A lot of people have been moving to another country these days, whether short term or long term. Traveling to other places is a popular bucket list item. One thing holds us back though – our pets. We can’t leave them for too long, and if we’re moving away permanently, we’ll end up with the painful choice of either leaving them with other people or giving them away.
Why not bring your pet along with you? Yes, it’s possible.
Sarah V Schweig of The Dodo gives us an overview of how to do this.
Although it may be complicated, it can be done. While requirements vary by destination, there are some things you will have to do regardless of where your destination is.
Travel Crate –
If you’re flying far away, you will need a safe and comfortable crate for your pet. A good rule is to add four inches to your pet’s height and length to determine carrier size. If you already have an idea where your headed and which airplane you’re getting on, check with the airlines whether to get a hard or soft-sided crate. Also, start crate training your pet. Ultimately, the goal is to give your pet good associations with the crate so that he feels comfortable spending some time there.
Getting the Right Documents –
One of the most important things to do is to prepare the right and complete documents for your pet. The list gets updated from time to time, so make sure to check from Pet Relocation on what you need to get. Here are a few:
Rabies vaccine – even if your pet has had a rabies vaccine in the past, you’ll need to make sure it’s in the right timeframe before you depart. Countries have different requirements for the duration, so make sure to check ahead with your destination.
International health certificate – this is a certificate you can get from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). An international health certificate for your pet must be filled out by an accredited veterinarian, and then endorsed by one of the USDA’s veterinary services area offices.