Holiday pet gifts-don't buy online!

The holidays are back. Unfortunately so are the fraudsters selling specialty pets online. There is a new twist this year. The imposters are asking for payment in gift cards. If you fall for it, you won't receive a pet.

"To buy a pet, talk with the actual breeder. Get to know them. Visit with the breeder. Ask questions. Ask for a minimum of three satisfied customer phone numbers and call them. A cyber pet seller will never share the name of the breeder or a telephone contact number." Learn more and protect yourself against cyber crime.

Imposters & Imitators-Don't Be Fooled!

New pet scam-don't be fooled!

The holidays are back. Unfortunately so are the fraudsters selling specialty pets online. There is a new twist this year. The imposters are asking for payment in gift cards, Western Union or Money Gram. Don't fall for it. You won't receive a pet.

You cannot buy an English bull dog or pug anywhere for $300 and that Labrador retriever needing rescue doesn't really exist. Learn more and protect yourself against cyber crime.

Imposters & Imitators-Don't Be Fooled!

UK Unexpectedly Changes DEFRA Pet Import Rules

(Tampa, FL—Oct. 28, 2016) – Britain’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs clamped down on pet importation today without notifying other country animal export regulators. DEFRA quarantined six dogs entering Britain from the U.S. through Heathrow.

“We were assisting with one of those moves,” said Walter M. Woolf, veterinarian founder of Air Animal Pet Movers. “This is a very sudden, surprising, and unusual move by DEFRA. We went to bat for our client with DEFRA authorities and will continue assisting her through this unexpected event.”

If pets do not meet the entry requirements, DEFRA requires a 21-day quarantine, a second rabies vaccination, kennel cough vaccination and a repeat internal parasite treatment. Air Animal is picking-up the tab in this particular case. We will also help all Air Animal clients adapt their move preparations to reduce the potential for unnecessary quarantine.

There was no requirement to supply history of two certified rabies vaccinations before today’s quarantine order. Now there is. Based on instructions we received from DEFRA, Air Animal will assure its clients relocating to the United Kingdom follow these steps in this order:

1. Microchip the pet for identification purposes with a 15-digit ISO chip
2. Certify a current rabies vaccination. If your pet enters the UK with a current 3-year rabies vaccination which is more than one year old, then additional documentation will be required. Please inquire for details.
3. At least 21 days after the most recent rabies vaccination, book an appointment with their veterinarian to issue an international pet health certificate. The veterinary appointment for the international health certificate must be within 10 days of flight arrival in the UK.
4. The next step is USDA export endorsement.
5. Dogs must be treated for internal parasites within 24-120 hours before flight arrival.
6. There are no requirements for treating dogs, cats or ferrets for external parasites.
7. To protect pets during the upcoming winter months, Air Animal strongly recommends dogs receive a kennel cough vaccine or have an up-to-date vaccine recorded in the pet’s health record or Pet Passport.

“We’re making the kennel cough vaccine recommendation in the unlikely event pets are quarantined during this winter-time UK rule change,” Woolf added.

The European Union often follows DEFRA and aligns their pet import rules. That practice may change with the UK pulling out of the EU under BREXIT. Air Animal will closely monitor the situation and post updates here on the developing situation.

South Korea changes pet import regs

Air Animal Pet Movers®, with offices in Tampa and Orlando, Florida recently learned South Korea has changed some of its pet importation regulations. Dr. Woolf updated our South Korea resources page this week. <MORE>

Many pet owners and relocation specialists find our website resources very helpful when planning to move a pet. Please keep in mind that there are many specifically timed criteria that must be met before moving a pet into another country. Air Animal specializes in Pet Moving Made Easy®. Give us a call before doing it yourself.

Dunka moved from Calgary,Alberta Canada to Raleigh, NC

Air Animal expanding to Orlando

Central Florida pet parents moving across the U.S. or around the world now have direct access through Air Animal Pet Movers near Orlando International Airport. Michelle Ramos, an Orlando native and graduate of UCF, manages the office.

Alvaro Nobrega de Oliveira moved his Yorkie, Hulk, from Orlando to Australia in April. The six-month process requires a 10-day quarantine. “We are finally reunited with Hulk, and he was super happy and excited to see us! Hulk was healthy…ate and went to the restroom normally all 10 days! I cannot thank you enough for all your patience from the beginning of the process all the way until the end, even with me involving all my friends, who are more like family to us, in the process. You still kept professional, responsive and absolutely kind to all of us,” he wrote.

Air Animal’s pet shippers easily move pets in and out of 168 countries. “We’ve done this more than 100,000 times over 40 years. We even move horses and geckos,” said Dr. Walter M. Woolf, veterinarian founder of the Tampa-based pet moving firm. The internationally recognized pet transporter moves a significant number of pets to the UK and other countries through Orlando using Lufthansa, Emirates and other carriers.

“With Brexit, pet owners returning to the UK or European Union may find their usual do-it-yourself pet move filled with new paperwork and requirements. We specialize in fixing DIY pet move snafus,” he said.

Woolf featured speaker at PAIMA

Veterinarian turned pet transporter, Dr. Walter M. Woolf, has a novel’s worth of fun tales gleaned from 40 years shipping pets all over the world. The founder and chairman of internationally respected Air Animal Inc., will share his stories and expertise with the Pan American International Movers Association General Assembly, Oct. 20 in New Orleans, LA.

Dr. Walter and your Air Animal team live by the motto Pet Moving Made Easy®. Recent relocations included a dogs, cats, a quarter horse, a turtle and several guinea pigs. Air Animal has moved over 100,000 pets for relocating families since it began as an off-shoot of Woolf’s Tampa, FL veterinary practice. At PAIMA, he will showcase the confounding and changing details involved in transporting pets in the U.S. and around the world. He’ll also share how snub-nosed pets such as bulldogs and Persian cats can be safely moved by air.

FAQ
Air Animal is an IATA-appointed and endorsed air cargo sales agent working with all airlines that move animals. They are also an indirect air carrier cleared to pick up and deliver live animals by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. One of the six original founders of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association, Dr. Woolf was honored with IPATA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

Ovarian cancer detecting dog on D.C. TV

Tsunami and her canine pals at the Penn Vet center detect ovarian cancer. Their ability and what it may mean for the future of ovarian cancer screening was covered by Washington D.C. television Station King5 recently. See it here. 

Air Animal sponsors Tsunami, a very special German shepherd that detects ovarian cancer 90 percent of the time. Penn Vet is using the dogs' abilities to create a hand-held electronic sniffer that is as accurate as the dogs' sensitive noses.

Tsunami and her pals were recently featured on "Dr. Oz," too. That's Tsunami in the middle photo.Learn more about this lifesaving effort.

© Copyright Air Animal Inc., 2016. All rights reserved.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's Australian Yorkie Deportation

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's Australian Yorkie Deportation is in the news again today. Our Australian tales show how to transport a pet the right way. Here's our most recent move. We know you want only the best for your best friends. This story is about the Menhinick family’s best friend. Annie Anzac is an 11-year-young husky border collie mix.

“We are an Australian navy family and have three children. We got our beautiful dog Annie-Anzac in 2005 when my husband was based on the other side of Australia for two years on a six-month deployment as commanding officer of the frigate HMAS ANZAC,” said Michelle Menhinick. “She was born on Armistice Day Nov. 11 and Anzac Day is the Australian equivalent. So, our girl got the name Anzac but we softened and feminized it to become Annie-Anzac. Annie when she is good and ANZAC when she is not!”

Michelle, Commodore Menhinick, their youngest child and Annie moved to Tampa, Fla.in 2012 for the Commodore’s three-year posting at U.S. Central Command.

“Moving any animal to or from Australia is a difficult process. When we had six months left of our posting, I started making inquiries regarding Annie Anzac’s transportation home to Australia. I did an online search of animal relocation companies and got quotes off several firms who looked reputable including the company we used to transport Annie to the United States,” said Michelle. “As I researched and I spoke to several veterinarians, Air Animal was a name which kept cropping up. I contacted the company and was immediately confident that that this was the company we wanted dealing with the very complicated requirements the Australian government insists on before an animal can be imported into Australia.

“Dr Woolf runs the company. He has a very personal involvement with the process, and our pet move specialist Michelle was delightful and thorough. As you can imagine we were very concerned that we were doing the right thing inflicting such an arduous journey and involved quarantine process on such an elderly dog. The staff at Air Animal were very reassuring. They convinced us that Annie would be handled with care and kindness during the entire process. Michelle helped immensely with the complicated documents that needed to be compiled. She had a reassuring grasp on the veterinary timeline that needed to be managed to conform with the Australian quarantine requirements,” she said.

“The most important step is selecting a pet mover with lots of experience. The rules for pet transportation change all the time. That’s why expertise is critical. Today, pets must fly as manifested air cargo into Australia, the UK and many other destinations. They cannot fly in the cabin. We use five basic steps with our families,” said Walter Woolf, VMD, founder and chairman of Air Animal Inc. based in Tampa, Fla.

1. Microchip the pet for identification purposes
2. Rabies vaccinate the pet with an approved vaccine after microchipping, recording the microchip number on the Rabies vaccination certificate
3. Wait times before travel or entry varies by destination. Our website has lots of resources about destination requirements.
4. Visit an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of flight departure who issues the international health certificate if you are moving overseas.
5. For some destinations, pets must be treated for internal parasites or external parasites.

Professional pet shippers know which airline to use for pet air cargo flights across the U.S. and worldwide. They are familiar with each airline’s conditions for accepting pets, seasonal weather restrictions and they stay current on the ever-changing pet import rules around the globe. While moving a pet internationally is not low cost, it is high benefit. Using an expert pet transporter reduces expensive delays and unplanned quarantines. Many countries like Australia have very detailed regulations which can take six months.

“You don’t want to find yourself in a situation like actor Johnny Depp. His illegally imported Yorkies were threatened with extermination unless they left Australia. In addition to the normal protocols, we’re recommending dogs receive a flu vaccine before traveling because the canine flu is rampant right now,” said Dr. Woolf.

When contacting a pet transportation company, ask if they have a streamlined health certificate program which makes it simple for local veterinarians to certify their relocating patients. Ask if they offer VIP door-to-door service and other service levels that meet family relocation budgets. Air Animal offers these services and custom travel kennels.

“To complicate Annie’s return to Australia, she failed the initial rabies titer which extended her timeline to export,” Michelle explained. “Air Animal handled this hiccup admirably. It meant Annie had to be in kennels and with friends in Tampa after we had flown home. The staff at Air Animal worked with all involved and kept her preparations on schedule. Dr Woolf even went to the kennel to complete one of her required blood tests!”

Air Animal has moved over 100,000 pets for relocating families moving around the globe. Recent relocations included a quarter horse, a turtle and several guinea pigs in addition to dogs and cats. Air Animal is an IATA-appointed and endorsed air cargo sales agent working with all airlines that move animals. Air Animal is an indirect air carrier cleared for pickup and delivery of live animals by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. Pet relocation costs for U.S. citizens moving for work may be eligible for an income tax deduction. For details, see IRS Publication #521–Moving Expenses.

Australia animal import rules require quarantine. “Ten days in quarantine was actually good from our perspective. Quarantine gave Annie time to get over her jet lag in a quiet, restrained environment. When we collected her, she was rested and happy to interact with her family. Annie was so rested from her time in quarantine when we stopped for lunch on our drive home to Canberra she immediately spotted some ducks, jumped in the local pond and swam off in chase! Apart from having a wet smelly dog in the car we were really pleased that our old Annie had come home to us safely.”

© Air Animal Inc. 2016 all rights reserved

Solving DIY Pet Move Snafus

Air Animal Pet Movers has hundreds of satisfied clients who planned their do it yourself pet moves only to be told last minute their airline recently changed its policies about pet transportation. If that happens, don’t panic. Grab your phone and call Air Animal.

Air Animal has moved over 100,000 pets for relocating families moving around the globe. Recent relocations included English bulldogs, a quarter horse, a turtle and several guinea pigs in addition to dogs and cats. Air Animal is an IATA-appointed and endorsed air cargo sales agency working with all airlines that move live animals who are also members of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. That assures our clients that we will work diligently to find the best combination of flights to fly pets to their owners safely and securely.

Joe moved from Texas to Ecuador with Air Animal after his owner checked three pet transporter companies.

Air Animal is an indirect air carrier cleared for pickup and delivery of live animals by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. That means, Air Animal proudly offers our a variety of pet moving services across the U.S. and to 163 countries.

Air Animal is a founding member of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association and a member of the Animal Transportation Association and International Air Transportation Association which are baselines for reputable pet transporters.

“Airline ticket sales people are not pet move specialists,” advises Dr. Walter Woolf, Air Animal’s veterinarian founder. “They will quote $600 for a pet move, but that price really doesn’t exist because the airline can’t fly your pet on that particular flight. There are many reasons for that. The important thing our “rush DIYers” learn is we know exactly what flights will work and we can make it work—sometimes within seven days depending on their destination.”

Depend on Air Animal’s professional pet move specialists to help you make new arrangements and get your best friend to you as quickly and safely as possible if you:
• Misunderstood the destination country’s specific requirements, or
• Booked on Delta or another airline that changed your pet’s flight arrangements.

So take a deep calming breath and give us a call. We’ll take it all on. Pet moving made easy®. That’s our passion, our promise and your peace of mind.

© Air Animal Inc., 2016 all rights reserved

Jetting to Rome and taking Fifi

Air Animal Pet Movers®, the Tampa, Florida pet moving service, helps pet owners safely relocate their pets across the U.S. and around the world. Most of our clients are corporate transferees moving to new job opportunities.

While Air Animal is not involved in vacation and leisure travel arrangements, more pet owners than ever fly with their pets to grandma's house for the holidays or to vacation spots. So, we'll share some of our expertise for the vacation travelers.

Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead! Countries outside the continental United States, very clearly define their requirements for pet entry. Import permits, blood tests, specific health certificates, and a myriad of details are frequently necessary before pets can enter.

Many cruise ship vacationers call Air Animal seeking assistance with pet health certificates for international cruising. Each island country where these ships dock have very specific health certificate protocols which must be followed exactly. Air Animal and its documentation staff are familiar with these rules and regulations. Call Air Animal's documentation specialist, Emily Scian, at extension 200 for information about our international pet health certificate program.

Homeland Security and the TSA have suggestions for people traveling with their small pets.

If you plan to travel with your pet over the holidays, it's wise to plan ahead with the airline on which you are ticketed to fully understand their policies about pets in the passenger cabin during peak travel times. Consult the origin and destination airport websites to identify the useful information on their pet services and a map to find their Service Animal Relief Areas (SARAs). SARAs make traveling a lot more enjoyable for everyone.

Before traveling long distances by air or car, our veterinarian founder Dr. Walter Woolf recommends reducing food intake by 50 percent starting several days before travel. Allow pets access to fresh water and outdoor exercise. Reducing food intake is beneficial and will prevent those unfortunate accidents which may occur with changes of water and food sources.

Pet lovers scammed by fraudsters

Internet identity theft and money scams have gotten lots of press over the holiday. The fraud doesn’t stop after the holiday sales stop. The number of phone and online pet purchase and pet rescue scams is increasing every year.

Commit these three red-flag scenarios to memory:

1. Using the internet to purchase a pure-bred dog, cat, parakeet or other animal is not just unwise, it opens up the potential of identity theft. There is no such thing as a pure-bred pet for $200.

2. Sending money for pets by wire makes money disappear, but it’s not magic. Reputable breeders open their doors to prospective pet owners and are registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ask to see the USDA registration number and check it online. It’s wise to visit, see the facility and get to know the breeder before purchasing a pet.

3. Air Animal has helped thousands of families relocate with their pets since 1977. Unfortunately, scammers copy logos of reputable pet movers like Air Animal, paste them into fraudulent documents and use them to steal from unsuspecting pet lovers. We do not move animals for pet rescues or breeders. Any person or organization selling or “rescuing” animals and requesting relocation fees for “Air Animal” is a scam.

Learn how to report pet purchase fraud to the FBI and see more resources.

Ovarian cancer detecting dog sponsored by Air Animal

We love pets. That's why we're in the pet moving business and why our community service is about pets and people.

Air Animal sponsors Tsunami, a very special German shepherd working dog at the Penn Vet center. Tsunami is an ovarian cancer detective. She and a few other dogs detect ovarian cancer 90 percent of the time. Penn Vet is using the dogs' abilities to create a hand-held electronic sniffer that is as accurate as the dogs' sensitive noses.

Tsunami and her pals were recently featured on "Dr. Oz." That's Tsunami in the middle photo. Learn more about this lifesaving effort.

Snub-nosed breed flights limited by Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand Cargo has limited pet transport to non-stop flights of five hours or less for snub-nosed animals such as Boston terriers and Persian cats. If you're relocating to New Zealand,  Air Animal's expert pet movers can help you navigate New Zealand's import rules.

Air New Zealand made the change saying brachycephalic breeds are more susceptible to respiratory problems and heat stress. The airline and Air Animal's priority is the safety and wellbeing of animals we transport. Animals accepted for travel must comply with IATA live animal regulations and be accompanied by owner acknowledgement and indemnity forms.

Breeds included in the limitation are:

Dogs
Affenpinscher
Bulldog (All breeds)
Boston Terrier
Boxer (All breeds)
Brussels Griffon
Mastiff (All breeds)
Cane Corso
Chow Chow
Dogue de Bordeaux
English Toy Spaniel
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso
Pekingnese
Pit bull
Presa Canario
Pug (All breeds)


Cats
Persian