Moving with pets internationally is one of the most complex things I’ve ever had to do when we moved abroad. I know because we’ve done it — during a pandemic. The stress, while manageable, is not something to be taken lightly.
However, if you do your homework and plan your move accordingly, you should be able to make the transition a little easier for you and your pet. It can be a lot to take on on top of all of the other moving-related planning you’ll have to do when relocating internationally, but it’s critical to be well-informed of the steps.
Here, I’ll discuss how my husband and I moved to the U.S. from the Philippines with our dog and the steps we took to ensure a successful trip for our fur baby.
Research requirements and import law.
As soon as we knew that we were moving, we researched the pet importation laws of the state we were going to live in (in our case, it’s Washington). In the US, pet ownership laws vary per state, so make sure you know all the rules. It’s also important to note that there are approved ports of entry for pet imports, check if your destination airport is one of them.
Decide whether you want to spay or neuter your pet.
We had our dog spayed because most apartments we were looking to rent require a pet to be spayed/neutered.
Process the necessary paperwork for importation.
We prepared for all these more than 6 months ahead as some of the tests require a certain amount of time:
- Update vaccination records. Making sure that our dog’s vaccines were all updated guaranteed an approved health certificate
- Microchip. In many countries, it is required by law to have your dog microchipped. It’s an effective way to ensure that dogs are properly licensed and vaccinated.
- Titer Test. This is a method of determining immunity and protection against a certain vaccination, in this case, it’s anti-rabies. Most countries require this for pet imports to identify if the animals have the necessary immunization.
- Secure import permit from the CDC. As the U.S. has a current ban on pet importation coming from the Philippines and other high-rabies countries, we were required to seek a permit from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to grant our dog entry.
Plan for cargo or plane transport
We talked to several pet transport agencies and opted for cargo travel with an agency that is reputable and has experience in international pet importation. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, there are certain airline and cargo requirements that you will need to consider. Some airlines do not allow specific dog breeds to fly in the compartment area or cabin. A pet transport agency can guide you better on which airline and mode of transport will be best for your pet.
Prepping our dog for her trip.
Two months before her flight, we made sure that she was comfortable staying for long hours in her crate. One of the things that worked well with our dog was rewarding her when she stays or sleeps in her crate. It also helps if she has a piece of clothing that has our scent with her on the crate so she can still smell our presence while on her journey.
Arrival
Upon arriving in the U.S., we were instructed by the CDC to update our dog’s rabies shots. We picked her up at the airport cargo and she was her happiest when she was finally with us. We took our dog to a vet in San Francisco for a vaccination and a quick check-up. Since our dog was due for one last flight the next day, the vet gave us semi-sedative meds to calm her nerves during the flight.
Settling in
Once we were fully settled in our new home, we checked out the county regulations of our town on how to register our dog. Registering has some benefits such as:
- They are more likely to quickly be reunited with their owners when they get lost.
- They will receive longer care periods at shelters.
- They are transferred to an emergency medical care facility if found with an injury.
Aaaannd, all that was left was to enjoy our new home with our dog. Nine months into moving here, I can happily say that she’s loving everything that we’ve experienced so far. From dog parks to walking trails, and experiencing her first snow, our dog is happy as she’s ever been. And I’m so grateful that we made all the preparations and did not give up on her when faced with challenges.
If you’re planning to move internationally with your pet, it is important to note that the process for shipping a dog from the Philippines to the US may vary depending on your specific situation. I’d recommend consulting with a pet shipping company and your veterinarian for guidance.
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