Article and Research by our Indian Correspondent.

Comfort of the animal is paramount. Generally animals are transported in closed containers though special arrangements can be made for an open stall with your carrier. Even if closed, a container keeps in mind the freedom of movement and normal habits of the animal in design specifications. Animals of up to the weight of 14 kilos and used to cohabitation can travel together in one container - if these norms are not met, separate containers are provided for. Up to three animals (that too only up to six months of age) belonging to the same litter are allowed to travel together in the same container. Not all Airlines wish to deal with the problems inherent in shipping your pet Those who do allow them to be taken along with you usually charge excess baggage rates (if treated as part of cabin / accompanied baggage) - which still the cheapest and most comforting way to move your pet. Very few of them allow you to check on your pet en route by following a numbering system of identification and access. There are a whole host of rules and regulations in place (Airlines which ship pets have to take the care to maintain pressurized atmospheric control in the cargo hold to ensure safety of your pets who may face breathing difficulties otherwise, especially if tranquilized).

Strength of the container is a must. It may require reinforcing for stronger animals, rigidity to prevent escape through seams and joints and be capable of withstanding bending or buckling during trans-shipment.

Designed with non-toxic, non-chemically impregnated wood, rounded, smooth insides, inaccessible to unauthorized personnel, minus any injury-causing sharp objects, clean, leak-proof, disinfected and sterilized before reuse, absorbent, comfortable bedding of dimensions which allows the animal to stand up and turn around and to lie down (most countries do no allow import of straw) - these are some of the very basic guidelines in the construction of the container used for transportation.

Ease in handling with built in facility for handlers to clean and feed the animal without getting clawed / bitten is taken into consideration. Pets can get very agitated and restless in new and locked up surroundings - they are usually best left alone to get adjusted and the container is required to be kept away from too much light and noise to ensure pets are provided with that extra bit of compassion.

Ventilation is a paramount consideration and specially designed spacers ensure that the source of ventilation is not blocked even by nearby containers (or even by the labels in the very small containers) in what is usually a tightly packed freight area. Ventilation is usually available on at least three sides, principally on the top section of the container with the opening small enough to ensure the animal does not escape altogether.

Labelling which is clear, visible and imprinted, a "This way up" sign preferably on all four sides is also a necessity. A green label is used for "live" animals and a red label is the norm for laboratory animals.

Feeding and watering troughs which have safe rounded edges and allow easy replenishment are the norm. Closed containers make fresh feeding impossible and the owner of the pet should be aware of this. Feed instructions - what is to be given and when [subject to following the rules of the territories through which the container passes, usually products of animal origin such as meat is disallowed] is maintained as documentary evidence (the shipper has to be given the data in writing and the shipping personnel/pet handlers make entries as and when the instructions are followed). Normally animals are not fed and watered unless the journey exceeds 12 hours in which case care should be taken not to overfeed (canned food and biscuits are considered appropriate supplements) - even the water trough should not be filled to the brim.

Tranquilization and Sedation requires all details (what drug is administered, when and the route of administration) to be noted and maintained as documentary evidence on paper. Usually, tranquilization is not recommended at all - some tranquilizers have the effect of lowering blood pressure (snub nose dogs, such as boxers, bulldogs, Pekinese and pugs, are affected more than other breeds) by rarefied atmosphere which happens in any case in small animals when an aircraft is flying at over 8000 ft - this could result in the fatality of old, sick or stressed out animals. The preferred method in air freighting pets is to keep them in a quiet, cool and dimly lit place which works as a natural and effective sedative. A light meal and a short drink about 2 hours before and some exercise just before departure is recommended to keep your pet's digestive system in comfortable order during the journey.

Condition of the animal itself should enable long-haul shipment. Females in heat, those with suckling young and unweaned animals cannot be shipped. Even weaned puppies and kittens younger than eight weeks (a veterinarian's certificate of fitness is required for small animals under 12 weeks, especially of those breeds particularly susceptible to dehydration) cannot be shipped because of the possible effects of dehydration in high speed/high altitude air travel. Depending on the size and the strength of the animals (the odd weakling may be harmed by its more aggressive company) several weaned puppies and kittens can travel together barring some national regulations.  If the pet and container together do not weigh more than 4 kilos, they may be taken by the passenger as accompanied baggage in the cabin in an under-the-seat fitting. There are further regulations safeguarding Specific Pathogen Free dogs and cats (SPF) as regards the container and ventilation dimensions which also have to be followed. Cats and dogs unless used to co-habitation should be kept away from each other. Containers of young animals of the same species may be loaded adjacent to each other. Some species of dogs best travel apart (where one is significantly stronger than the other there is the added disadvantage of the bigger/stronger one frightening the weaker one). Animals in quarantine have to travel away from the ones which are not quarantined. Snub nosed dogs need a lot of air space to breathe well and have to be kept as far away as possible from other loads.

Documents required for Customs and Shipping

1. Veterinary Health Certificate from Quarantine Department 

2. IATA Shippers certificate for live animals.

3. Shipper's / consignee's name, address and 24 hours contact telephone number for a person  responsible for the shipment.

4. 3-color photographs of the pet.

5. Vaccination history / log book of the pet.

6. Signatures on customs declaration forms.

7. Name of the pet must be clearly written on the label to enable the handlers / cargo staff to call out and identify correctly. A feeding / watering guide has to be pasted on the container besides a copy of the document being provided to the carrier's staff.

What you could do to make the journey easier for your pet

Maintain routines of play / walk / meals as far as possible up to the actual day of moving during which time it is best to leave your pet with someone else so they don't get agitated / come in the way of loading of things (or worse still, hide in one of the containers!). Cats are more affected by stress, hate changed routines and new places so make sure their routine is least disrupted prior to the move and allow them a few days of supervised care/roaming in order to settle into their new place after relocation.

Diet and Description should be kept in place. Keep handy recent pictures of your pet and a written description ready which becomes available right away should your pet escape. Pack food and water of the usual kind (the former should remain bland and easy to digest) in order that any changes do not cause indigestion / upset stomachs / vomiting during travel.

Meet your Vet to discuss tranquilization - it is commonly accepted that the generally used pre-surgical veterinary tranquilizer for cats and dogs, Acepromazine, is the cause of many untimely and unnecessary deaths of pets while flying since the high altitude pressurized aircraft (even though temperature controlled) inhibits respiration by relaxing their muscles, lowers blood pressure, makes them less efficient in controlling their body temperature, makes them less responsive and causes a condition where the "peripheral vasodilation of blood vessels" takes place causing shock-like conditions. Quite obviously, tranquilization while flying is not recommended but should you choose to go ahead with it, for whatever reasons, it is advisable to try it out once, much prior to the actual date of journey, to check out efficacy / suitability / allergy reactions. Your vet could also provide advise about the travel diet, vaccinations (particularly the rabies shots), other prescribed medication (maintain ample supply) if any, retrieve records and get a recommendation (if possible) for a new doctor to the place you are moving.

Choosing a one-time use travel container/kennel is not possible because attempts by airlines, rental concerns, shipping services etc., to provide rental usage of airline flight kennels have been plagued by the disappearance of flight kennels, returns beyond agreed upon rental dates, cheques written on closed accounts, cheques returned for reasons of insufficient funds, broken kens, missing kennel parts, dirty containers and such other uncivil behavior by the owners of the animals. Since such one-time use facilities are hard to come by it is best if you buy something that meets your needs (well in advance to avoid last minute difficulty in locating your preferred choice) and keep it for future use or donate to some animal related charity.

Have the paperwork in place at least 2-3 weeks in advance because different regions have different rules regarding vaccination, medical health and other documentary support. In spite of being a ticketed passenger, you might find that your vet refuses to issue the "Certificate of Acclimatization" for travel temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, along with the health certificate. This will be because some species of pets can be fatally affected by cold winter temperatures and severe climatic changes during stopovers. Such being the case, it is best to opt for other flight schedules - your pet's health is a very important consideration and there are a lot of stringent regulations governing the service providers who are instrumental in moving an animal. Your personal convenience will simply have to be put aside while you find some way of obeying the instructions of the agencies and experts coordinating your pet's move.

Manner of transport is best pre-determined to ensure the container is not hot in summer or cold in winter. Also a direct flight avoids stopovers in inclement weather. Counter-to-counter Airline services (though more expensive) spare you much tension since some responsible staff is always with your pet.

Conclusion

If you thought moving on a long haul was stressful, be warned it will be no less difficult for your typically sensitive pet who doesn't even have the reassurance of understanding why it is happening and when it will end! There are a great many stipulations, rules, regulations and even options to deal with - all tailored to meet your pet's needs as much as your convenience. Under the circumstances, especially since you yourself might be in the midst of major up-rootment hassles, it is best to hire a pet agency/official mover who is willing to take care of your pet related queries and leave it to them to come up with the right and most reassuring answers. Over 750,000 pets are estimated to safely fly the commercial airlines during any given year - their trip looks fine in retrospect and so will yours!



© The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C.