Taking a dog to India?

Nattusbs

As far as I know there is no customs payment needed for pets. When I went to Hyderabad (direct from S'pore where I had 9 hour layover after the LA-S'pore flight), the customs officer did not even bother to look at the documents that I had carefully put together (including photocopies of all certificates for him). The folks were more interested in seeing the big boy - you know I had got the largest crate I could find and the airport baggage handling staff wanted to put the crate through the opening for the baggage carrousel. When I heard this, I told them, no way - so they got a fork lift and brought the crate tot he loading dock that is located just besides the carrousel opening.

Nattu was so glad to see me that in the SUV he sat beside me and actually put his head on my shoulder - he had never done that before.

Cheers

Nattusbs

lotus blossom

the fan is probably not 'over the top'; i've heard that the temps in the cargo area of the plane can get quite hot, and also quite cold...

i don't want to be a spoilsport on this issue, but it's only for my love of animals.

http://www.helpinganimals.com/Travel_cargo.asp?pf=true

and while Air India seems to be giving you helpful advice, i do not fly with them - even though their rates are generally pretty competitive - since my friends who have, have been pretty disappointed. so, i just wonder how well they'd treat your beloved pets...?

i do wish you the best; it's gotta be a stressful situation, and i can see that you are doing all you can to prepare them for the long journey to their new home.

__________________
Not all who wander are lost

Noodle

It's a good idea, not over the top! Do it if possible!

And try to talk to someone who will take the animals to the plane - tell them both should be put next or opposit to each other so they can see/smell each other - something familiar.

__________________
If in hole
stop digging.

Indian saying

lotus blossom

one other thing that i'd want to do to prepare my pets for air travel (just as i do for myself) is fortify their immune systems so that they are better able to withstand the stress.

Noodle

Good point!

Nick-H

Dogs have plenty good immune systems.

They spend their time with their noses in the dirt, rather than trying to sterilize everything around them like us humans do.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

lotus blossom

depends, of course, upon the dog's particular habits. i know when my dog got parvo (from spending a night at a vet hospital post neutering), he was pretty darn robust before that. it took some natural forms of therapy, mostly herbs, to revive him again. so, whenever there is stress to the body, immune fortification can go a long way towards prevention of dis-ease.

trying to live in a sterile environment, especially with anti-bacterial agents, is a different issue altogether; actually quite a destructive one.

Nick-H

not something that happens in India!

lotus blossom

** jeanneleez **

Can you elaborate on fortifying their immune systems? We left the dog loose today for two hours and she found and ate a whole box of greenies (14 bones) that we had packed for the trip - how she managed to move the zipper on the luggage, I'll never know.

--Jeanne

__________________
-- Jeanne
http://american-in-calcutta.blogspot.com/

"The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it."
Harry Emerson Fosdick

lotus blossom

richard pitcairn may be a vet that could offer some advice:

http://www.drpitcairn.com/books/pitcairn_book.html

i have this book, and it's pretty helpful in rearing healthy pets.

there is quite a lot of info online.

** jeanneleez **

From what I understand from talking with Air India, there are actually two cargo holds. One is actually cargo, mail and other unaccompanied items. This area is not heated or have air conditioning nor is it pressurized. The other area is for checked luggage and is heated/AC and pressurized. When you check an animal in at the airport, they're assigned to the checked luggage area. I was very concerned about this because greyhounds WILL die in an unpressurized area. Their lungs (like all other sighthounds) can actually bleed due to the way they are built - very different from other dogs.

I read the linked content. Pets do die. I did not make this decision lightly, nor should anyone. If I were doing a six-month, even a year-long contract, knowing I would be returning to the states, then I would ask my family to take care of them while we're gone. I wouldn't put them through this. Because this is a permanent move, I made the decision to move them with us, because it would feel like I was leaving two of my children behind.

The site had good suggestions for prepping the pets. Thanks for the link.

BTW. I have always had good experiences with Air India, but I haven't used their services in 7 years. Has their service changed?

-- Jeanne

lotus blossom

i am glad to hear that the airplane has a separate compartment. i've never understood how they could put pets in the cargo area. i can tell that you've taken painstaking efforts to make sure your pets do well on the move, and that they're quite loved and cared for.

best wishes!

Nattusbs

Stray dogs kills 7 yr old girl in Punjab.

Maybe, this is should be in a separate thread of its own.

http://www.samachar.com/showurl.php?...=sifynews_home

However much I love dogs, the thought of such an act shakes me. the problem is bigger than just "stray dogs" - it needs a societal solution. Where is Cesar Millan in India?



Nattusbs

Singer

I want to relocate to Goa & take my 2 little dogs. When we get to Goa we will live in country environment right next to a beach & I think they will be fine. They will always be kept on a leash, walked early in the morning & late at night. Our home will be air conditioned & I will ensure their safety at all times. What concerns me apart from the long journey is that I have to enter Mumbai first & am concerned that they may be held in some sort of quarantine scenerio despite meeting legislation requirements. I shall call the Indian Embassy, check with the airline & of course the vet but has anyone had any personal experience with importing a dog into India.