Happy Tails Alerts
New LIVE Chat!
We are excited to launch our new live chat feature on our website! Have questions about our services? Wondering what the best method of transport is for your pet? Simply click the tab on the bottom right-hand side of our webpage to message us!
Responses will be received as quickly as possible during business hours (7 am - 4 pm MST Mon - Fri). After hours, the chat feature will leave us a message and we will respond the next working day.
Featured Testimonial
"I am writing to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the outstanding services provided by Happy Tails Travel during the transportation of our beloved Sparky to his new home.
From our initial contact with Happy Tails Travel, Lizzie, our Pet Travel Specialist, demonstrated unparalleled professionalism and dedication. Lizzie's expertise and commitment were evident throughout the entire process, providing us with the confidence that Sparky was in the best possible hands. Her attention to detail, clear communication, and genuine care for animals made the entire experience seamless and stress-free."
Make sure to read the rest of Sparky's testimonial and our others here!
Relocation Running You Ragged?
Travel Specialists Can Help Reduce Stress, Anxiety of Moving For Your Pets
Experts agree that relocation is one of the top three causes of stress in individuals and families. Not surprisingly, when pets are an added consideration, the anxiety levels can raise even higher.
While there are many well-known resources available to help with a major move, most people are unaware of pet relocation specialists. Happy Tails Travel, a Tucson, Arizona-based company, has been specializing in worldwide pet travel services since 1995.
Pet travel is regulated by several areas, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Animals must be handled according to specific rules under the Animal Welfare Act and the International Air Transportation Association’s (IATA) live animal regulations. Most people are unaware of these restrictions, and oftentimes find out too late that they have not properly prepared their pet for travel.
There are many factors to be considered in determining the necessary preparations for your pet, including destination, airline, type of pet, size, and time of year. However, all pets will require, at a minimum:
- Veterinarian-issued health certificates.
- To be placed in an airline-approved carrier large enough for the animal to move without restriction.
- Access to water.
- Airline-mandated carrier preparations, which can vary from airline to airline.
If small enough, your pets may be able to travel in the cabin with you. However, oftentimes this isn’t the case. A majority of pets travel unaccompanied without a passenger, and travel in the very specialized cargo area of the aircraft. It is climate controlled, pressurized, oxygenated, well lit, and away from luggage and dangerous goods. Most airlines also have tracking systems that enable you to follow your pet during the trip.
While some vets recommend sedating pets prior to travel, the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), an international network of pet shippers, generally opposes tranquilizing pets. “Tranquilizing drugs decrease respiratory functions,” says Dr. Woolf, veterinarian and owner of Air Animal, Inc., in Tampa, FL.
Another consideration is the time of year. Most family moves and relocations occur between May and August. However, this is when the travel industry makes it most challenging to move pets. With the right pet travel specialist, obstacles to pet travel can be eliminated safely and efficiently.
The best way to ensure your pet travel is handled to the highest standards is to use the resources of an IPATA-certified pet travel specialist. Through the organization’s domestic and international network, your pet travel specialist can arrange reservations; ground transportation to and from the airport; proper documentation; transfer to and from kennels and veterinarians; and procurement of proper pet carriers. Your travel specialist can also help with pre-travel advice and support on preparing your pet for the journey.
Happy Tails Travel has successfully shipped more than 3,000 pets throughout 20 countries. The company serves a variety of clients, and has shipped dogs, cats, gerbils, ferrets, birds and reptiles using a network of more than 20 airlines around the globe.
For more information, please visit our website at www.happytailstravel.com or give us a call at 1-800-323-1718 or 520-299-3315. We are always ready and happy to discuss how we can help you to provide a smooth move for any member of your pet family.