When planning a trip with your pet that involves air travel, ensuring a happy and safe flying experience for four-legged flier is your top priority. You’ve spent ample pet transportation time researching the most pet friendly hotels that will best suit your furry companion, but you’re concerned about their comfort and safety during the whole process of flying. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, approximately 76 million cats and dogs travel with their owners each year and airports are starting to take notice.
The following airports have made the most strides in pet travel by opening up designated areas for animals to take a potty break, get water, and stretch their legs. If your route includes any of these stops, these pet areas provide a great way to comfort and reconnect with your pet once you get to your destination or while waiting for a connecting flight.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport (ATL) We blogged about the grand opening of Hartsfield-Jackson’s off-leash dog park last month and we definitely had to include it in our list. The 1, 000-square-foot fully-fenced Poochie Park includes flowers, grass, rocks, and benches to set the scene for dogs to sniff around, get a bit of exercise, and do their business. Being the world’s busiest airport, it has seen its fair share of pets pass through and wanted to better cater to their four-legged passengers.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) Not only does George Bush Intercontinental have four designated pet areas, it also offers the only onsite kennel managed by an airline (Continental Airlines) in the united states. The kennel provides 1, 100 square feet of space for runs and exercise pens, day kenneling, overnight kenneling, and grooming. Before your travel, it is important that you are aware of the classification of your country of origin (where you begin your travels) and the rabies classification of the destination (where you end your trip). If you have layovers on your trip, you need to be aware of quarantine requirements of countries in which you clear customs. The intelligent traveler will be able to avoid quarantine requirements of rabies free countries by planning in advance.
The countries of the world have been divided into three classifications that relate to pets: rabies free countries, third countries (low incidence of rabies) and countries with high incidence of rabies. Third Countries include all the countries of the european union except the united kingdom which is rabies free. The united states, Canada, Mexico are also considered third countries. For a complete list of countries in each category, go to Pet Travel and click on the Immigraion tab.
If you are traveling with your pet from a RABIES FREE COUNTRY, you can visit any THIRD COUNTRY or any COUNTRY WITH A HIGH INCIDENCE OF RABIES with minimal paperwork and without quarantine or a blood titre test. However, there will be restrictions and perhaps quarantine upon your return.
Your pet must have resided in a THIRD COUNTRY for a minimum of six (6) months prior to your travel date. You can then travel to another THIRD COUNTRY fairly easily. You will need a microchip for certain countries and the proper veterinary certificate for the country that you are entering. Your dog or cat’s rabies vaccinations must be current. There are a limited number of these THIRD COUNTRIES that also require an import permit for entry.
If you are traveling from a THIRD COUNTRY to a RABIES FREE country, a blood titre test will be required, and the pet must have a microchip as well as the proper forms for the destination country. There is always a waiting period from the time you have the blood titre test until the time you enter the RABIES FREE country. In some cases, it is 120 days and in other cases, it is 180 days. If your schedule does not allow for a waiting period, quarantine will be imposed at the destination country. Jamaica is an exception as it does not allow any animals other than those born and raised in the uk.
You can also travel to a COUNTRY WITH A HIGH INCIDENCE OF RABIES from a THIRD COUNTRY without a blood titre test and, in many cases, without a microchip. The problem may occur when you return from that country with a HIGH INCIDENCE OF RABIES to a THIRD COUNTRY. In most cases, except for the united states and Canada, a blood titre test will now be required.