Pedal Power to End Polio Sponsored by Air Animal

Rotarian,Thrill-Seeker Completes Fourth Solo Cross-Country Bicycle Trek to End Polio. More than 10,000 miles to End Polio Now sponsored by Air Animal Pet Movers

 

Nick Hall heading to the water for the traditional tire dip in San Diego

Nick Hall, a 74-year-old Rotarian, retired psychoneuroimmunologist and motivational speaker, finished his fourth cross-country bicycle trip dipping his bicycle tire in the Pacific at Oceanside, CA yesterday. The Seattle to San Diego route along the Pacific Coast Highway and US 101 "boxed in the U.S." along the West Coast. Hall rode solo without a support van and was sponsored by Air Animal Pet Movers.

 

Hall’s rides have all raised funds for Rotary International’s efforts to end polio in the world. He’s been a self-described thrill seeker since childhood. In the 1960s, Hall wrestled alligators as a summer job in Black Hills, SD before pedaling his bicycle to Massachusetts for the fall semester.

 

Nick’s 2015 Pedal Power to End Polio Now excursion began in San Diego and ended in St. Augustine, FL. In 2018 Hall rode from Temple Terrace, FL to the Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Canada. The Seattle to Tampa ride in 2020 challenged Hall with mountain ranges and COVID shutdowns. Can you imagine pedaling all day in summer heat and finding restaurants, gas stations and parks closed? Together, the trips raised $50,400 to end polio.

 

"My goal this year is to get as many $10K donations as possible from individuals and Rotary clubs marking the fact that this trip will put me over the 10,000 mile mark since that first ride in 2015," Hall said.

 

Air Animal Pet Movers, owned by fellow Rotarian Walter M. Woolf, VMD, is the ride's major sponsor. “Nick’s tenacity and physical capabilities amaze and entertain at the same time as he’s helping Rotary reach our goal of a polio-free world. The world beat smallpox. We can win against polio by working together—especially with the worldwide COVID endemic,” Woolf said.

 

The lead $10,000 donation came from Thomas Dempsey and Alexis Dempsey Doyle. “Dr. Nick Hall inspires us all to push to our greatest and furthest extent! His commitment to ending polio now inspires our donation,” said Alexis. All donations to the ride through the 501(C)3 Rotary District 6890 Foundation will be sent to the Rotary International Foundation Polio Plus campaign.

 

The global pandemic shut down polio vaccination programs allowing wild polio virus to spread. From a low of 22 cases two countries in 2017 to 140 cases in 2020. Hall believes ending polio is within reach for all humankind. He vividly remembers polio epidemics of his youth when public pools were closed to prevent spreading the virus.

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Resources

 

·         Why ending polio around the world now safeguards health for everyone. It’s even critical for people in the United States where polio was eradicated years ago—until this year. Read “What the Polio Case in New York Tells Us About the End of Polio” by Arthur Allen, Kaiser Health News, July 29, 2022.

·         Nick Hall’s adventure cycling golden rules: be safe, have fun, do what you love, and support what’s important.

·         Review Nick's ride:

a.    Facebook: PedalPowerToEndPolio

b.    Instagram: PedalPowerEndPolioNow

c.    Twitter: @PedalPwrFL

·         DONATE to help Rotary International bring an end to polio. Every donation will be matched by the Gates Foundation. We’re this close.

OR

 https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=WYTCU6YEJVWRQ

Summer Too Hot for Pets to Safely Fly Air Cargo

An historic and deadly heat wave is scorching much of the U.S., Canada and Europe, according to The Washington Post. On July 20, 2022 passenger airlines in North America, Europe and the Middle East have all stopped booking pets to fly air cargo.

"It's simply too hot in the Northern Hemisphere for pets to safely fly air cargo until the temperatures are below 85 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) at origin, midpoint and destination airports," said Dr. Walter Woolf, Air Animal's founding veterinarian and CEO. "Air carriers want your pets to travel safely and securely. While humans working on an airport tarmac sweat, dogs and cats do not so they can't cool themselves easily in this beastly heat blanketing the Northern Hemisphere this summer."

Each carrier halting pet air cargo travel sets their own date to renew pet transport. Please go to the airline website to learn more about the date they expect to resume taking pets. At this time, we know the following carriers have temporarily stopped pet transport. 

• Air Canada
• Lufthansa
• SwissAir
• Air France/KLM

Air Animal will update this list as information becomes available.

These embargos DO NOT affect small pets traveling in soft-side carriers inside the passenger cabin as cabin baggage when permitted by the airline and the destination country. 

Please check our Resources pages for your destination country to learn more. We also have more information about temperature embargoes and banned breeds at airanimal.com/pet-moving-banned-breeds-weather-embargo.cfm.

Europe's Deadly Heat Wave
The Washington Post

Air Animal Closed Memorial Day Holiday

To allow our team to enjoy the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend with their families, Air Animal will be closed beginning Friday, May 27 and reopen at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.  Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Current Rabies Shot Required Before Buying Tickets

Taking your precious small pet in the cabin with you on vacation? Before buying your plane tickets to any destination outside the continental U.S., check these things off your list.

1. Is the rabies vaccination valid? 
• If your pet's rabies vaccination lapsed, you cannot obtain the required pet health certificate. Most countries require a 30-day wait after vaccination before arrival.
2. Does the country permit in-cabin pet arrival? 
• The European Union permits in-cabin arrivals with appropriate permissions. The United Kingdom only permits pet arrival by air cargo. Check our resources menu for information on the rules for many destinations.
3. Check out our page about traveling with your pet.
• Our information table includes USA and North American airlines that permit in-cabin travel for small pets. 
• There's a link to information about pet health certificates.
• We include info about traveling with service and support animals.

Happy traveling!

Pet Moving During COVID

COVID has become endemic—health experts agree it is going to be with us for some time. COVID-induced flight cancellations continue to plague passengers and relocating pets. Cancellations and delays aren’t just holiday and weather-related. Airline and air cargo staffing and endemic-related mechanical delays play a role, too.

“We don’t fly the planes. Pets relocate as precious air cargo below the wing in regularly scheduled passenger airlines,” explained Dr. Walter M. Woolf, Air Animal founding veterinarian and CEO.

“When a flight cancels with pets booked below the wing, the pets’ flights are delayed too. Unlike people, delayed pets may need to return to a pet hotel or temporary caregiver while we book new flights. Hanging out at the airport isn’t always feasible.”

“We understand delays and cancellations are frustrating for pet parents. It’s difficult for pets in transit and for the Air Animal pet move managers who move to their plan B--rescheduling pet move bookings.”

During endemic-induced delays Air Animal pledges to:

• Contact pet parents if a flight cancels or delays.
• Update pet parents about rescheduled flights and/or temporary pet care arrangements.
• Assure pets receive adequate water and bathroom breaks or walks. Food is attached to the kennel before flight and small amounts are offered if needed.
• Encourage pet parents to use the flight tracker in the Air Animal Portal or use online air waybill trackers to follow their pet in transit.

For clients visiting Air Animal offices for health certificate exams we:

• Provide sanitation stations throughout our offices.
• Require masks if you’re coming into the office with your pet.
• Can call you on your mobile if you prefer to wait in your vehicle with your pet until the veterinarian is ready for the exam.

Get Rabies Antibody Test Done Early

Get the rabies antibody test done early before moving with pets to destinations that require the FAVN test result before entry. Turnaround time for rabies antibody tests is now six to eight weeks.

If relocating to Hawaii within two to 36 months, assure your pet's rabies vaccination is up to date, then get the rabies antibody test done now from an accredited U.S. laboratory. FAVN results are good for 36 months for Hawaii entry.

Air Animal interview by "Time Magazine" about CDC Dog Ban

Time Magazine reporter Melissa Chan interviewed Dr. Walter M. Woolf, Air Animal founding veterinarian and CEO, about the U.S. Centers for Disease Control dog import ban. 

In addition to Dr. Woolf, Chan interviewed pet parents and CDC officials in this informative article.