Moving and Pet Sorrows

[redpixie 0]

Well, we're finally off back to the States to start our new life together tomorrow morning. We are so looking forward to this and I can't wait to be the blushing bride and finally drag my man down that aisle.

We have only one problem, that's our cats. We made the ticket arrangements with the airline out here a few weeks back and quized the representative we spoke to in great detail about what was required for us to bring our three babies with us. We were told that, as we were flying on the same plane with them, there would be no need for any documentation for them to travel. Being that we live in a Rabies free country and our cats have not stepped foot outside (we live on a busy street), we would need no vaccination certs, no vet certs or pet passports. I was told to call back two days before our trip to book them on the flight.

I called our airline yesterday morning and explained that I wanted to book our cats onto the flight, only to be told that they would not accept our pets without the vacc certs, vets cert or pet passport. I explained to the lady I spoke to that I was told that none of these documents were required when I phoned the weeks previously and asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor stated that the lady was correct, that we did need all these documents to allow the pets on, and then demanded to know the name of the initial person I spoke to for giving me "wrong information". Just to confirm here, we researched the airline before hand and there is not one mention of them requiring the documents when taking a pet with you, either in cabin or as cargo.

After calling numerous airlines, cargo companies and just about anyone else we could think of to get our pets over, we've now discovered that there's nothing we can do to take our pets with us at this point in time. We are devistated, totally devistated. These are like our babies, as I said above. The only thing we can do now is ask friends and neighbours here to look after our cats until we can get out there and then sort everything out from that end (arranged for a vet to see them, get the pet passports sent to our neighbour and arrange pick up and flights). That is going to be very difficult and we do run the risk of not being able to get our cats with us at all. At the end of the day, there just seems to be no other option right now. We can't rebook our flights until this is sorted due to the fact that we need to be there right now to get our wedding sorted out and because we're already told our landlord that we're leaving. We can't become homeless out here while waiting to sort our pets out.

What I would say to anyone looking to take pets with them is to sort things out well in advance. That means speak to the airline you book with about 6 times regarding the pet policy and ask them to send out ALL requirements to you via email at least 3 weeks before you go. Even if they say they do not require documentation for pets, get it anyway. Trust me, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Oh dear. Have you called your vet? Can you get them in quickly to get a copy of the vacc cert and get a health certificate? We fly out next week and I have to book an appointment for our two cats this week with the vet and get them their health certificates. They have to be done just before you go (its no more than 10 days before you fly out I think...or it could be 7 I don't remember.) We finally went with a pet travel agent and it is costing us almost £900 pounds to get them flown...but they are worth it.

Good luck.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, check with a pet travel agency if you can't get things in time for your own flight. It may cost a bit but you can't just abandon your cats! Good luck in getting it sorted out.

[Jeraly 4]

As I understand it is within 10 days but I will get mine within 7 just to be on the safe side. I've called Air France 3 times already but will call them again now just to be sure - who are you flying with?

[Jeraly 4]

Ok - I called Air France again and they want a certificate of health from the Vet within 14 days of travel. They have told me they don't need any other information, all I might need is for the USA - as far as I can find out, I don't need a rabies vaccination or anything like that for her to enter the USA, she will just need to be examined at POE to make sure she is in apparent good health...

Anyone else have info about this as well? Or for different airlines?

*freaking out again*