: Two young cats (6 months now), that are 'house cats' i.e. mixed breed (they're rescue cats). They're currently about 2.5 kilos so I'm thinking they'll be each about 4kgs in 6 months time.

Hi there, We are relocating from Sweden (closest international airport is Copenhagen) to Australia in about six months. We are bringing our two rescue cats with us. As we are on a budget, we would prefer to organise everything ourselves and book directly with a freight company. Do you have any recommendations on which airline is the best (and cheapest) at carrying small animals in cargo? There isn't too much information out there on how to do it yourself, as everyone appears to go with a pet relocation agent! Thank you in advance for your help.

 

 

 

Hi Lucy,

 

Thanks, your questions are definitely reasonable and understandable -- hope we can help! These are the pet import requirements for Australia, which do entail securing various vaccines and paperwork and making quarantine arrangements. For tips on how to plan the move yourself, take a look at MyPetTravel.com, and for general Australia info you can explore the PetRelocation.com blog. As far as airlines, we recommend Qantas or Air New Zealand for flying your pets.

 

Please take a look at this information and then let us know if you have any questions. Good luck with your travels!
 

Name: Amelia
From: Sacramento, CA
To: Sierra Vista, AZ
Pets: Zoe (dog, pom-chi, 4yrs 4lbs), Rocky (dog, pom, 13wks, 3lbs)

Do I need a health certificate to travel with my dog Zoe to Arizona? Would I also need one for Rocky when I travel to TX? My husband and I are PCS-ing to TX from California, but I will be picking him up with the dog in AZ on Thursday. I didn't look into what I would need to travel with my pet until this evening. Do I need anything to take the dog, Zoe to Arizona and back to California?

Thanks,
Amelia




Hi Amelia,

Thanks for your question, hopefully we can help! The answer partially depends on whether you're driving or flying. No matter what, it's a good idea to be up-to-date on all your vaccinations, and if you fly you'll need to have a vet health certificate. Here's some info about moving pets domestically, and you're welcome to contact us if you have any questions. Good luck with your relocation!

Name: Taylor
From: Kansas City, Kansas
To: Oslo, Norway
Pet: Maverick, Dog, American Eskimo, Male, 5 years old

I was wondering what your advice is for traveling with a larger dog. Maverick weighs around 40 lbs, so he cannot be in the cabin. What is the best airline to take? My sister recently moved to Norway to be with her fiance, and me and my mother are going to visit her, and she asked us to bring her dog. We cannot seem to find any information on any airline websites regarding pet travel. Can you give me a general idea of the cost?

Thanks so much,
Taylor

Name: Marie
From: Dar Es Sallam, Tanzania
To: Birmingham, England
Pet: Sululu, Cat, 3 months old

I would like to bring my kitten to the UK from Tanzania this year. Is this feasible, and how and what do I need to do? I heard I can take him as hand luggage... is this true?

Thanks,
Marie



Hi Marie,


Thanks for your question. These are the pet import requirements for the UK, which were actually recently relaxed to reflect standard EU requirements. It's a good idea to start doing some research now to find out about specific airline requirements, so check with the airlines you're considering and ask about pet policies (in our experience there can be vast differences in how pet-friendly various airlines are).

Name: Greer
From: United States
To: Lima, Peru
Pet: Mixed Breed, Canine, 75 pounds

How do the pets travel? Is there any service where they do not have to travel with the baggage?


Hi Greer,

Thank you for your question; hopefully we can shed some light on how pets travel by air. When you choose a pet-friendly airline, flying your dog in the cargo area is a safe option. This area of the plane is climate and pressure-controlled, and pet crates are secured and kept separated from the luggage. Again, this is IF you do a little homework and are able to choose an airline that places a priority on pet travel. As an example, Continental has a "last-on, first-off" policy with pets so that they're not subjected to extreme temperatures or exposure on the tarmac.

Please let us know if you have any more questions, and for your further information, here are the pet import requirements for Peru.

Name: Sally
From: Kailua, Kona, HI
To: Washington, DC
Pet: Oreo, mixed breed, 50 lbs

Is it possible to fly our dog to DC from Hawaii? How are animals transported over long distances without stops to go to the bathroom? I would hate to leave our dog behind, but I can't imagine her being in a crate for 12+ hours. One time our flight was delayed and we were traveling for 24 hours. How do people do it?

Thanks,
Sally



Hi Sally,

Thanks for the question! We've moved many dogs in and out of Hawaii, and while it is a long trip, it's possible to carry out safely. (We find that pets are generally surprisingly resilient). Here is some information about the pet import requirements for the United States, and for long trips we do recommend putting something absorbent into the bottom of the crate (an old towel or bathmat, shredded newspaper, etc.). If you'd like an estimate for our door-to-door services, here is the link to our free quote form.

Good luck with your pet travels, and please let us know if you have any more questions!

Name: Claire
From: Seattle, WA, USA
To: Lisbon, Portugal
Pet: Australian Shepherd, 2 years old, 45 lbs


I wanted to find out what the requirements would be for bringing my dog with me to Portugal. I was also trying to figure out the costs. Thank you.



Hello Claire,

Thanks for your inquiry. Here are the pet import requirements for Portugal -- in addition to meeting these specifications, it's important to secure an approved travel crate and to make reservations with a pet-friendly airline. Hopefully these links to our website will be helpful to you, and for a price estimate of the services we offer, please complete our free quote form. Good luck with everything, and we hope to hear from you soon!

Name: Julia
From: Malaga, Spain
To: Grays, Essex
Pet: Small 3-year-old Cat


Can you please advise me about what airlines accept cats on flights from Malaga to Heathrow or Gatwick? Also, how much will this cost?

Thanks,
Julia

Name: Ed
From: El Paso, TX, USA
To: Mumbai, (Bombay) India
Pets: Hashi, a female Calico cat, 6 years old, 11 pounds; Akash, a 6-year-old Tabby/Maine Coon mix, 13 pounds

Myself and my wife, and our 2 children, ages 4 and 1, may relocate to India for work purposes. Hashi and Akash are like our two other children. I would like to know what would be required to take them with us. It's a long trip sure to entail plane changes and fatigue, but my wife and I have traveled to India before and we really feel excited about the possibility. I just want what's best for Hashi and Akash. We love them very much.

Additional Info: They have been indoor cats most of their lives and they are healthy; nowadays they are indoor/outdoor but still use the litter box when needed. They have been cross-country by car four or five times and have done well each time.

Thanks,
Ed




Hi Ed,

Thanks for contacting us with your question! These are the pet import regulations for India. It's great that Hashi and Akash are seasoned travelers, so to prepare for your upcoming trip you'll just want to focus on making sure you have the health requirements in order, that you're choosing to fly with a pet-friendly airline, and your travel crates meet airline standards.

Feel free to contact us if you have any more questions, and let us know if you're interested in enlisting our help with your move (if so, we have a free quote form you can fill out).

Name: Clifford
From: Frankfurt, Germany
To: Seattle, WA
Pet: Chole - miniature schnauzer - 13 months old - 9 pounds

How much would it cost for the shipment of my pet from Frankfurt airport to Seattle WA airport? (My dog has a European passport and has traveled to the states three times from Germany.)

Name: Norella
From: United States
To: United States
Pet: His name is Bear, he is a British Mastiff and weights 160 pounds

My daughter is moving from Atlanta to Washington DC, and no air travel company wants to carry the dog. I am looking for a company that handles ground transportation.

Thanks,
Norella



Hi Norella,

Thanks so much for contacting us with your question. It often ends up being easier to relocate large pets via ground transport, and we're happy to help point you in the right direction. You have a few options; you can visit MyPetTravel.com or IPATA.com to find a service provider yourself, or you can fill out our free quote form and we can tell you how much it will be for us to plan the details of the move.

Good luck, and please let us know how we can be of further help!

Name: April
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
To: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Pet: Golden Retriever Puppy (will be approximately 8 weeks old)

Hello There,

My husband and I are both from Calgary, Alberta but are living in Hong Kong for my husband's work. We have wanted a dog (golden specifically) for years but have not lived in pet friendly accommodations. We now are! We know a renowned breeder in Calgary so this is where we will be purchasing our puppy. I am looking for the requirements for moving a puppy from Calgary to Hong Kong. We also plan to return to Canada one day - so we want to be sure our puppy can return with us. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Will already be in Hong Kong, but tons of family in Calgary to help with the move of our puppy.

Regards,
April

Name: Sandra
From: Ireland
To: Australia

I have a Shih Tzu (she is nine months old and her name is Lulu). I'm really worried about my dog flying without me and want to know what procedures are in place in ensure the safety and comfort of the dog. Does she have to go into quarantine when she arrives in Oz, and does she fly before me or on the same flight?

Thanks,
Sandra

Name: Donna
From: LAX, USA
To: PTY, Panama
Pet: Bichon Frise - 9 years, 11 pounds

I took my Pet out of Panama for a visit. I now want to return ASAP. I'm a US citizen with a Panamanian Pensionado Visa. What do I need?

Thanks,
Donna


Hi Donna,

Here are the pet import requirements for Panama. As you can see, you'll need to organize a bit of information. Please let us know if you have any questions about the home quarantine or anything else; we'd also be happy to offer a free quote for our services.

Good luck and thanks for contacting us!

Name: Tiffany
From: Uganda
To: California, USA
Pet: Dog

I have a local Ugandan dog (Charizard) who has been inoculated against rabies and parvo. I was a volunteer here in Uganda and I plan to take my dog home. She'll be two years old, spayed and weighs approximately 30 pounds. I have an approved travel crate and the necessary certification.

What airlines would you recommend, and do you have any other tips? I just want to make sure I have anything correct. I believe the possible layovers are Belgium, London and Germany. Also, she does not have a microchip -- is that required?

Name: Flavy
From: Dubai (UAE)
To: Mangalore (India)
Pet: Green Parrot (Mittu)

I bought one green parrot here in Dubai and want to take this parrot to my home in India. What documents are required and which airlines can I choose from? Someone told me that I need to prepare a document like a passport for my parrot, so please advise me about all the details so I can take my parrot home.

Thanks,
Flavy



Hello Flavy,

Thanks for contacting us with your question. International bird travel definitely requires plenty of planning and attention to detail, but we'd be happy to help you sort everything out.

Here's some help on the topic of how to fly a bird, as well as the general India pet import requirements. It's a good idea to contact a few different possible airlines to find out who has the best pet policies (we try to always choose pet-friendly carriers like KLM, Lufthansa, Continental, etc.).

Please let us know if you have any questions about this or if you'd like a free quote for our services. Bird travel can be tricky, but there are plenty of resources out there to help you along. Good luck and keep in touch!

Name: Simon
From: Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia
To: Bulakan, Manila, Philippines
Pet: Small dog , Terrier Breed, about 3kg, well vaccinated with health department certificate.

What documents do I need to prepare for this trip? What are the fees?

Thanks,
Simon

Name: Will
From: Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
To: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Pets: One bird, one Savannah Monitor

I have two pets that I would like to relocate with me as I change jobs. One is a Cockatiel and the other is a Savannah Monitor. I am hoping for a bit of direction with transporting my pets from the US to Canada during the winter season. Would like to know of specific companies that that provide the service, my requirements, approx costs, any concerns, etc.

Thanks,
Will



Hi Will,

We'd be happy to help you sort this out. Transporting exotic pets can take a little more prep work, but we've moved all kinds of animals and have plenty of tips to share. Here's a discussion about shipping birds that should give you a few good ideas, and we also have a general guide for moving exotic pets. Luckily Canada isn't the strictest country around, but you will have to take into consideration travel receptacles, heat pads, etc.

To find out how much it would cost to engage our door-to-door services, please fill out our free online quote form, and if you have any questions you're welcome to contact us anytime. Hope to hear from you soon!

Name: Christina
From: Agana, GU
To: Charleston, South Carolina
Pet: Two dogs, one bird

I know what paperwork I will need for the dogs, but what about my bird? I am set to transfer (I'm in the military), but I am not entirely sure if it will be to South Carolina yet, so I'm wondering what documentation I would need to bring a bird purchased in Guam to the US to avoid confiscation or maybe quarantine? The bird was found on my balcony, the vet says he is healthy, he has only one leg, and I am in the process of getting him a band here in Guam.

Thanks,
Christina



Hi Christina,

Thanks for the question, here is some information from our blog about how to ship a bird. It will require a bit of paperwork, etc., so it's important to start the process as soon as you can. Please take a look at this and let us know if you have further questions! We're also happy to provide a free quote.

Good luck and take care!