Pet Travel News

Team Air Animal is working from home and here to help you relocate your pet. Beginning Monday, August 3 we return to our offices in Tampa and Orlando during regular business hours—8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Researchers are working to train dogs to sniff out cases of COVID-19. If the dogs can successfully detect someone with or without symptoms, they could be deployed to hospitals and transit hubs in months.

“They do a lot of other diseases, we're pretty confident that they can do [COVID-19],” one doctor tells CBS News. See the full story.

Air Animal will be closed on Monday, May 25 for the Memorial Day holiday which honors the lives of U.S. armed forces who have died in service to our country. We will open Tuesday, May 26 at 9:30 a.m. ET.

We’re getting into the summertime pet relocation season swing—a bit more slowly than usual with Covid concerns still with us. It’s time to call us if you’re considering options to relocate your pet during the next few months. “Every move is unique. Each family’s needs are different,” says Cory Robinette, Air Animal’s COO.

Three major airlines again accept pet air cargo reservations. That’s great news. Those same airlines are also implementing heat embargoes to assure pet safety and health in the northern hemisphere. That means pets can’t fly if the ground temperature at the departure or destination is higher than 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit depending upon the breed and the airline. Our pet move managers will be able to create a safe plan to move your pet pal.

Our friends from Britain, Canada and the European Union are beginning to return home. Give us a call early so we can help you get your furry, feathered or scaly pet home. Overseas destinations will require logistical know-how and advance planning. Currently, Air Animal’s west coast U.S. service partner is arranging pet border crossings with pick-up within the foreign trade zone near Vancouver. Toronto, Montreal and all the crossings eastward are closed through June 30.

Pet scammers are very active in the summertime, too. This year the gambit is “get a pet to keep your kids busy or relieve your boredom.” This is fraud. Danger sign #1 too good to be true pricing, There is no $700 Himalayan kitten or toy Husky pup and there never was. They set the hook and then ask for more money. Danger sign #2 you’re told, “We only accept wire transfers or pre-paid gift cards for payment.” Danger sign #3 there is no such thing as an air-conditioned travel kennel. Don’t buy it! If you want a pet, contact an AKC-registered breeder or visit your local animal shelter or rescue group. Check out our Don’t Be Fooled resources and information.

More good news for the mobility marketplace. Two additional international passenger airlines will begin accepting pet air cargo bookings in early May--re-expanding the pet moving supply chain.

A major international airline is scheduled to gradually resume live animal air cargo shipments for dogs and cats on May 4, 2020.

With two-thirds of the world’s passenger aircraft by grounded COVID-19 embargoes, many international pet relocations have been put on hold until commercial passenger airline flights resume.

Contact Air Animal through our website  now to begin planning your pet’s relocation to your international destination. An experienced pet move manager familiar with your destination and its pet-specific requirements will reach out within two business days. We will brief you about airport city availability when we contact you. When you are ready to move, we will book your pet’s air cargo flight and assure the international health certificate is prepared within the time frame for your destination.

Our priority is the wellbeing of our customers, our employees and your pets entrusted to our care during these challenging times. We’re operating remotely from our homes to protect our employees and serve our customers. Temporarily, our hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday. Please stay in touch with Air Animal through our website. You may also want to review our FAQ about Pet Moving During COVID Closures. We appreciate your patience. Our thoughts are with you and your family as we all work to stay safe and healthy through this worldwide health crisis.

Tampa
4120 W Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607
(813)-879-3210
(800)635-3448

Orlando
5796 Hoffner Avenue #603
Orlando, FL 32822
(407)985-4674
(844) 632-7930

Pet Moving Made Easy®. It’s our focus, our passion, our promise, and your peace of mind. Even in these challenging times.

Air Animal’s dedicated pet move managers are providing clients with custom pet ground transport solutions for their pets because many of the world’s passenger airlines are not accepting pet air cargo bookings. 

The “Wicket Mischief” ground transport move from New Haven, CT to Redmond, WA was one for the books according to pet move manager Jessica de la Nuez.

“Mischief’s Mom warned me that the cat was feisty. And she really was. She only calmed down if her brother, a big German shepherd named Wicket was right next to her. They left Mar. 19, made good time on their private van ride and arrived Apr. 2,” Jessica said.

Ground transporters text photos and updates to pet owners from the road. Mischief wanted to stay in her travel kennel while Wicket had a blast playing ball.



“A significant number of these moves are corporate relocations using our experienced and licensed pet ground transport network both in the U.S. and in Europe,” said Dr. Walter M. Woolf, veterinarian and Air Animal founder.

Polka’s 974-kilometer move from Hungary to Switzerland would normally take 10 hours on the M1 highway. The peppy female border collie-shepherd mix boarded her private van on Tuesday, April 7. According to Jessica Nickler, Polka’s pet move manger, the van was stopped 15 times by authorities who reviewed all the essential service, veterinary and customs papers before allowing the van to drive on. The COVID stops and extra comfort stops for Polka added two days to the trip.

Polka’s mom, Meli, emailed Jessica some photos when her fur baby arrived. “Polka arrived after an adventurous and long journey, and upon arrival she seemed to be tired and puzzled. She did not even recognize me at the very first moment, just after she sniffed me. After stepping to the apartment and seeing her favorite ball, she began to open up in a rapid way. Our walk at the river helped a lot, too. The walk was followed by a bath and a dinner, so now she sleeps contentedly. She will be my same little pup after one to two days.”


Our website has more information about moving pets by ground in the U.S. or in Europe.

“We’ll continue working through our global network of trusted service partners, to reunite owners with their beloved pets during this health crisis. And we’ll begin scheduling pet air cargo moves when the airlines resume pet cargo flights. Everything is possible, it just sometimes takes large dashes of inventiveness and longer timelines to make it happen,” Woolf said.

Our priority is the wellbeing of our customers, our employees and your pets entrusted to our care during these challenging times. We’re operating remotely from our homes to protect our employees and serve our customers. Temporarily, our hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Please stay in touch with Air Animal through the web site where Live Chat is available. You may also want to review our FAQ about Pet Moving During COVID Closures. We appreciate your patience. Our thoughts are with you and your family as we all work to stay safe and healthy through this worldwide health crisis.

Tampa
4120 W Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607
(813)-879-3210
(800) 635-3448

Orlando
5796 Hoffner Avenue #603
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 985-4674
(844) 632-7930

I’m relocating soon. Will I be able to move my pet in April, May or June?Many of the world’s passenger airlines (Air Animals carriers) are not accepting pet air cargo bookings, owing to markedly fewer flights. The passenger airlines will restore passenger service first, followed by pet air cargo bookings later.

What happens if my pet’s air cargo booking and/or its flight is cancelled?
The disruption across the world caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus has affected everyone and everything in our world. Deaths, illness, workplace changes, working from home, layoffs, furloughs, and global supply chain alterations are many effects of the viral pandemic.

When a passenger flight is cancelled for any reason, any booked air cargo shipments cancel, including your pets booking. Similar to a passenger reservation, an air cargo booking is not a guarantee of a flight.

Air Animal’s dedicated pet move managers who you are working with (or you choose to employ) along with our 43 + years of pet moving & air cargo experience and our global network of trusted service partners, will provide you with custom logistics solutions to reunite you with your beloved pets.

Will my pet be able to accompany me in the passenger compartment of my light, rather than as an air cargo shipment?
Pets flying as “cabin baggage” on your international flight are controlled by the rules & regulations of your relocation destination country, as well as the passenger airlines acceptance policies.

When will global pet transportation and its supply chain return to pre-COVID-19 availability?
The truth be told, Air Animal does not know. We are cautiously optimistic of the return of airline flights and air cargo capacities trough the 2nd quarter (April, May, June) and into the 3rd quarter (July, August, September)

Why does information on my pet’s air cargo transport change continuously and frequently at the last minute. 
COVID-19 is an emerging virus with pandemic (global) spread. Advisories from WHO, the CDC, the USDA and many entities across the globe, learning more and more each day, results in continual updates to governments, airlines, freight forwarders, and pet transport companies.

Should I have contact with my pet(s) if I have been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive?
If you been diagnosed as COVID-19 positive or have suggestive symptoms, CDC has posted guidelines for you to follow.

I recently received an e mail allegedly from CDC explaining how I can rescue a dog from “quarantine." How should I respond?
 Please, Do NOT respond to imposters, scam artists, and bogus persons who are praying on both your emotions and your pocketbooks. You’ve heard this before…should you NOT know the sender, do not reply. Be Internet safe.

I’m thinking of purchasing and/or adopting a pet from another state or another country.  Is Air Animal able to assist me in the transport of my purchase and/or adoption?
While buying or rescuing a pet online sounds great, getting the pet to you is not inexpensive. Transport capacity for adopted pets is limited during the COVID-19 lock down. You might consider these options.

Our priority is the wellbeing of our clients, our employees and your pets entrusted to our care during these challenging times. We’re operating remotely from our homes to protect our employees and serve our clients. Temporarily, our hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Please stay in touch with Air Animal through the web site where Live Chat is available. We appreciate your patience. Our thoughts are with you and your family as we all work to stay safe and healthy through this worldwide health crisis.

Please note should you have relocated, are living in your relocation destination country, and have left your pet with a co-worker, family member, friend, veterinary practice, pet care facility, etc.. You do not have to be present in the origin country to originate the pet’s air cargo shipment.
Air Animal’s 43 + years of pet moving experience and its IATA air cargo appointment and endorsement since 1989 will be of benefit to you and your pet as we work together in the safe, humane and professional transport of your four-legged family member.

Tampa
4120 W Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607
(813)-879-3210
(800) 635-3448

Orlando
5796 Hoffner Avenue #603
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 985-4674
(844) 632-7930