Most pet owners treat Fido or Fluffy like another member of the family, with birthday parties and stockings full of rawhide hanging on the mantel during the holidays. These pet owners come from the school of thought that a pet is not just a pet—he or she is a beloved member of the family, an integral part of the home, and a loyal best friend.

At some point, relocation counsellors likely will be faced with the task of overseeing the move of this trusty companion. It is not always just a matter of handing off the transferee to a pet relocation company that specialises in the international door-to-door transfer of pets.

Many times, the relocation counsellor is the one responsible for having the initial conversation about the pet move with the transferee. Having a general knowledge of how the process works and answers to common questions will ease concerns about the pet’s upcoming move, and can facilitate a smooth transition from the relocation counsellor to the pet relocation company.

How does pet relocation work?
Pet relocation companies boast the ability to serve the entire world. The practice itself is fairly straightforward: pets typically are picked up at the transferee’s residence, checked in at the departure airport, cleared through customs on arrival, and delivered to their owner’s new residence. Pet relocation specialists also usually are responsible for selecting appropriate flight arrangements, carefully reviewing the import and export documents, and counselling the transferee on the intricate details of the pet’s move.

Some pet relocation services arrange door-to-door moves by opening offices at major hubs or franchising their businesses in various parts of the world. However, a pet is not always travelling to and from the main ports of entry—sometimes it is necessary to facilitate customs clearances or deliveries in more obscure cities and countries.

Most reputable pet relocation companies are members of the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). The association regulates and monitors the pet transportation industry by setting ethics standards and overseeing the performance of its members. As part of their membership, companies are given access to a network of pet transportation professionals worldwide that have guaranteed reputations for the services they provide.

“IPATA is crucial to upholding quality service for pet relocations,” said current IPATA President Gay O’Brien. “If a company wants to ensure its transferee’s clients are receiving the highest level of care, with careful attention paid to the well-being of the pets, IPATA’s listing of member companies is the best place to start.”IPATA is comprised of pet transportation professionals—local pet taxis and veterinarians, major corporations, freight forwarders, and customs brokers. Because of IPATA’s exacting standards for membership, affiliates are able to safely coordinate the door-to-door service for the most precious of cargo. As a way of bridging the gap often found in a global industry, IPATA also offers an annual conference where the members gather to meet and exchange ideas, attend classes on country import requirements and species-specific handling techniques, and attend forums where representatives from major airlines come to answer questions in a round-table format.

International requirements vary from country to country, so working with a quality pet-relocation company which is up-to-date on the current import requirements is critical.

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