Thailand requiring microchips for pet import

The Thai Department of Livestock development is now requiring implanted microchips or ID tattoos for all dogs, cats and rabbits coming into, from or transiting Thailand effective February 7, 2017. LEARN MORE

The Routine Pet Move: Are You Kidding?

Air Animal Pet Movers and its founding veterinarian, Dr. Walter Woolf, are award-winning leaders for animal welfare, health and safety in the industry.

He will share his list of 2017 pet relocation trends and tips along with a few entertaining and cautionary tales about corporate moves and DIY pet moves on a webinar through the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council, Feb. 9, 2017, 11 a.m. EST.

The webinar will be especially helpful for HR staff charged with nationwide and worldwide transferee relocations as well as relocation specialists.

Register today for this free webinar.

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.