Return to Pet Moving Tips

It's a Challenge to Move Pets Long-Distance—but It Can Be Done
By Susan McCullough

For Cypress and Typha, two domestic shorthaired cats, the phrase “there's no place like home” might cause some confusion. That's because in the 10 years they've been with their human companions, Nick and Cory Giacobbe and their daughter, Maya, of Arlington, Virginia, the two cats have lived in six different places.

“We've moved them around quite a bit,” says Nick Giacobbe, an official with the U.S. State Department. “They've lived in Arlington, then in Bucharest, Romania; then back to Falls Church [Virginia] for a summer; then to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Then they summered in Miami without us; then to Quito, Ecuador.”

The multiple moves have made the Giacobbes experts on shipping their pets. But that expertise has been hard won, with some less-than-ideal experiences along the way.

Far apart
One such experience occurred two years ago, when the family vacationed in the United States between Nick Giacobbe's Tegucigalpa and Quito postings. Being between assignments also means being between homes, so Cypress and Typha needed a place to stay while the two-legged Giacobbes visited family and friends in Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington, D.C.

“Our solution was to board the cats in Miami and pick them up at the end of our trip,” Giacobbe says. “It was tough on all of us, though, because not only had we never seen the kennel, but we missed them terribly. We also were disappointed to discover that the kennels were not only under the busy Miami airport flight path but also outdoors. The cats also picked up a nasty case of ear mites.”

Aside from the ear mites, “my feeling is that the cats were not terribly traumatized,” Nick adds. “But they were pretty happy to see us once we picked them up from the kennel. It was probably harder on us not knowing much about where they were and wondering how they were doing.”

Multiple challenges
As the Giacobbes can attest, life on the move—especially when those moves cross international borders—becomes complicated when pets are part of the family. The challenges include the following:

Legal requirements. Most U.S. states and foreign countries require pet owners to prove that their animals are healthy enough to cross their borders. Some jurisdictions merely expect owners to prove that their pets' rabies vaccinations are current. Others, however, demand numerous tests and certifications before letting animals enter, and may even require that such animals be quarantined.

Transport requirements. Commercial transporters' demands can pose major challenges to pet-moving families. Rail and bus companies generally don't handle pets at all, except for assistance animals. And airlines are becoming increasingly reluctant to ship pets. Many won't do so at all during the summer (unless the pet is small enough to be in the passenger cabin)—and all have strict rules regarding where, when, and how they'll transport live animals.

Logistical requirements. If you can't travel at the same time your pet does, you need to figure out not only how to get her to and from airports but also where she'll stay while waiting for you. As the Giacobbes found, that can be tricky—especially when it comes to researching kennels sight unseen.

Getting help
Many people rely on specialized pet transport companies to handle these challenges for them. One such company is Animal Land (www.animalland.com) of Atlanta, Georgia, established by Marc Morrisson, a former attorney who was disillusioned with the legal profession.

“Atlanta's airport is the busiest in the world, and it's a big jumping-off point for overseas flights,” Morrisson says. “But no one was doing animal transport from there. I saw a need and moved to fill it.” Today, Animal Land and other pet transporters can handle all the challenges of moving pets across the country or around the world.

“I can tell you, dealing with dogs is much more fun than dealing with lawyers. It's very rewarding,” Morrisson says.

A typical Animal Land job involved the recent transport of a Labrador Retriever from Atlanta to Anchorage, Alaska. “The dog was booked for a 7:30 p.m. flight to Anchorage, but it was too hot to fly,” Morrisson recalls. “So we boarded the dog overnight and put him on a 7:30 flight to Seattle the next morning. The dog was met in Seattle and taken to a kennel, where he was cared for until he could fly to Anchorage about 7:30 that evening. He arrived around 11 p.m.”

Globe-trotting pointers
Morrisson's experience with the Anchorage-bound Lab illustrates the importance of being ready for anything when shipping an animal. Here are some other pet transport tips:

Start planning early. It's important to plan your pet's trip well in advance so that you'll fulfill the requirements imposed by your destination and be assured of getting the flight and/or kennel space you need. This is especially important if you and your pet are moving overseas. Morrisson suggests that owners begin preparing six months before departure.

Do your homework. As soon as possible, learn about the animal import and transport regulations of the place you're moving to. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) maintains a listing of U.S. and foreign animal transport regulations at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/sregs. APHIS also offers guidelines for safe pet air travel at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/petravel.html. For information on airlines' requirements, contact individual carriers.

Work with your vet. Your veterinarian can help you obtain any health certificates you need for your pet and can also suggest ways to make your pet feel more comfortable while traveling.

Be direct. The fewer the stopovers, the lower the likelihood of something going wrong during your pet's trip. “Get the most direct flight, even if it's not the least expensive,” Morrisson suggests.

Consider calling a pro. A professional animal transporter can minimize the hassles involved in transporting an animal and maximize the pet's chances of arriving safely. If you'd like a pro to handle your pet's move, the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International can help you find a pet shipper like Animal Land in your area. The Web site is www.ipata.com.