For pet owners, pets are family. They can’t imagine a world without their cute furry friends, even when it comes to vacations. Travel is even more fun when you have your best friend, your pet, with you all along. But it is essential to know the ins and outs of international travel with pets before planning your trip.
Fortunately, most pets enjoy traveling with their owners, and even if they don’t, they happily adjust to their new location. But there are many things to do and not do when traveling with your pet.
Consider Your Pet’s Comfort
Loading and unloading are new for pets. So, consider making your pet practice for this beforehand. Avoid traveling in extreme weather conditions. If you are traveling somewhere hot, book a flight and plan your arrival at night. Consult your veterinarian before your flight. Make sure you walk your pet before leaving for the flight.
Research Which Airlines Let You Travel With Your Pet
Different airlines have different rules when it comes to traveling with your pet. For instance, JetBlue allows you to travel with dogs and cats. The only restriction they impose is that your pet should be in an FAA-approved pet carrier that can be placed right in front of you. They allow only one pet per passenger.
According to Air France, the minimum age requirement for a pet is ten weeks, and the weight requirement is less than 17 pounds, including your bag. Some international pet shipping companies also facilitate you in this regard. Certain US carriers don’t allow pets to be shipped during the hot months (May- September) as it is not suitable for their health. Safety is always a concern with pets. So, it’s important to check the airline’s pet policies before booking your flight.
Get Your Health Certificate Stamped by APHIS
Most countries require the health certificates to be stamped by APHIS and APHIS (Animal and Plant Inspection Service) and won’t accept any health certificates accredited by USDA. You will have to visit the office of APHIS within a specific time frame before the trip. Also, you can consider getting a pet passport if you’re planning to travel internally with your pet to multiple countries. This will; let your pet travel anywhere in Europe without any restrictions.
Book a Flight for Your Pet
Choose a book and a direct flight. Emotional support animals, service animals, and even small pets can fit in a carrier in front of you or even under your seat. Be sure to enquire about the carrier beforehand as it varies according to the airline. If your pet is overweight, it should travel in cargo. Or separately as an air cargo shipment.
Preparing Your Pet for Travel
You can add your pet’s food and water to its kennel. You can place it in a clear ziplock bag, making it more accessible during the checking and taping to the kennel. You can freeze the water in a bowl and keep it in a kennel. Also, keep an empty bowl to fill later with fresh water.
Don’t feed your pet four hours before your flight. Have a potty break before checking your pet in for a flight. You can also take them on a car ride in their carrier to somewhere they love. This will allow them to associate the carrier experience with something good and dramatically decrease their first-time anxiety while traveling. A prepared pet is more likely to keep calm on a flight.
In Conclusion
Your pet is an extension of your family, and it only makes sense that you feel the need to take them with you everywhere you go. It’s already quite adventurous to bring your pet on vacation. Once you are there, make sure your pet has as much fun as possible. Choose pet-friendly hotels to avoid the extra hassle. Go to restaurants that are pet friendly and do things that involve your pet. Don’t forget to carry multiple copies of your pet’s documents. Keep the originals safe and easily accessible in case you need to peroxide them to authorities.
