DIFFICULT PET RELOCATION: Many pet owners assume that International Pet Relocation involves selection the correct crate size for their best friend and finding a direct flight from the origin city to the destination city.
Each Pet Relocation project presents its own difficulties. The best solution may be to select a competent and experienced Pet Relocation professional. This person should be a member of IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association): https://www.ipata.org/
Sometimes, various problems can result in many sleepless nights for the coordinator of a complex Pet Relocation. Here are just a few obstacles which may make a Pet Relocation more complex:
1… certain destination countries have very demanding import requirements for each species;
2… certain airlines will refuse to carry breeds of dogs with a flat nose (brachycephalic breeds);
3… certain airlines will not accept more than one animal crate at the time (not easy when relocating many pets);
4… senior pets may have medical conditions which cause some problems in high altitude (eyes, ears, heart… etc);
5… pets may have to receive important medication at very specific time interval (independently of the time zone);
6… transit activities and different time zones may complicate the exact medication schedule;
7… the veterinarian doing the last pre-flight health examination, may observe a medical condition and refuses to sign the FIT-TO-FLY CERTIFICATE. This document is required by the airlines before they will accept a pet on their aircraft;
8… finding dependable in-transit Pet Relocators who will accept to follow the medication schedule, calculated from the original city time zone. This may mean giving medication in the middle of their night;
We have just completed a very difficult relocation of two adorable senior “fur babies”, as their owner calls them. This project included not one but many of the above difficulties.
For many years, Manoir Kanisha cared for these two little dogs: a Shih Tzu called CUDDIES (born Nov. 13 2003, now 13 years old) and a very tiny Yorkie called JEWELZIE (born Dec. 3, 2003, also now 13 years old). We used to pick them up, board them, give them daily medication, groomed them and delivered them back to their owners located in Ville Saint-Laurent. Then, the family moved away and we did not hear from them again. On December 23, 2016, we received a call from their older daughter Tiffany, indicating that they needed the Manoir Kanisha assistance to relocate JEWELZIE and
On December 23, 2016, we received a call from their older daughter Tiffany, indicating that they needed the Manoir Kanisha assistance to relocate JEWELZIE and CUDDIES from Montreal to HONOLULU/Hawaii.
We picked them up from their home on Dec 30, 2016. They provided various eye drops and ear drops for their Shih Tzu CUDDIES who is now completely blind from one eye and sees very little with the other eye. These medications are often expected for senior dogs. They were scheduled to fly soon after this pickup date.
At first, this relocation project seemed quite simple. It got more and more complicated when it presented not one but many of the difficulties listed above.
AIRLINE SELECTION: Our first choice and less expensive airline, would not accept any brachycephalic (flat nosed) dog breeds. CUDDIES, like all Shih Tzu, has a flat nose. So our Pet Relocation Manager, Tim Harris, had to become creative in selecting other airlines and a different route to relocate these two senior dogs.
A HEART PROBLEM WAS DETECTED on the tiny Yorkie JEWELZIE: On January 4th, during what was to be the final veterinarian exam, the JEWELZIE, failed his international FIT-TO-FLY CERTIFICATE because of a heart condition. It needed to be investigated by a veterinary specialist in cardiology before he could safely travel in high altitude. At Manoir Kanisha, we were very lucky to know a competent cardiologist who accepted to examine our tiny dog and give us an appointment the next day. Dr. Jean-Sebastien Boileau examined JEWELZIE, on Jan 5th. He recommended a cardiogram to identify its specific heart condition and decide if it could be controled during flight. The client agreed to pay for this expensive exam. As a result of this first cardiogram, the specialist prescribed a specific medication which had to be tailor-made for this very tiny Yorkie. This medication was made and received a few days later. It had to be given three times a day, with a very specific time interval of 8 hours.
CARDIOLOGIST’S SECOND CARDIOGRAM EXAM: A week later, the cardiologist performed another cardiogram. The medication showed a good improvement in JEWELZIE’s cardiac condition. As a result, he advised continuing the medication but doubling the dosage just before the flight and in each transit between flights. The medication had to be given every 8 hours respecting the time in Montreal (origin city), independently of the various time zones during the dog’s transit cities.
SELECTION OF DEPENDABLE IPATA MEMBERS: This new situation meant that Tim had to select very dependable Pet Relocators who would accept to follow the medication schedule independently of their own sleeping time. Tim had to modify the transit cities and the previous flight selection to make sure we used devoted and trusted IPATA members to medicate JEWELZIE at a very specific time recommended by the cardiologist.
AIRLINE ACCEPTING ONLY ONE CRATE: Then we faced another problem with this new flight route. The two dogs had previously traveled in their individual crate (size 200 each). One of the Airlines selected, refused to carry more than one pet crate per aircraft. This would have resulted in double the flights and Waybills (much more costs) and the risk of separating the pets. We decided to relocate the two dogs in one single but larger crate. We had to gradually train the two dogs to spend time in one single and larger crate (size 300) so they could fly together in the same crate without to much stress.
Finally, after a lot of logistical work and creativity, Tim succeeded to solved all the relocation problems and their travel was planned using the following route:
MONTREAL-TORONTO: For the transit in Toronto, we use the services of our long term friend and experienced IPATA colleague Lorna at LYON PET MOBILE (http://www.lyonpetmobileservices.com/). She gave JEWELZIE’s heart medication at the required times, plus the ear drops, eye drops for CUDDIES. She was in contact with us during the stay of the dogs in Toronto.
TORONTO-LOS ANGELES: For the transit in Los Angeles, we used the services of our experienced IPATA colleague Josh at PACIFIC PET TRANSPORT (http://www.pacpet.com). He also gave all the medication as required and was in contact with us during the handling of the dogs.
LOS ANGELES-HONOLULU/Hawaii: Upon their arrival in Honolulu, the owner Tiffany was anxiously waiting for her two senior fur-babies at the airport.
Before they left Montreal, there was numerous E-mail messages exchanged between Tim, the owner, the veterinarian, the cardiologist, various airlines, Lorna in Toronto and Josh in Los Angeles… etc. These two IPATA members were wonderful to share with us the condition of the dogs upon their arrival in transit, respect their medication administration schedule and inform us of their departure time. This allowed us to relay these details to their anxious owner who felt much more comfortable about this long relocation process.
These two dogs were boarded at Manoir Kanisha from December 30th, 2016 until January 18th, 2017, much longer that originally planned. When we received the OK from the cardiologist, the FIT-TO-FLY CERTIFICATE was signed and all the logistic problems were finally solved Tim delivered them to Montreal International Airport at 5:00 am on January 18th. During their stay at Manoir Kanisha, their eye drops, ear drops and heart medication were meticulously administered. They had a very good appetite, normal stools and Debbie groomed them before their departure. They were caressed and loved many times a day by all our employees who developed a special relationship with these two old “fur babies”.
Below, we share a few of the many E-mails exchanged with the owner and our IPATA colleagues. These few messages will allow the reader to better understand how we, as IPATA members, relate with one another during a complex Pet Relocation:
On Thu, Jan 19, 2017 at 7:11 AM,
FROM: Lorna, IPATA member in Toronto wrote:
Hi Tim & Josh,
All meds are back in the large envelope on the kennel along with 3 sets of the documents (1 original & 2 copies)
Both dogs had their ear drops this AM.
Jewelzie had 2 heart pills at 6:00 AM, will be due for next single pill immediately on arrival in Los Angeles & then another 8 hours later this evening. Cuddies has eye cream same time. Both ate very little overnight.
Both stools normal this AM & they pees. Flight departed Toronto early at 9:24 AM
Both very gentle to handle.
Kind regards,
Lorna /Toronto
From: Josh/IPATA member in Los Angeles
Sent: January-19-17 6:23 PM
To: Lorna
Cc: Tim Harris
Subject: Jewelzie & Cuddies, Brotto move, 2 dogs to Hawaii
Hello all,
The kids arrived safe and sound into Los Angeles/LAX and are doing well.
Set for their departure tonight and I will give needed treatments shortly.
Regards,
Josh/Los Angeles
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From: Tiffany in Honolulu/Hawaii
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 4:01 PM
To: MACDUFF NICOLE <kanisha@sympatico.ca>; TIM HARRIS <kanisha.tim@sympatico.ca>
Subject: Cuddies and Jewelzie arrival at HNL in good condition
Good afternoon Nicole and Tim,
Fabulous news, I just picked up my little fur babies at the airport.
There was a bit of confusion with the agent as she couldn’t find the original health certificates but eventually came across them so she was able to clear them for direct release.
I’ll send photos of them once I give them a bath this afternoon and they look adorable.
Thank you for taking such great care of them and getting them here safely.
We’re so happy to finally have them home with us.
Tiffany, Jewelzie and Cuddies
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From: Tim Harris [mailto:kanisha.tim@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Friday, January 20, 2017 5:28 PM
To: Lorna Barkey <petcoach@interlog.com>
Cc: ‘Josh Kundrat’ <josh@pacpet.com>
Subject: JEWELZIE and CUDDIES arrived HONOLULU/Hawaii in good condition
To all involved,
Difficult Pet Relocation impeccably accomplished.
Very happy clients.
Great teamwork all round and a perfect example of the value of our international organization IPATA.
Jean-Sebastien Boileau is the Montreal cardiologist who carried out the cardiograms and prescribed a special tailored cardiac medication for JEWELZIE/Yorkie.
My thanks to all.
Tim Harris, SDA, Pet Relocations Manager, Manoir Kanisha
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Congratulations to Tim, our Manoir Kanisha Pet Relocation Manager, who succeeded to solve all the logistical problems associated with this difficult pet relocation.
OLGA, CUDDIES & JEWELZIE, January 17, 2017
