Factors to Consider When Relocating With a Pet

Pet relocation services can help you navigate the complicated and expensive process of moving with your animals.

Relocating can be a complicated process, made even more complicated when you’re moving overseas with a pet. Getting a pet safely from point A to point B can be a challenge. If you’re traveling internationally with your pet or attempting to return one from another country, you’ll need to prepare months in advance, spend money, and adhere to frequently changing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rules. Because, unfortunately, traveling with a pet isn’t as easy as simply buying them a plane ticket.

To prepare yourself for your pet’s next move, here is everything you need to know about relocating with your pet.

Understand International and Domestic Animal Import Laws

If you’re moving abroad—or even to a U.S. state like Hawaii—start researching local animal importing regulations as soon as you consider bringing your pet. It’s critical to understand everything there is to know about your new country’s pet requirements.

There are a number of countries that have very strict rules when it comes to importing pets. Some destinations have excessively complicated procedures and lengthy quarantine periods.

Some countries restrict a variety of animals, whereas others only allow specific breeds. For example, New Zealand doesn’t allow birds, reptiles, mice and rats, ferrets, and other animals into its country. Interestingly, it will allow in guinea pigs, but only if they are from Australia.

Furthermore, you should be acquainted with the basics of what vaccines are essential and if your animal companion needs to have a microchip. All countries will undoubtedly demand that your pet has a current rabies vaccination or has had a recent booster.

There may be age limits, and your pet must be at least a certain number of weeks old, depending on the country. Additionally, pregnant animals may not be able to fly if the pregnancy is too far along.

Quarantine laws vary but are generally quite short now. Some European countries have done away with their mandatory quarantine periods but now require an EU Health Certificate. Two exceptions of note are Japan and Australia. You must quarantine your pet for 12 hours after arriving in Japan and 10 days after arriving in Australia.

Airlines take pet travel seriously and have many policies in place for flyers bringing along their furry (or scaly) friends. Reading the boarding requirements for your pet thoroughly is important so that they can be accommodated. Keep in mind that not all destinations let pets fly with you in the cabin, even if your dog could fit under the seat.

Different airlines have different policies regarding which dog breeds are allowed on flights, so make sure to research your preferred airline’s guidelines. Breeds of dogs with snubbed noses, like pugs, typically can’t travel in the cargo hold because they might have difficulty breathing normally. Bully breeds, such as pit bulls, may be banned from flying altogether.

It is also important to consider U.S. laws if you plan to eventually return to the U.S. with your pet.

The CDC recently announced that it will no longer allow dogs to be imported from 113 countries into the United States. The restriction is designed to keep rabid animals out of the country. After the recent pandemic-driven surge in dog adoptions, which subsequently led to an uptick in falsified health documents from international pet importers, the federal agency has decided to intervene.

New regulations demand that dogs arriving in the United States from any of the 113 restricted nations be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian. The dogs have to wait 30 days and get a titer blood test, which checks for antibodies. There are only a few laboratories that do those analyses, and the results might take months to arrive.

The CDC also cut the number of ports where dogs from countries on the CDC’s list can enter the U.S. to three from 18 in previous years. The three ports are John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Pet Relocation Services Can Ease the Process

If you’re concerned about transporting your pets across international borders alone, there are pet shipping and relocation companies to assist. For a fee, these companies can help make the process easier. They can even accompany your pet through customs and complete other forms of paperwork.

There are a number of things to consider while selecting a pet transportation business, including the type of transportation used, USDA accreditation, and breed limitations.

All pet transport services should follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Act. The purpose of this law is to establish animal welfare standards for animals during transportation. Clients can check whether or not the pet transportation company is certified by visiting the website or asking a representative.

When choosing a pet transportation service, it is important to understand its restrictions on types and breeds of pets. Although most services will transport cats and dogs, not all businesses will accommodate other sorts of pets.

Some pet moving companies will not transport certain breeds of dogs. More often than not, it’s airline restrictions, not the service itself, that set these limits. Additionally, when choosing a pet transportation service, always read the online reviews and see how quickly the company responds. You should work with a company that is responsive and communicative.

Transportation services for pets are available by ground and air. Transportation services will take care of all the logistics involved with flying, from making sure your pet has the proper documentation to getting them to and from the airport. They’ll also keep an eye on your pet throughout their travels. Some companies will allow an animal handler to ride in the plane cabin with your pet for a higher fee, while others will charter a private plane to take your pet from one destination directly to another.

Ground transportation services are a type of pet transport that uses vans to carry animals, typically with other pets. High-end pet ground transportation firms will transport a pet in a van with just one or two animal handlers. Some firms even offer to transport a pet in the owner’s vehicle, making them an excellent choice for people who need to move both a pet and a car to a new location.

A reputable international pet transportation service should be aware of the rules and regulations that pertain to transporting dogs from one nation to another. Most reputable pet shipping companies should be able to assist pet owners in obtaining any required health documentation.

The service should have contingency plans in place if the pet’s flight is delayed or canceled. A reliable international pet service will also make sure that your animal companion goes through the arrival process smoothly by taking care of customs documentation.

Airline Rules and Fees to Consider

Traveling with your pet is not a cheap endeavor. Domestic moves start at roughly $1,000, while an international trip will cost you more than $2,000. If you want to fly with your pet in the cabin, it will cost approximately $125 each way, depending on which airline you choose. Unfortunately, some airlines have raised their pet fly in the cabin fee to a whopping $500.

The cost of transporting your dog in the cargo hold is determined by their weight as well as the distance they’ll be flying. Airlines provide online calculators that may be used to obtain an understanding of the cost.

The Department of Transportation has introduced new regulations regarding service animals on airplanes. For years, as long as passengers had a note from a licensed medical professional stating their pet an emotional support animal, they were able to bring the animal in the cabin with them.

Peacocks, pigs, and even kangaroos have boarding planes recently, so new rules were enforced. Service animals that are trained dogs only may now travel in planes with people. After several airlines announced that they would no longer accept emotional support animals, including dogs, on board, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Alaska Air followed suit.

Animals that cannot provide service dog documentation must travel in a pet carrier that fits under the seat, or they will have to go in the cargo hold.

Because of the pandemic, struggling airlines have cut costs, and carrying pets in the cargo hold was no longer an option for several firms. Currently, only American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Alaska Airlines allow dogs in the hold on some flights. Many aircraft only have space for a 27-inch crate, making it difficult to find an option that fits large-breed dogs.

Overall, it has become more complicated and more expensive to relocate with your pet. Fortunately, with the right partners, it is still possible to move with your furry friends, both within the U.S. and abroad.

Are you interested in learning more about traveling with your pet? At the Global Workforce Symposium in October, there will be a special session about pets and how to plan their travel arrangements when relocating. Animals travel differently than their owners and, in this session, we will highlight those key variances, dive deep into the mind of today’s pet owners and explore what their priorities are, highlight current global trends that have impacted the relocation industry, and take a look into what the future holds for pet shipping.