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Let's see... you're leaving the UAE and you're now coping with removals companies, new home, new job, new schools, emotional upheaval for the entire family... and tons of unwanted bureaucracy.

And then there's your pet ~ you know, the one looking up at you right now, wondering what all the fuss is about.

We're a pet shipping company (or "pet relocations company", as we prefer to call it!) and can offer door-to-door service worldwide for manifest cargo relocations from any of the international airports of Dubai (DXB and DWC), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sharjah (SHJ); full support services if you're travelling with your pet as accompanied/excess baggage; and we can also assist with all manner of road transport ~ swear to Dog!

Just to get you started in your exciting (because of the move), depressing (because of the work involved) venture into the world of shipping animals... the world of animal relocations... here are just a few of the things you need to think about:

  • What are the import regulations for the particular country you're moving to, including such things as: import permits; special certificates; veterinary tests, treatments and other requirements; etc.?
  • Does this country require a quarantine period for your pet, and if so, under which circumstances and for how long?
  • What sort of health certificate do you need from the UAE?
  • Which vaccinations are needed? (Take a look here for help with this.)
  • How will your pet fly? (read: Pet Flight Options)
  • Are there specific timelines which need to be followed through each stage of the planning and execution of your pet's shipment?
  • And here are a few other things to think about.

And here are some very basic requirements which will always apply to all export destinations, although these are just the beginning:

Vaccination Records

All vaccinations, especially for rabies, must be up-to-date and valid. Most countries require that the rabies vaccination is administered either 30 days or 21 days in advance of travel (although there are some exceptions). And, of course, you must have valid records showing this. Luckily, DKC Veterinary Clinic can help you with all this, and we'll even manage that process too! (Did you notice the hard-sell? Well, here's more!)

Health Certificate

Obtainable from the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE) and valid for 30 days from the date of issue. Be aware, however, that the country you're travelling to may require that the certificate is issued much, much closer to the date of departure.

Travel Box

Your pet's travel box must meet IATA standards; any other travel box will be refused by the airline. It also must be the right size. Read much more about the art and science of travel boxes here:
A lot about Travel Boxes and Measuring Your Dog.

 

DKC is:

Find animal shippers worldwide here and here.

This all said, be aware that each country in the world has either slightly different or entirely unique requirements of their own for the import of animals and the details are often voluminous. And more than that, for you to get an accurate picture of the costs involved, the specific details of your pet(s) (breed, age, size, etc.) and intended destination are central components in the planning stages because these have a direct impact on cost calculations for your pet's relocation and travel options.

So, whether you need dog shipping service, a cat relocation service, or a ship-any-lovely-little-thing-anywhere service, and whether or not you handle your pet's relocation on your own or use an agent like us, there's a lot you need to know and to get right before you can have a clear understanding of what's ahead.

And we would like to help. We do not charge you for enquiries and detailed, personalized estimates for your pet's shipment. Our estimates for manifest cargo relocations contain full cost projections and many pages (too many?) of supportive, instructional information regarding the requirements for your specific destination and pet(s). And if you're travelling with your pet as accompanied/excess baggage (country and airline permitting), we give you the full details of the many support services we can offer, along with the fees and a whole bunch of other useful information. So regardless of whether or not you use our services, our estimates and information will provide you with a very valuable start to your process, no matter which corner of the world you're going to.

Food and water for my pet's journey?
Answer
<h5>Food and water for my pet's journey?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_11.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>First of all, to be clear, and VERY importantly, there must <em>always</em> be water available before, during and after the journey. This said, don't overly concern yourself if your pet is not drinking huge amounts before you take her to the airport just because you've given it to her. Let your pet behave normally, drink as she wants, and relax. The key here is that water <em>must always be <strong>available</strong></em> (which is why all travel boxes have a water bowl in them).</p> <p>As to food, however, while there certainly are exceptions, it's actually best that most animals (including dogs and cats) travel on an empty (or close-to-empty) stomach. We understand that you worry your pet will be hungry, especially if it's a long-haul journey, but we ask that you trust this bit of very important advice:</p> <ul> <li>Do not feed your dog or cat for at the very least 4 hours before you drop them off at the airport for departure, and preferably longer. At DKC, we generally aim for about 8-10 hours.<br><br></li> </ul> <p>Unlike human beings who need (or <em>feel</em> they need) to eat regularly, many types of animal, including dogs and cats and others (though, again, there are exceptions to this), are very capable of and even comfortable with going without food for a good 24 hours. Of course we agree that this is not what you want to do every day but in an air-travel situation, we promise you that all your pets and animals will be just fine. In fact, they will be better than if you do feed them because of the:</p> <ul> <li>Reduced likelihood of nausea/vomiting in case they have any kind of reaction to the movement of their crate or as a result of anxiety (though it should be said that vomiting under any circumstances is quite rare).</li> <li>Dramatically reduced risk of toileting (urine and faeces) in their travel box, which means they stay cleaner and more comfortable overall.<br><br></li> </ul> <p>Sound scary? Try not to worry too much. This approach really does work very well indeed.</p></div>
Food and water for my pet's journey?
First of all, to be clear, and VERY...
Can DKC manage both the import and export sides of my pet's or other animal's relocation?
Answer

Definitely yes! For sure! Yup!

Well... maybe. Read on.

There are two parts to any

<h5>Can DKC manage both the import and export sides of my pet's or other animal's relocation?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_3.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Definitely yes! For sure! Yup!</p> <p>Well... maybe. Read on.</p> <p>There are two parts to any relocations process: 1) the export; 2) the import; and they need to be seen as distinct processes because, in fact, they are (although both sides coordinate with each other). We can definitely assist you with the import side if you're coming <em>into</em> the UAE, and we can definitely assist you with the export side if you're <em>leaving</em> the UAE. And that's because we, obviously, are <em>in</em> the UAE.</p> <p>Right, now that's clear.</p> <p>However, there (almost!) always needs to be someone (you, a friend or another relocations agent) handling things on the "other" side of a relocation. If you're importing into the UAE, someone will definitely have to handle things in your country of origin. If you're exporting from the UAE, someone in your destination country will have to handle things upon the arrival of your pet if your pet is being exported as "manifest cargo". (What is "manifest cargo" and "accompanied/excess baggage? Read our <a href="/docs/Pet_Flight_Options.pdf" target="_blank">Pet Flight Options</a>). There must always be a physical presence on both sides for the handing of it all when travelling as manifest cargo and when additional import requirements demand this.</p> <p>And so, you can of course engage us to handle the UAE-based stuff (please do!), but in the other country, you will have to have yourself, a friend or another agent handle that side of things. If you're going to use another agent, that's when we can step in to help with <em>both</em> sides of the shipment - although the other agent will be doing the physical work required at the other end, you may wish to deal with only one company for the management and payment of the whole process. In which case, we can manage that for you. There will of course be an additional management fee, but you might be happier having to deal with only one company.</p> <p>And by the way, if you do want to find another agent on your own, in your non-UAE location, check out <a href="https://www.ipata.org/ipata-pet-shippers-air-and-ground" target="_blank">IPATA.org</a>, where you'll be able to search for pet/animal shippers all over the world.</p> <p>But why did we exclaim "almost!" a couple of paragraphs up? Well, in departing the UAE, there are many countries around the world that permit the entry/arrival of pets travelling with you as "accompanied/excess baggage" rather than as "manifest cargo" for Customs clearance following arrival. This is not to say that additional assistance in the destination country is <em>never</em> required simply because your pet has travelled accompanied/excess baggage, but there are indeed many countries for which the entry requirements do <em>not</em> require this type of additional assistance (e.g. import permit, on-arrival quarantine, etc.). In other words, more research!!</p> <p>Complicated, this import/export thing, eh?  </p></div>
Sedation: Should I or shouldn't I?
Answer
<h5>Sedation: Should I or shouldn't I?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_pet_photo_12.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>In almost all cases, absolutely <strong><span class="underline">not</span></strong>.<br><br>We very strongly recommend against tranquilizing or sedating animals for flight, as does just about every professional shipper worldwide ~ in fact, the vast majority of airlines will not even accept an animal if it has been so treated.<br><br>The main problem is that tranquilizers and sedatives affect the respiratory and circulatory systems by slowing them down quite a bit. While this is almost never a problem in normal circumstances, at altitude and in aircraft air-pressure, it can lead to physiological distress.<br><br>We are not saying that it is never done, and of course we are not saying it always leads to problems, but because there is a widely recognised increase in health risk, even if minimal, the usual approach is to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.<br><br>When is it absolutely necessary? Well, basically you need to ask: Will the stress which my pet will feel be so extremely serious that he will probably experience health problems or even physical injury while in transit, such that the risk of medication is actually less than the risk of anxiety?<br><br>Some people are so worried about their pets and other animals that this question becomes difficult for them to answer, but our experience is that in 99.9% of the cases, it is the human being who is suffering the most anxiety, albeit from understandable worry. You'd be amazed to see just how casual so many travelling animals are once they've arrived at the other end of the journey.</p> <p>And if you <em>are</em> seriously considering medication, look to <em>anxiolytics </em> instead of sedatives ~ these act differently on the pet's system and are probably safer, though we are still strongly recommending against the use of any medication at all, if at all possible. This said, there are herbal and homeopathic remedies that some feel are helpful alternatives and are usually readily available at pet shops and other locations in the form of sprays, tablets and even food.<br><br>Give it all some thought, speak to your vet, and please be cautious.</p></div>
Sedation: Should I or shouldn't I?
In almost all cases, absolutely...

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