Moving your dog from UK

[Claire1979! 0]

Hi Guys, 

 

I'm moving from the UK to Orlando in 2018 with my US spouse. We have a gorgeous rescue dog called Maggie, which of course we'll be bringing with us. Does anyone have any experience of flying with Virgin from Gatwick with their pet?  Any advice regarding the process? Problems encountered etc? 

 

Many Thanks, 

Claire 

[jle2234 68]

I did not bring my dog from the UK, but did bring my rescue dog from Canada when I moved to the U.S. on an IR-1 visa. I can provide you with these tips/info:

 

1. Inform your vet about your intentions to fly with your dog, and have your dog properly evaluated for any health risks that may affect her ability to fly safely. Flying can be dangerous for some dogs, particularly certain breeds or those afflicted with certain medical conditions, so it is a good idea to have her checked out before flying. Your vet may also have some tips to make the process easier on your dog.

 

2. If your dog will be traveling in cargo (not sure of your dog's size), speak with Virgin about the conditions your dog will be kept in and what will happen if your flight is delayed, a connection is missed, etc. Use this information to properly prepare your dog for travel -- for example, you may want to provide her with extra food and water in case of delay, a blanket if the cargo area will be cold, etc.

 

3. You will need to travel with vaccination records for your dog, most notably proof of a current rabies vaccine. It is advisable to carry a copy of the vaccination records with you, and to affix another copy to your dog's carrier (if she will be traveling in cargo). The documentation needs to be an official letter/certificate signed by your vet.

 

4. It is best to have your dog evaluated by your vet just prior to traveling (within a week or two), and to have the vet sign an official declaration noting that the dog is in good health. The dog must be in good health to be allowed entry to the U.S. without quarantine, so proof of a recent examination can help ease your dog's immigration process.

 

I have not had any issues with my dog crossing the border. He does get motion sick, though, so I medicate him lightly for travel.

 

My dog has special health needs, and my vet in Canada was kind enough to provide me with a three-month supply of his medications when we moved. This was an absolute lifesaver, as it took some time for me to find a vet in the U.S. who I felt was a good fit for my dog and me. I had to carry my dog's medication on ice and had a large supply of syringes with me -- I carried the written and signed prescription with me, and had no issues bringing the medications over the border.

[Claire1979! 0]

Hi, 

 

Thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it. Did you drive or fly? I'm nervous about the flight. Maggie is a healthy 2 year old Saluki/Collie Cross,, so we shouldn't have any issues, but I will certainly have her checked for fitness to fly. I guess its nerve wracking for everyone taking a dog abroad. If I could get her a place on a ship (I know there is a cruise ship that travels to NYC and takes 7 days that I could go on too) I would do that, but maybe I'm being silly there. 7 days in kennels rather than a 9 hour flight. I know Virgin use a section in the hold which is climate controlled like the cabin especially for live cargo. 

 

Many thanks again!

 

Best Wishes, 

Claire 

[jle2234 68]

Hi Claire!

 

I drove when bringing my dog to the U.S. (and have actually crossed the border with him several times), but have flown with dogs before. I did not want to fly with my current dog because of his age (approx. 12 years old) and health issues. That sounds great that Virgin has a special climate-controlled area for pets. It is definitely nerve wracking to travel with your pet, but there are lots of resources these days to help make it an easier process. Most border officers I've run in to have been very friendly with my dog, and none have ever pulled us in to secondary.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

9 hours ago, Claire1979! said:

Hi, 

 

Thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it. Did you drive or fly? I'm nervous about the flight. Maggie is a healthy 2 year old Saluki/Collie Cross,, so we shouldn't have any issues, but I will certainly have her checked for fitness to fly. I guess its nerve wracking for everyone taking a dog abroad. If I could get her a place on a ship (I know there is a cruise ship that travels to NYC and takes 7 days that I could go on too) I would do that, but maybe I'm being silly there. 7 days in kennels rather than a 9 hour flight. I know Virgin use a section in the hold which is climate controlled like the cabin especially for live cargo. 

 

Many thanks again!

 

Best Wishes, 

Claire 

I brought a cat over, because of our situation she had to spend almost a week in kennels as well as the flight. She was clearly a bit traumatized by the whole episode, but was back to her normal self within a few days of being ensconced in her new home with her family. 

 

Unless you would do the cruise ship with her and could spend a lot of time with her during the days, I wouldn’t take that option, rather get it over with than have her pining for a week. Just do the research on the carrier - it doesn’t have to be the same as what you fly. Look at reviews etc. we (not from the UK though) flew our cat via KLM as they have an excellent reputation for handling animals, everyone who does gets annual training at one of the Dutch vet schools, etc. it was a little more expensive than a couple other carriers but we had peace of mind.

 

one final thing, not sure when you’re doing this but it could be an issue for Florida in summer - sometimes it’s too hot to safely transport animals and there could be a delay because of this.

 

good luck!

[trudi 1,317]

On 1/5/2018 at 4:19 AM, Claire1979! said:

Hi Guys, 

 

I'm moving from the UK to Orlando in 2018 with my US spouse. We have a gorgeous rescue dog called Maggie, which of course we'll be bringing with us. Does anyone have any experience of flying with Virgin from Gatwick with their pet?  Any advice regarding the process? Problems encountered etc? 

 

Many Thanks, 

Claire 

I flew Virgin from Heathrow to Atlanta, I desperately wanted my boxer dog to take the same flight as me but Virgin wouldn't take him due to their restrictions on hold animals, he ended up flying to Chicago and then to Charlotte.

The other thing to bear in mind is the airlines won't let you book the travel, for hold travel they will only deal with pet transporters which adds to the cost.

You will need the usual vaccinations as well as rabies and a vet certificate of fitness to travel issued no more than 24hr before travel. Check the crate size/type too, if you get it wrong they won't take your dog.

All that aside he got here fine & was well looked after - the pet transporters took care of everything and removed the stress of his move

[Claire1979! 0]

• Hi All, 

Thanks so much for all your comments. Trudi, when did you fly with your Boxer? Virgin now have a flying paws scheme, which they advertise on their website. I believe they now allow you to book yourself, so I was just wondering when you used them? Also, which pet travel firm did you use and if you don't mind, how much did it cost?

 

Many Thanks, 

Claire