Every dog who hopes to move overseas with his family needs a passport. Not a little leatherette booklet like his humans use, but documentation nonetheless. In his case, your dog’s paperwork is intended to prove his personal health as well as his identity. Some countries require fairly straight-forward paperwork, whereas others make the process more difficult because they are extra-cautious about pets they allow in.
Introduction
Dogs and cats who travel on planes must be confined to a pet travel carrier, or “crate.” That makes sense, but we’re not talking about just any carrier here. Your pet’s in-transit “home away from home” must meet stringent requirements. So, one of the most important aspects of planning your furry friend’s move is getting him exactly the right carrier.
Health certification is more than a formality for pets hoping to travel overseas. That’s especially true if your dog is one of many flat-faced breeds. You want him to be physically comfortable and secure throughout his journey, but medical factors can significantly affect his fitness for travel and, as a result, his safety as well as his comfort.
Pet parents demand two things when arranging to move their beloved cat overseas – safety and comfort. But we tend to think of those in physical terms. We want to protect our kitty from harm and keep her as cozy as possible in transit. But medical factors can also affect a traveling pet’s safety and comfort. And, if your dear Chloe is a flat-faced breed, those medical factors are paramount.
Flat-faced dogs and cats now get special attention from airlines. Brachycephalic pets are considered special cases because air travel puts them at higher risk than dogs and cats with normal, longer muzzles.
Alitalia – Italy’s official airline – is one of the smaller international carriers that transports pets as well as humans. So you might be considering this airline if you and your four-legged family member will be moving to Italy, or you’re considering a vacation there, or you’re already in Italy and planning a trip to somewhere else.
You can find everything you need to know about the airline’s pet travel rules on the Alitalia website, but we’ve pulled together the essentials for you here.
No matter what kind of pet you have or where you’re moving overseas, the will be paperwork. Probably lots of it. Foreign countries naturally want to be sure your pet is healthy – not bringing pests or disease that could infect local populations of pets or wildlife. So, you need paperwork to confirm your cat is, indeed, a good candidate for immigration. However, things are more complex for flat-faced cats and dogs.
Travel can be stressful for any dog, under the right conditions. Most pups love an interesting adventure, but a long plane ride and all the strange sights, sounds, and smells of the journey can tax even the most relaxed pooch. It’s hardly the same as a cross-country hike or romp in the surf. Nonetheless, most dogs take air travel in stride, emotionally and physically. But not all dogs.
