Creature comforts

Creature comforts purchasing a property abroad can be extremely
stressful during the period when you are moving. With so many things
to think about, it is easy to overlook important issues such as: “what
can I do with my pets?” Paul Prole investigates

It's a fact that two out of every five British households has some form of pet that, over time, becomes an essential part of the family. So what do you do with them when you relocate overseas? Not everyone is aware that their pets can actually go abroad with them when they decide to leave the British Isles.

There have been many stories over the years about pet owners who have been forced either to sell or give away their pet to a new home after being ill advised about the transport of their pets abroad only to find out months later that they could have taken their animals with them. The purpose of this article is to highlight the essential requirements for transporting your VIP's (Very Important Pets) to your designated country of destination.

Separate requirements
As every country around the world has separate requirements for animals entering their borders it is impossible to list them all individually. But the main criteria for their transportation is that the pet is over 12 weeks old and healthy enough to fly, as well as having all vaccinations and records kept up to date. Virtually every country in the world does require that your pets are treated for internal and external parasites (tick and tapeworm) no more than 48 hours before and no less than 24 hours before departure. Also, every airline stipulates that all pets must be in an IATA-approved flight kennel. You would also need to check with the country of your destination as to which breeds are accepted, as some breeds are not permitted into certain countries.

Organising your flights
It is essential that all flights are booked as directly as possible, to ensure that the animal has as safe and humane a passage as possible to its final destination. However due to recent changes in airline policies over the last year or so, there are only a handful of airlines that still allow you to take your pet as excess baggage from the UK; all other airlines now class the transportation as pets as freight, and there-fore you need to assign a freight agent such as Pets Abroad UK to assist you with your booking.

Counting the costs
In the case of animal transportation the saying that bigger is better is a complete myth! As all airlines calculate their costs on the actual volumetric weight of the kennel, so it pays for you not to allocate your pet with more space than need be as you will be paying for the space taken up on the aircraft. Another very valid reason for ensuring that you allocate the correct kennel to the correct pet is that it has less likelihood of injuring itself in transit by rattling around in a kennel that is too big. It is very unlikely that the airline will accept any kennels that are either too small or too big for the pet travelling as this would not comply with the rules and regulations stipulated in the IATA live animal regulations (LAR) so if you are unsure, definitely seek assistance

So you've found your property - now what?
Once you have found your property and designated country of re-location: l You would need to find out a list of requirements for your country of destination. Most country requirements can be found on our website: www.petsabroaduk.co.uk

• Make arrangements with your registered vets for any vaccinations/tests which are required for that country
  
  
• You may also have to apply for Import/Export permits from the local authorities depending upon the country or relocation as not all countries require permits
  
  
• Please ensure you allow plenty of time for any tests that are required
  

How to obtain a quotation
To obtain a quotation from us, we would require either one of the following to give you an exact quotation from UK to your designated county of arrival.

• The measurements of your pet
  
  
• The measurements of your IATA approved airline kennel (if you already have one)
  
  
• To measure your pet we would need the details in either centimetres or inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (A), and also the measurements from the floor to the tip of the ear.
  

This will then give us the opportunity to purpose-build the IATA airline kennel to your pet's personal requirements, as all breeds vary from size and shape. We require the dimensions so that we do not have any problems of the date of departure. It is entirely up to you if you want to have the kennel a couple of weeks prior to departure for your pet to get used to it, or simply turn up on the day with your pet at the airport.

The kennels are lined with shredded paper and have an easily accessible water bowl with funnel. However, we do recommend that you either have a soft blanket or bedding that the dog has used as this is proven to reduce stress levels. Please note that the airlines DO NOT allow anything other than the bedding, the pet and the water bowl in the kennel for security reasons. Also it is recommended that pets are not fed a hearty meal on the day of the date of departure as this will obviously lead to toileting issues en-route. There is no harm, however, in allowing your pet to have small dry snacks beforehand.

Making a booking
Once you have received and accepted the quotation we can then proceed with organising the bookings with the airlines and confirm the flight details. It is possible for you to travel on the same aircraft as your pet, and we will advise you of the flight details so you can obtain a booking with the airline directly for you and your family.

Nine out of ten people decide to bring their pets to the relevant airport on the actual day of departure. Do note, however, that some airlines do vary on the times they require the pet at the receiving depot, but your agent at the time of booking should be able to advise you accordingly. It is usually three to four hours prior to departure of the aircraft depending upon the specific airport. If you require collection for your pet from your address this can also be arranged, but additional time must be allowed.

On the day of departure you must bring all the original documents with you. These documents will be surrendered to the airline at the departure airport. All the originals will travel with your pet for you to receive at your destination. An export customs entry is required if your pet is travelling outside the EU, but this will be done by your nominated  agent.

Arrival at your destination
Upon arrival at your destination your pet will be transferred from the aircraft to the animal holding area located within the airport. You will have to report to the airline desk at the airport to ask them where this area is situated. On most occasions we do provide you with a company name of the handlers together with a phone number. Please note that there may be additional handling costs to pay at the airport of arrival, so do ensure that you carry some foreign currency with you. Again, depending upon your country of arrival, the pets may have to undergo quarantine, but this will have been covered through your list of requirements in the early stages, as the quarantine stations do require advanced booking.

Pets Abroad UK
Tel : 07979 093 598
Email: petsabroaduk@hotmail.co.uk
Web: www.petsabroaduk.co.uk

For a full list of bullet-pointed country requirements, please check out our website at www.petsabroaduk.co.uk


More articles >>