CDC amps animal import enforcement

The Centers for Disease Control has detected a recent spike in improperly vaccinated dogs imported into the U.S. from countries with actively spreading or controlled rabies infection. Worldwide, most cases of human rabies are caused by rabies-infected dogs. The CDC has asked commercial airlines to help contain inadequately vaccinated dogs before they enter the country. The CDC has more information about rabies vaccination for pets.

Avoid holiday pet scams

Amid the Turkey Day sales and Black Friday blockbusters, don't forget that reputable breeders do NOT sell cheap pets online. Reputable rescue agencies do NOT require payments online. Protect yourself and learn how to avoid being duped by online pet scammers.

Air Animal supports Rotary cause

Air Animal supported Tampa Interbay Rotary Club's Cycling Out Autism fundraiser. The $25,000 proceeds went to autism research and treatment at University of South Florida Center for Autism & Related Disabilities and the Applied Behavior Analysis Program. Learn more. 

Delta stops accepting pets as checked baggage

With ever changing rules and regulations such as Delta's new Pet Policy, Air Animal can keep your pet move running smoothly. Learn more about Delta's decision.

Happy 1st Anniversary to Lowry Park Zoo's Veterinary Hospital

Congratulations to Lowry Park Zoo on making it a great first year for their new veterinary hospital. They've helped over 800 animals including 300 species. Great job! You can read the full article here: http://www.tbo.com/news/from-koalas-to-crocs-lowry-park-animal-hospital-treats-300-species-in-first-year-20151108/.

Lufthansa Strike Ends At Midnight Tonight

The Lufthansa Union strike ends at midnight tonight, November 13, 2015 for passenger flights to and from Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf. Lufthansa will resume all passenger flights. For more information, please visit: http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/Travel-information.

Pet Microchips

Hands down, microchipping is one of the best ways to protect your pet.

A microchip is inserted by your veterinarian using a sterile, preloaded applicator. There’s no anesthesia. Even better, the only maintenance is registering the chip and keeping your address up to date by logging onto an online database using your private password.

When you microchip your pet, ask for an International Standards Organization (ISO-compatible) chip. If you relocate your pet outside the U.S., an ISO microchip or tattooing is required. Air Animal strongly recommends ISO chips for all pet relocations—even those inside the U.S.—as an extra layer of protection for your precious pet.

Once inserted, owners must complete the registration with the chip manufacturer listing service. Pet microchips are not GPS tracking devices. They are permanent IDs that can’t fall off or be removed. When cats are microchipped the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher, according to a study reported by HomeAgain.com.

Dr. Walter Woolf, Air Animal founder and president, explained why microchips are important. “Air Animal was scheduled to move a black Labrador to Australia. The boarding kennel brought the dog to the vet for the second round of blood work before the move. The vet called us and told us the dog didn’t have a microchip. We asked the kennel to bring the other black lab they boarded to the vet for examination. The kennel had mistakenly switched the dogs.”

How they work
Microchips use RFID technology. Scanning the chip reveals your pet’s unique ID number and the chip maker. When the number is called into the chip maker, the microchip service contacts the owners. That is why it’s vital to keep your contact information up-to-date with the microchip service. Collars and tags, especially rabies tags, are still important. Pet tracing using the rabies tag numbers is possible but not after hours or on weekends when veterinary offices or animal control offices are closed. Chip services are open 24 hours, every day of the year.

“We are believers. That is why we provide microchips for every corporate pet transport and our private pet shipping clients at no charge,” Woolf added.