Jane Riley spoke to Sally Graham from Jetpets about Pet Transportation.
According to Sally, transporting your pet requires careful, advance planning and organising. The following advice is intended to assist you in planning for a safe and stress-free trip for your beloved furry family.
Jane Riley spoke to Sally Graham from Jetpets about Pet Transportation.
According to Sally, transporting your pet requires careful, advance planning and organising. The following advice is intended to assist you in planning for a safe and stress-free trip for your beloved furry family.
To begin with, Jetpet recommends that owners check whether their pets are suitable for air transport. Some things to consider are:
Is your pet in good health?
What is the pet’s personality?
Will it cope from being confined in a crate for several hours?
Jetpets offer a vet check/pre-travel review, alternatively of course consult your own veterinarian prior to booking your pet’s trip. They will check your pet’s health and assess if it is good for it to travel by air. Remember your pet must be medically fit to travel.
Once you have obtained the veterinarian’s approval, it is important to prepare your pet for the trip. Make sure they had opportunities to go to the toilet and had been for a walk. Give them a light meal 6-8 hours before the flight. This will prevent them from soiling the crate. Before departure trim your pet’s nails (cats and dogs) to avoid them snagging on their travel crate. Make sure that your pet is identifiable with the aid of a microchip and has a pet tag displaying a current phone number.
Jetpets typically supply the IATA approved travel crate, which is carefully selected in accordance with your pet’s size, breed, distance, and special requirement. The crate should allow the animal to be able to stand up, sit erect and lie in a natural position as well as turn-around in the container.
Some animals are more susceptible to heat stress than others, such as the Brachycephalic and heavy coated breeds that require special care. Brachycephalic or snub nosed/ short-faced breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Himalayan and Persian Cats) are generally at greater risk of heat stress. Their anatomy makes it difficult for them to thermo-regulate and oxygenate adequately. Any additional stressors like being placed in an environment with a high ambient temperature or poor ventilation may cause them to over-heat. Jetpets are particularly diligent when supporting the transportation of these breeds, and any other animals requiring special treatment or conditions.
Sally recommended an Adaptil collar to naturally calm your canine friend. These collars help calm dogs by releasing a pheromone designed to make them feel safe and secure, even in unfamiliar surroundings. Adaptil collars are easy to use, safe and odourless. For cats you can use a spray to support their sense of calm. Some calming sprays contain cat pheromones, while others have a blend of natural ingredients such as herbs and essential oils that help to calm your feline friends. Test them to see which suits your cat best.
Should you intend to bring your pet back to Australia, you will be required to follow strict quarantine laws as stated by the Department of Agriculture. On return your pet will be in quarantine for a minimum of 10 days and permits will need to be organised up to seven months prior to travel – so plan well ahead of time.
As soon as you know you are planning to transport your pet, please contact your Grace Relocation Specialist, or contact Jetpets directly on 1300 668 309, they have detailed knowledge of the requirements and restrictions and will be able to guide you.
With over 27 years experience, they are your experts on pet transportation and will ensure that your furry baby has a pleasant trip. Jetpets will send you regular updates, including photos of how they are throughout the journey for your peace of mind.
