We pet lovers must face the sometimes confusing task of moving our pets internationally with us. This can be confusing since the paperwork is different from country to country, and we sometimes worry about the well being of our furry friends. Well, throughout this article we will go over some tips for international pet moving that comes in form of questions you must ask yourself, and get the answers to, when you want to make your pet an international being.
Restrictions: Are my pets legal on the destination country?
One of the things you must be especially careful with is the countries' laws regulating pets. This is even truer if you have exotic pets such as snakes, tarantulas and so forth. If your pet is legal in your country it doesn't mean it is legal everywhere - so don't make a trip without proper research first, or you might get your pet confiscated, be charged for smuggling or even get your pet put down... and nobody wants that.
Documentation: What documents are required to import your pet? Pets are mostly treated as imported and exported goods when it comes to international travel. They also need heavy documentation in some cases, so another tip is that you should always research the proper documentation to back your pet. Ownership and birth certificate, as well as the receipt, may be needed in order to prove the pet is yours and indeed a pet and not a "smuggling good".
Vaccinations: Is your pet ready for the new destination? There are two cases to consider here, the first one is about the destination - do you need to vaccinate your pet for diseases that you didn't need to vaccinate it at your home country? Are there diseases there that your pet might never have been exposed to? The second case is about your home country - does your pet carry the risk of infecting a new country with a disease that previously didn't exist there? The vaccination laws are pretty strict, and you are expected to have all of the vaccines, of the destination and of your home country, in order.
Customs: What are the procedures to transport pets? The procedures to transport pets vary from pet to pet, from transport to transport and from company to company. So, having said that, it is vital that you know the procedures from front to back and that you respect them and make the process run as smoothly as possible!
Quarantine: Does your pet fit the quarantine list? Some countries often have animal species in quarantine to prevent the risk of epidemics. Consult the destination's quarantine list to avoid any possible risks of having your pet held on your home airport.. There are no exceptions here, and there are reported cases of pet tarantulas being thrown down the drain just because the owners failed to comply - you're responsible for knowing this stuff. We hope that this small article and that these tips will make your pet relocation efforts run smoothly. Research and prepare yourself previously enough and you won't encounter any problems at all - it seems complicated, but it's really plain simple.