I do not have a “bucket list” yet there is time to think of one.  The time is the present.

Wednesday past took me to San Diego, CA to join a group of DV’s (distinguished visitors) to the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Vinson, cruising offshore in the Pacific Ocean.

Meeting at the front gate of NAS North Island (Coronado), CA at 8 00 a.m. on Thursday morning was the beginning of 24+ hour adventure which took place on a C-2 Greyhound from North Island to the carrier Vinson cruising off the coast of Mexico, a 45 minute flight.

Landing at 102 mph, the C-2 stopped within 2 seconds, catching the cable on the deck of the Vinson with the tailhook of the aircraft.

Then began a tour of the aircraft carrier, from the flight deck to the bridge to the hangar deck to the inner workings of the ship.

Steep ladders tested one’s ability and agility for the next 24 hours.

Meeting the dedicated youngsters on the Vinson and its officers from the Admiral to the Captain to the Commander of the Chief Petty officers to the Petty Officers to the seaman made the embark most pleasant.

Friday afternoon had us depart the Vinson via catapult, from standing still to 132 mph in three (3) seconds. Landing took place 30 minutes later at NAS North Island.

Should you have the opportunity to go on an “embark” with the US Navy, grab it at once. You will have the trip of a lifetime, and meet some very dedicated personnel, who represent America extremely well.

Canine Leptospirosis, an uncommon disease of canines and transmissible to humans, is causing concern to veterinarians in Michigan.

Often overlooked in preventive health care protocols, Michigan veterinarians are urging pet owners to review their pet’s vaccination status.  Those not previously immunized with Lepto vaccine need two vaccinations at least 14 days apart. Those pets previously vaccinated for Lepto need only have a booster vaccination.

Leptospirosis is a disease of rodents transmitted through their urine. Vaccination is for dogs only, with protection againsts Leptospira canicola as the primary vaccination for consideration.

Reports from our good friends in the Netherlands at Amsterdam’s Schipohl International airport are that the Dutch National Veterinary Authority is looking carefully at microchip insertion dates on the EU Travel Certificates coming from the USA and elsewhere as pets (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc) either are destined for Netherlands entry or are journeying through Amsterdam on their way to final destination.

As you and your veterinarian plan your pet’s travel and relocation, Air Animal recommends to be sure the microchip insertion date precedes the Rabies vaccination date so that the pet is accurately identified at the time of Rabies immunization.

We receive daily requests for estimates to move pets from overseas origins, for example Okinawa, Japan to mainland USA.

Today’s TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) rules and regulations for the acceptance of unaccompanied air cargo shipments from outside the USA to mainland USA requires a broker, forwarder, cargo agent/agency to originate the unaccompanied air cargo live animal shipment from the origin; not the destination.

Should you be returning to the USA from outside of the US assignment and have a pet dog, cat, bird, etc. the shipment must be organized at the origin of the shipment.

Today’s call from a concerned pet owner in Ohio dealt with the fact of a Rabies antibody test performed two (2) years ago on anticipation of the husband relocating to the UK for employment reasons. The relocation from the USA to the UK did not take place.

With a three (3) year Rabies vaccination having been administered, the FAVN-OIE Rabies antibody test is good to the expiration date of the Rabies vaccine.  Therefore, as long as a Rabies booster is given prior to the stated expiration date, the Rabies Antibody test does not need repeating.

The family can now consider a job-related relocation to the UK without having to re-do the Rabies FAVN-OIE antibody test.

We ask the question many times each and every day of our business life, “please share with me the date of your pet’s last Rabies vaccination”  The response is typical and predictable “it’s up to date”.

Asked when the Rabies vaccination was given, the answer is again typical and predictable: “my veterinarian has the records”. True as true can be.

As we talk and work with relocating pet owners, especially with the international move; e.g. from the USA to various overseas destinations, one clear fact emerges.  The destination country determines the requirements for entry particularly the history of the pets Rabies immunization and vaccination history.

For the record, the three year vaccine is good for three years from date of administration, provided the pet does not relocate.

Should the pet relocate in the international marketplace, then the destination country establishes the frequency of Rabies immunization.

Summary: the three year Rabies vaccine when administered in the USA is good for the USA. When the pet moves globally, the general rule of thumb is that the vaccination must be at least 30 days in the pet and not more than one year in the pet.

Each country establishes the rules for Rabies vaccinations based upon the absence of Rabies in the country or in the prevalence of Rabies in the country.

With the recent outbreak of Rabies in Manhattan’s Central Park and Brooklyn as well, Hong Kong has barred the entry of pets (dogs, cats, ferrets,etc.) from the two New York City boroughs.

Applications to the regulatory authorities in Hong Kong for expatriates & relocatees moving to the island and its territories are being made with Rabies vaccinations histories being required, along with Rabies Antibody test results (RNATT & FAVN-OIE) from submitted serum samples.

Updates on the NYC Rabies / Hong Kong situation will be provided in Air Animal’s Blog.

Our friends in Buenos Aires, Argentina have shared with us the following: Friday, 09 July 2010 is their Independence Day and the country is not working.

Argentinians enjoy your day off from work celebrating your Independence Day.

A member of the Armed Forces stationed in Germany contacted us recently to inquire of the shipping of his dog from the Baltimore/Washington area indicating he had “heard” of the following: “Live animal air cargo rates are seasonal in nature, and tend to decrease over a period of time”.

Let’s refer to the caller as “Ben” for discussion purposes. Ben was not able to take his pet “Scooter” on the Freedom Flight/Rotator from BWI to Germany recently. Having left “Scooter” with a service buddy in the Baltimore/Washington area, Ben wanted to employ Air Animal to ship the pet in the fall of this year, as he had “heard” the live animal air cargo rates were seasonal in nature and the fall of the year was less expensive than the summer.

Sorry, Ben, it’s not true.

Air cargo rates are calculated by two different and varying formulas; one airline will charge air cargo rates based on the weight of the dog and/or cat, plus the weight of the flight kennel.

Another airline will charge air cargo rates based on the calculated volume of the flight kennel occupied by the dog or cat; the larger the flight kennel, the greater the cost.

If anything, air cargo rates rise incrementally over a period of time and there are monthly changes in the surcharges for fuel and security which are in addition to the live animal air cargo charges.

For the record; there is no relationship between live animal unaccompanied air cargo charges and ticketed passenger cabin baggage and/or accompanied baggage live animal charges. On average, air cargo charges tend to be five times the rate of checked baggage charges

Summary: there are no seasonal variations to live animal air cargo charges.

The Danish Ministry of Justice has identified the following 13 breeds as dangerous. Henceforth, the breeds are scheduled to be banned from entry into Denmark and are not allowed entry into Denmark effective 01 July 2010.

The 13 breeds concerned are as follows: Pitbull Terrier, Tos Inu, American Staffordshire, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerbel, Kangal, Central Asian Ovtcharka, Caucasina Ovtcharka, Southern Russian Ovtcharka, Tornjak and Sarplaninac.

For additional information you may wish to visit the following website: http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article925997.ece for the specifics involved.

The government bill, which has the support of the Danish People’s Party and thus a majority, is expected to be presented in Parliament soon.

If passed, the law will ban the procurement of these 13 breeds in Denmark. Dogs of these breeds that are already in Denmark will have to be held on a leash and muzzled.