We get a lot of questions from people who are having a puppy or kitten shipped to them from a foreign country which will require that they travel unaccompanied in the cargo hold of an airplane.

Do you know your breeder? If you are purchasing a puppy or kitten over the internet, you best have spoken with your breeder, know them or have been referred by someone who had received a puppy or kitten from them. Purchasing a puppy or kitten over the internet, sight-unseen, is a risky transaction. You can end up with a pet that was not as pictured, an unhealthy pet, or no pet at all. If your breeder requires that you wire money for your pet, especially to Cameroon, but to anywhere, then you need to be very wary of the transaction. An alternative is to find a puppy or kitten from a local breeder, if available, where you can see and hold your new puppy or kitten.

Considerations for pet travel: If you are confident in your breeder, then you need to consider the best way to transport your pet. Although the United States or Canada do not require rabies vaccination, most countries do and it must be administered at least 30 days or more before entering the country. Some countries require rabies vaccination before leaving the country. As rabies vaccinations are generally given at 3 months of age, this can put your new puppy or kitten’s age at 4 months before they can be transported to you.

What are the risks to my puppy or kitten??You should consider the risk to your puppy or kitten flying?in the cargo hold of an airplane. Their lungs are not fully developed at young ages and that can impair their oxygen intake. Many airlines have age minimums of between 8 weeks for domestic and 15 weeks for international travel for this reason. Temperatures are also a concern for young animals. Try to avoid transporting a puppy or kitten in the summer or winter when temperatures are extreme. Additionally, your puppy or kitten has not been oriented to its crate at a young age, adding to the trauma of leaving its familiar surroundings.

Although you want to get your new family addition as soon as you can, remember that it is a stress to a puppy or kitten to fly in the cargo hold. If you cannot pick them up and fly home with them in-cabin, then have your breeder care for them until they get older and are more prepared to travel. The wait will increase the chances that your puppy or kitten will arrive safely.

You can find more information about traveling with a pet at www.PetTravel.com.