Dr. Marty Becker
Whether you're moving to a new country or staying for a few weeks or months, bringing your pet with you takes planning and patience.
Even in the UK, isolation is rarely required, but vaccinations, parasite treatment and paperwork are mandatory. It is also important to be aware of the travel requirements for specific countries. For example, flights to the United Kingdom do not allow animals on board unless you are traveling on a private jet, which is out of the financial reach of most people, whereas flights to European Union countries generally do not allow animals on board. can be brought to.
Debbie Bradford, who currently lives in Melbourne, Florida, spent four months traveling through the UK and Europe with her dog Dazzle last year, and plans to move to Portugal in May. She has some advice for people considering traveling abroad with their pets.
Her first piece of advice is to “stop asking strangers for advice on Facebook.” Instead, visit her source, her USDA-APHIS website (www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel). This website has everything you need to know for each country you plan to visit, including required microchips and vaccinations. Find a USDA-certified veterinarian to complete your paperwork and schedule documentation completion and approval before your trip. “Once you visit the website, select the country you're going to, check what you need, and check the list of veterinarians in your state who are allowed to fill out the paperwork. It's that simple,” she says. .
Bradford booked the Queen Mary 2 18 months in advance because he knew he wanted to go to the UK and knew pets weren't allowed on flights to the UK. Queen Mary 2 is the only way animals can enter the UK other than by private jet. directly to the country. Humans traveling by boat don't have to book far in advance, but there are a limited number of very popular kennels for pets. It can take up to two years to get a reservation for your pet, but if you cancel, you can be placed on the waiting list right away. Flexibility is a must.
Crossing the Queen Mary is not as expensive as you might think. Bradford, who describes himself as a frugal traveler, said he and Dazzle's toll cost about $3,000. “We always stay in cheap rooms, eat the same food and watch the same shows,” she says. “Airfare costs about $2,000, but aboard the Queen Mary offers a spectacular seven-day vacation, complete with gourmet food and shows.”
Bradford and Dazzle were able to spend up to eight hours a day together in the kennel, and Bradford was impressed with the level of pet care he received from his kennel owner. “If something were to happen to me and someone wanted to give my dog to a kennel owner, I would say yes. They are really great.”
If you are taking your pet to a European Union country like France, which I myself did seven years ago, there are similar microchip, vaccination, anti-parasitic, and paperwork requirements, but if your pet is not seated in the seat. This can be done by air if it will fit in the carrier below. Medium to large dogs need to carry luggage, which most people avoid. Airlines such as La Compagnie allow pets up to 33 pounds on board. Also, people with large pets or multiple pets may arrange a private jet charter that does not limit the size of the pet. They meet in Facebook groups like “Chartered Air Travel With Pets.”
To visit the UK from France, you will need to hire a pet taxi to escort your pet through the Channel or pick up passengers on foot on a ferry. Bradford and Dazzle then returned to England.
One important thing to consider is whether your pet enjoys traveling (fearfreehappyhomes.com/making-your-dog-check-with-him-first) or is ready to fly. Previous article: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2017/05/22 provided tips on preparing for your flight.
The bottom line? “It's not complicated,” Bradford says. “You just have to pay attention to the details.”
— Kim Campbell Thornton
Have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker. Pet Connection is produced by veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, journalist Kim Campbell Thornton, and dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. ©2024 Andrews McMeel Syndicate
