There's no place like it
If you love your pet so much that you want to keep it in constant company, even in cross-country and intercontinental trips, be sure that there is a way of fulfilling this desire. Pets have been known not only as buddies for most people, they can also be therapeutic, especially during an R&R trip. You’ll have to prepare it for the flight, though. You can have a hassle-free trip with your pet, and you’ll both be sunning yourselves on the beach in no time, as long as you keep these tips in mind.
You will have to secure clearance certificate for your pet. Standard APHIS/USDA health certificates are a must in most countries; in greater Europe you’ll need an EU Form 998 certificate. Have a veterinarian fill up the certificate, which also includes an updated shot record of the pet. As soon as the veterinarian completes the form, you may take it to your regional animal welfare office for approval. You’ll have to pay a fee for the service, and it may also cost an extra amount if the destination requires a titer or blood test before endorsement. Make sure that you secure the certificate within two weeks before the travel.
If your pet is small enough to fit inside a small carrier, you can bring it along inside the cabin, if the airline regulations permit it. There is also a fee involved, and there is a standard ‘one pet per cabin rule,’ so book your reservation as early as possible to make it to the slot. If you have a particularly large pet, such as an adult Labrador, then you’ll have to check it in as cargo. There’s no need to worry, though; the crate will be placed in sections which are sufficiently pressurized and heated. The fees for this service depend on the size of your pet.
Make sure that the crate you place your pet in is big enough so that it can stand erect and move around freely within it, and have it marked with a ‘live animal’ sign, in visible print. If you know your pet’s moods, talk to your veterinarian and consider if a tranquilizer shot is necessary. As a precautionary measure, take photographs of your pet, covering any areas with distinguishable marks, so that it can easily be identified and retrieved in case it escapes or is misplaced. Make multiple prints of the pictures; keep copies with you, and attach one on the crate itself, along with contact details. Ensure that the pet is wearing an identification collar with the same information you posted on the crate.
It is best if you feed the pet an hour before the flight, so that it has ample time to relieve itself before being checked in. Keep the meal light, especially if it is keen and queasy with movement. Upon boarding, make last-minute rechecks; see to it that the collar is firm without choking, that it is provided with water, and with a toy to keep it occupied (don’t give it an object which it can tear up or choke on). Finally, make sure that the kennel flap is secure.