QUEEN'S ROAD: Relocation or travelling is always a challenge for pet parents. There are rules to follow and certificates to get. Anand Vishwanath, from Anvis, has moved around 500 pets in last five years. “There are many variable factors where we have no control over such as the government and airlines policies or weather. There is no such thing as being ‘over-prepared’ because, at the end of the day, I am responsible for the safe relocation of a family member,” says Anand. He gives some pointers to make sure the process is smoother.
Pick one of three: You can take your pet as accompanied baggage, manifesto cargo or with a relocation specialist. As accompanied baggage, pet travels with the owner on the same flight. But countries like UAE, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong do not allow this option. As ‘manifesto cargo’ option, the pet travels as ‘cargo’ on a separate flight. There is additional paperwork and travel time, and the waiting period is longer. You could also hire a relocation specialist, in which case the pet again flies as ‘accompanied baggage’, but the pet is collected from your door and delivered to your door.
Rabies Titer Certificate : This is primarily required for EU countries, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the UAE. For the EU countries, there is a three-month waiting period, from the date of blood sampling to the date of entry of the pet.
Go to a vet: A complete vet check four weeks before travel is recommended. The vet will issue a ‘fit-to-fly’/ health certificate. Apply for an export permit.
Quarantine on arrival: The quarantine time varies with different countries. For example, Malaysia has one week and Hong Kong has four months. Start the process early, to block space at the quarantine facility.
Import Permit: This is issued by the animal services ministry or equivalent government body in the country of disembarkation.
Price of ticket
The price of the tickets varies on the destination country, size of the pet and type of relocation. It can vary between ‘70,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh for a medium-sized dog.
Basics
◆ 15-digit ISO 11784/785 microchip should be inserted before rabies vaccination is done.
◆ Vaccination, deworming and anti-flea treatment.
◆ Get the right size of travel crate at least 3 months before travelling and acclimatise the pet to it gradually.