A few Creature comforts for pets in transit

With increasingly mobile lifestyles, more people than ever before are seeking to travel with their pets. But the process is far from easy for international or long distance travellers.

There are important points to consider before taking your pet on that long-distance flight to ensure their safety and comfort.

David Uvoo, a dog obedience instructor and trainer says moving live animals by air is the fastest and most comfortable method of transportation.

“The welfare of the pet is my key focus. With a little training, the dog can comfortably sit in the crate or kennel on a plane,” says Mr Uvoo, the proprietor of PetsKenya. Before getting the animal on a plane, there are basic measures and rules to ease the process, First, it is important to know that there is a big distinction between pets and assistance animals. While the latter may be allowed into the cabin, pets are strictly transported as cargo.

There are approved types of containers for cats, dogs and birds flying in cabin and as cargo that have been created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Minimum IATA cargo crate requirements demand that the container is spacious enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.

It must be made of fibreglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood, while the floor must be solid and leak-proof.

Aside from the IATA requirements, airlines have their specific restrictions. For instance, Air France and KLM do not accept containers made of wood.

“Aside from making IATA compliant crates, we facilitate live animal imports and exports in Kenya,” said Mr Uvoo.

He first became interested in training man’s best friend some 19 years ago when an instructor demanded Sh30,000 to train his newly acquired family dogs.

He soon threw himself into books on the subject, reading anything he could lay his hands on — from the Pavlovian theory to classic conditioning and applied what he acquired on the two family canines. “The instructor saw the results in our dogs and brought his to me so that I could train it,” said Mr Uvoo, noting that typically, a dog has a concentration span of 20 minutes.

This is the skill he is applying when facilitating air transportation of the canines whose cost depends on final destination and size of airline, crate size and preferred carrier. He started making IATA compliant crates when a client travelling to Asia asked for one.

Aside from pets’ container specifications, it is also important to consider country regulations as regards import and export of pets. For instance, the European Union makes a distinction between commercial and non-commercial pet imports.

“Train your animal in its new surrounding to make it familiar with the crate or kennel a few weeks or months before your planned departure,” he advises. If possible, purchase one in advance and get your animal used to being confined in it since taking an animal out of its natural environment or surroundings can stress it. As for feeding, reduce the quantity of food the day before but give it enough water.

Take your dog for a walk before leaving for the airport and again before check-in