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

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.