OATS Offers Domestic Shipping

OATS Offers International Shipping

Domestic Transportation Information

Do It Yourself – First things First
Moving your pet involves several different factors that will affect your price, personal involvement and the stress of you and your animal. Many of these can be avoided when you pay attention to the details of the destination requirements, weight and needs of each pet, departing/arriving cities, date, time, season, and any other special circumstances that may arise. We strongly suggest having the answers to this information readily available while planning your pet’s move.

Airline Information
Find the airlines that fly to your proposed destination, select one and contact them to check that they will accept your pet(s) on the day and flight that you prefer. This will allow you to see if this date works, or how you can work around their flight times.

Airlines transport animals in a pressurized and temperature controlled area of the plane and advise the flight crew that animals are onboard the aircraft. The temperature of these compartments is the same as it is in the passenger area and your pet can rest comfortably in their kennel during the flight. Pets actually travel better this way, because it is quieter and they will rest well in a darkened environment. As soon as you get on the plane, ask a flight attendant to confirm that your pet is on board. That way, if there’s been any mix-up and it has not been loaded, you have a better chance of getting something done about it.

There are some airlines that allow passengers to carry their pets in the cabin of a plane, if the animals are small enough to fit under the passenger’s seat. Many times, a small cat or dog will exhibit unusual behaviors when in such an environment and we recommend you think of your fellow passengers first.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRANQUILIZATION, as all that are available have a negative effect on dogs and cats by slowing heart and breathing rates and lowering body temperatures .

Pet Check-Up
Your Vet must be consulted at least 10 days before your departure date. They will give your pet a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and advise you on any potential problems. They can also assist you with questions or concerns that you may have. Make sure you have all the required documentation, from your Vet, for your required destination.

Special Preparations

Travel Day- Prepare your pet for its journey by reducing the quantity of food (not water) the day before flying. It is also a good idea to freeze water in the travel crates water dish. This will allow a great source of water for your pet during transit. Make sure to walk your dog before you go to the airport and before check in, which should be 1-2 hours before the flight.

Your animal’s travel crate must meet the airline’s standards and be large enough for the pet to lie down comfortably turn around and stand freely in. Mark the crate with “Live Animal- This side up” and include your name, address and telephone number. Dried food must be supplied and attached to the top of the container, in case there are any flight delays. Any medication that has/is used for your pet must also be recorded with the name of the drug, the time and directions of administration.

While you can make all the arrangements yourself, nothing is worse than having your pet impounded or lost because of an oversight or lack of knowledge. Make it a point to double-check all requirements and to follow up on each aspect of them.

Contact OATS for a free, no obligation estimate on shipping your pet domestically.

International Transportation Information

Do It Yourself – Contacting the Ministry of Agriculture or Consulate.

The first step in planning an international trip with a pet should be to contact the Ministry of Agriculture, or the Consulate, of the destination country, for your pet’s importation requirements. Some countries require a lengthy quarantine, others have more rigid standards and some only accept pets at certain airports within that country. The most important thing to remember is just like human travel, pets also need additional documentation in order to enter its desired country. Each country is different, as they all require their own documentation when accepting pets.

Questions to Ask
When you contact the Ministry of Agriculture or Consulate, you may want to ask some of the following questions:

Are there any special restrictions for pets being imported into your country?

What documents are required to import my pet?

Are there any age restrictions regarding the import of my pet?

Are any special vaccinations or tests required for my pet?

Are there specific country restrictions?

Are there any country/local holidays during or around the time of my planned trip?

Are there any special quarantine requirements for a pet being exported or imported?

Are quarantine facilities available on the planned arrival date and station?

How will my pet clear customs?

 

Do I need to be present in order for my pet to clear customs?

Most foreign governments have some form of quarantine or health requirements for arriving pets, so it is essential to ascertain exactly what those regulations are for your destination. You must also allow for the likely expenses that are involved- and these can add up.

Please refer to our domestic pet shipping tips above for further information and we wish you and your pet the best.

Contact OATS for a free, no obligation estimate on shipping your pet internationally.