What You Need to Know About Animal Shipping
The travel industry has been flourishing through the years. In North America alone, more than a hundred million people travel annually. People from other continents are also travelling heavily too. This increase is attributed to improved travel facilities, be it air, land or water. However, not only people have been travelling lately. Animal shipping is also increasingly becoming popular!
Though animal shipping has been done for a long time, it is only recently that it is becoming more apparent. Now, when pet owners travel across the country or have a vacation abroad, they bring along their pets. Many airlines are offering complimentary services to transport their passenger’s pet through the cargo section. However, this is limited to small animals such as cats, dogs, and birds.
But do you know that animal shipping is not limited to domesticated pets only? Even zoo animals could be transferred too! Animals like lion, tiger, zebra, elephants and all other zoo and circus animals. Exotic animals and reptiles could also be transferred across borders. Would you like to ride on a plane with a seemingly dangerous cheetah? Of course not! These animals are not transferred through passenger shipping facilities. They are transported by isolated cargo ships of course.
Before you decide on bringing your pet on your next flight and try animal shipping services, prepare vaccination papers and ownership documentation. This serves as your pet’s passport so that it will proved free from any dangerous disease to the country of your destination. These will not be necessarily if you are transporting animals to a zoo and other government-recognized institutions. If you are bringing in animals for a show or exhibit, make sure that your permit is properly signed by authorized personnel so that you will not experience any problem upon arrival to your destination. Shipping farm animals such as cow and cattle also undergo different process and additional permits are necessary to be acquired.
Save yourself from worrying about the safety of your pet or any other animal that you wish to transport. Get the animal shipping services of companies that are recognized and registered according to animal welfare act or law of the countries you are dealing with. Do not hesitate to call the company’s customer service and ask about how they get along with process of animal shipping. If you have time, it is always best to go to their office and see the actual shipping facilities that will be used for your pet. After all, you know your pet best; you are aware of what conditions will greatly give stress to it. Try to cooperate with the animal shipping company so that your pet will be transferred according to its needs. Some will be kind enough to customize their services for your pet.
Some shipping companies specialize in animal shipping. They have air-conditioned vehicles and transport facilities that will keep animals protected from adverse weather conditions during travel. Animal shipping planes also ensure the most comfortable landing and stop-over conditions for the animals being transported. The animals are handled by the best veterinarians and animal trainers.