If you own an animal, chances are you will have to move with it at one point or another. But how will you manage to relocate your prized pet without compromising its safety or comfort? Whether you're travelling in the air or by car, this guide shows you how to go about in transporting your pet in the safest, most effective manner possible.
First you need to figure out if your pet is in the physical condition to travel. If the pet is older, pregnant, or even sick, the ideal option would be to leave it home with family, neighbors or friends, rather than jeopardize its healthy by taking it with you. Unfortunately, this isn't really an option, since you want to bring the pet with you. You can easily assess whether or not your pet is fit for travel by taking it to the veterinarian before you travel. When you take your pet to the veterinarian, let the doctor know where you're going, how long you'll be gone for, and whether your pet will be inside of a vehicle or in an airplane. Make sure your pet has received all proper vaccinations and shots. You will be required to show proof of these vaccinations if you're travelling by air. In case of any emergencies, there will be no complications or confusions as to what shots your pet does or doesn't have.
(Side note: If you're super-paranoid about losing your pet during travelling or at any other point, you can always install a microchip into their collars. Humane societies, animal hospitals, and shelters use scanners that recognize the chips, helping owner's find their lost pets. The procedure is safe and very common.)
Unfortunately, airports aren't like moving companies where you can simply request a carrier or a case to place your items (in this case your pet) in. You will be required to get a carrier for your pet on your own. Now, this is very crucial, because you're going to want to make sure that whatever carrier you obtain is secure and spacious enough for your pet to roam around in.
An ideal carrier would be sturdy and properly ventilated, and big enough for your pets to stand up, turn around, stretch, and lie down comfortably in. Be sure that whatever crate/carrier you select doesn't have any dangerous objects protruding from it. Make sure the door has latches on the outside, so that whoever is carrying it doesn't have to worry about being bitten. It's important that you place a mat near the bottom to prevent any fluids from leaking. Cover the bottom with a towel, newspapers, or other material that can be soaked.
Before you leave with your pet, make sure to neatly clip their nails. Pets with trimmed nails are much less likely to wreak havoc on anything in case they get frenetic in a strange surrounding. Also be sure to brush their coat of any loose hairs.
It's important before travelling that your pet has some type of identification tag on it, in case anything happens where they need to contact its owner. Just like luggage gets lost, sometimes carriers with pets can go awry. To resolve the situation as smoothly as possible in case it happens to you, make sure the ID tags on your pet has your basic information where you can be reached. If you keep track of your movers and your belongings, it is just obvious that you will also keep track of your lovely pets.
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