Bella to Hong Kong

Bella a 7 month old Shih Tzu came to us from Mt. Rainier, MD and was traveling to Hong Kong. Our friends at Pet Relocation.com asked us to help them get her there. Bella spent one night of boarding with us at Shady Spring Kennels and she was a hit with everyone. She spent more time in our staff's laps than she did actually in a kennel. She was so friendly and happy. We did not want to see her leave but we knew we had to let her reunite with her mom. Gary gave her a comfortable ride to the airport and gave her lots of love from everyone here at Shady Spring. We hope we can see her again!

Yellow Naped Amazon to Germany

Conrad a beautiful Yellow Naped Amazon off to Germany....

We at Shady Spring helped Pet Relocation.com with the ground transport of this gorgeous and friendly CITES Appendix I bird to Frankfurt. Pet Relocation took care of all the CITES permits and health certificates. Gary then drove him all the way from Monroe, Va to Dulles airport for a flight out. We first met with US Fish and Wildlife before check in time to ensure that all the paperwork was in order. After we got their approval, it was time to check in with Lufthansa. All went well and is now reunited in Germany.

Pixie to Frankfurt, Germany

Pixie was off to Frankfurt, Germany. We assisted Animal Land Pet Movers with the ground transport from Richmond, Va to Dulles airport. Gary our pet chauffeur, drove 3 hours to pick her up and gave her VIP service back to Dulles. She was a great rider. Her family was happy to reunite with her!

Is My Crate Large Enough?

To help ensure that your pet has a comfortable and safe journey, we cannot stress enough the importance of the having a proper crate size. While air freight costs are reflected by crate sizes, you never want to move your pet in a crate that is too small. A crate that is too small can make your pet very uncomfortable and increase their anxiety. We want their journey to be as stess free as possible so you want your pet to be able to:

1. Stand up with clearance above the head
2. Turn around without struggling to do so
3. Lay down and have their legs stretched out

To figure out what size to get here are the basics:

1. Measure your dog from the base of their tail to the tip of their nose an additional 4 inches
2. Measure your dog from the top of their head to the floor and add an additional 4 inches

Following these simple guidelines will help ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Welcome to the New Year 2010

Happy New Year Everyone!

2010 is already proving to be a very productive year for us. Clients and their pets are steadily moving around the world in what is traditionally a slower time of year. We look forward to and take great pleasure in helping people move their pets all over the world.

With the ever changing rules for different countries, people find it very useful to use a pet shipping agent such as ourselves to help ensure a uneventful move. We can offer simple services such as veterinary work, ground transportation and door to door arrangements. Being as helpful to clients as we can is what we strive to do.

We have several moves coming up this week and next to some exciting places. A Bernese Mountain dog to Abu Dhabi, a cat from Melbourne, Australia, two dogs to Kuala Lumpur, and a Viszla to Hong Kong. This is just a few of the moves we are working on. They are definitely looking forward to reuniting with their people.

Relocation from Greece to the North Carolina

Last week we helped Air Animal Inc move Oreo, Casper, Apollo, Bijou and Coby from Greece and they have just returned this week to their home in Havelock, NC. They boarded with us for a few days because they all had to come on 3 different flights due to the difficulties of pets leaving Greece. In May, Gary assisted them on their travels to Greece by driving down to Havelock, picking them up and bringing them to the airport.

Welcome Home!

Why can't I book my own flight for my pet?

We have received many calls from clients asking why they cannot book their own flight with some airlines. Clients that have been shipping their pets on their own for years are suddenly having to hire relocation specialists such as Shady Spring Pet Relocation Services to book their flights and check them in at the airport.

Prior to September 11, 2001, shipping pets could basically be done by anyone. No agent was required to ship your pet. Sure, there were plenty of people who still hired an agent to assist but it was not a requirement. After September 11, rules and regulations changed dramatically in the airline industry. As time goes on, regulations for the airlines are continually changing and each airline is making their own individual adjustments, such as requiring an agent.

The main reason for the change is that many airlines are coming across too many problems with individuals understanding what is required to get your pet into a specific country. Incorrect paperwork may put your pet into quarantine or not allow your pet to travel at all, creating all kinds of delays, problems and additional money for the individual. So as a result, some airlines have turned to IPATA agents for help. IPATA (www.ipata.com) is an internationally known trade organization whose members specialize in the safe transport of animals around the world. Its members remain up to date on the current regulations and requirements that help enable pets to fly with no problems.

As it may seem frustrating if you have been flying your pets for years and now have to hire an agent, the requirement has cut back on errors and delays. Getting your pet to their destination safely and on time is our mission and we seek to find the best ways possible.

If you have any questions regarding this issue or any other please don't hesitate to give us a call at 1-410-795-1957. We look forward to giving you great information.