Pet Relocation – Tips for International Pet Moving

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 2:19 pm  
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Five Tips for Safe and Humane International Pet Relocation

Owning or adopting a pet should be for life, regardless of what corner of the world your career or other circumstances happen to send you. When planning an international move transporting your beloved pet is only part of a long, daunting list of preparations that have to be made. Many people feel forced to find new homes for their animals rather than subject them to a traumatic transportation – however there are steps that can be taken to ensure the journey is as easy as possible on your companion.

1. Contact the local consulate of the destination country: The first step in planning an international trip with a pet should be to contact 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.

2. Find an airline that will work with you: Contact the airlines that fly to your proposed destination, select one and then check with them to confirm that they will accept your pet 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. 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. Some airlines will allow you to carry small pet carriers with you in the main cabin, but only if it will fit under the seat in front of you.

3. Visit the vet prior to the flight: Your Veterinarian must be consulted well before your departure date. They will give your pet a full check up and advise you on any potential problems and can also assist you with questions or concerns that you may have. Make sure you have all the required documentation, as noted when you contacted the consulate of your destination.

4. Limit food intake the day before travel: Although they may initially disagree, your animal’s potential for a comfortable trip can be increased by limiting their prior food intake. Prepare your pet for its journey by reducing the quantity of food the day before flying. Allow for normal water access as dehydration is a serious danger. 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.

5. Equip your pet’s carrier or crate with the vital necessities: The big day has arrived! While your pet is out of your sight and care, make it as easy as possible for airline staff to care for them. 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. At least two water bowls and dried food must be attached to the top of the carrier in case there are any flight delays. Any medication that 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.

Pankaj Mohan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pet-relocation-tips-for-international-pet-moving-56891.html


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Exercise Your Dog: Why You Should Take Your Dog to the Dog Park

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 8:27 pm  
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If you’re fortunate enough to have a Dog Park in your hometown, take advantage of it. Exercise your dog and you’ll both benefit.

Even if you walk your dog regularly, there’s no substitute-from the dog’s point of view-of being able to run free through a grassy field and romp with canine companions. At your first visit to the park, you may be surprised how fast your dog can run, and how happy he looks doing it. Dogs need vigorous exercise to stay in good cardiovascular shape, and maintain muscle tone, just like people do.

If you live in an apartment or condo, or have a small back yard, your dog may seem perfectly content to stay within those confines, but the reality is, exercise your dog should be at the top of your to do list. In the U.S., we feed our dogs so well that canine obesity is an increasing problem. Overweight dogs are prone to many different kinds of diseases and ailment, from heart trouble to damage to joints. Reducing food intake is of course one way to cope with this problem, but your dog will have a much better chance to lose weight if you step up the amount of exercise he is getting.

The dog park is a useful tool for socializing your dog, right from the time he has had all his vaccinations and it is safe for him to play with other dogs. Watching how your dog interacts with the other dogs there can give you important indications of whether there are any behavioral problems you need to correct. For example, if your dog displays aggression towards certain other dogs. Aggressive tendencies need to be corrected immediately, before you start to have these same problems at home, directed at children or visitors. If your dog acts submissive or does not want to play with the other dogs, or just stays huddled by you, that can be a problem as well. You may need to take him to the park several times over a period of weeks so he gets acclimated to this new and exciting environment and can take full advantage of the experience.

The car trip to the dog park itself can also be useful for your dog’s development and socialization. Most dogs need to experience a car trip several times before they get used to it, and so you can control unwanted behaviors such as standing up and blocking your view of the rear view mirror, excessive barking, or jumping from the back seat to the front. Frequent short trips to the dog park are ideal for working on this kind of training, so that when summer vacation comes, your dog is ready to go on longer car trips.

Many dog parks have luxury features such as shaded sitting areas with chairs for dog owners to relax, or even amenities such as shallow pools so dogs can wade through and keep their paws cool. Don’t forget that the park offers an exercise opportunity for you as well. Try a brisk walk around the perimeter of the park, or bring a ball and play an active game of fetch with your dog. Exercise your dog and you at the same time.

A dog park can also be a great “research facility” for you to use in choosing your next dog. You get the chance to observe different breeds in action and see which ones have the temperament and activity level that fit your lifestyle. If you are thinking of adding a second dog to your household, you may find that your current canine companion plays with certain breeds more than others, and he may help you make a decision about what breed would be ideal.

Exercise your dog at the dog park has lots of great benefits.

Brian Hill
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/exercise-your-dog-why-you-should-take-your-dog-to-the-dog-park-742789.html


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