Traveling with two pets

[yavenay]

I'm not sure what to do. In the very near future (hopefully), I will be moving to Panama for one year. I have two pets.....Duchess, my yorkie and Chloe my cat. I have never traveled with two pets before. I have manage to work out everything except travel arrangements for the both of them



Because I am traveling alone, I don't know what to do. From what I understand one will have to travel in cargo but if I have to catch connecting flights I am scared to death they might lose one of my babies. Any suggestions on how to handle this? I plan on getting gps collars so I can track them (if the technology is available outside of the US) for the both of them and of course they are already micro chipped.


This is the only detail I have to work out. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. There is no way I am leaving my babies here. Where ever I go, they go. I'm just not sure how to handle them with multiple connecting flights. The possibility of losing one of them is really messing with my head. We all know how much luggage gets lost.

[Yorktowny]

Originally Posted by yavenay

I'm not sure what to do. In the very near future (hopefully), I will be moving to Panama for one year. I have two pets.....Duchess, my yorkie and Chloe my cat. I have never traveled with two pets before. I have manage to work out everything except travel arrangements for the both of them



Because I am traveling alone, I don't know what to do. From what I understand one will have to travel in cargo but if I have to catch connecting flights I am scared to death they might lose one of my babies. Any suggestions on how to handle this? I plan on getting gps collars so I can track them (if the technology is available outside of the US) for the both of them and of course they are already micro chipped.


This is the only detail I have to work out. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. There is no way I am leaving my babies here. Where ever I go, they go. I'm just not sure how to handle them with multiple connecting flights. The possibility of losing one of them is really messing with my head. We all know how much luggage gets lost.

Is there any chance of travellling with someone else who can help and putt the other pet under theyre seat??

I know my kitty HATES change and travel (and they all have!!) but some of my dogs have liked it so maybe thats how to decide if you cant find someone else to help? So hard!

Also congrattulations on getting a great chance in Panama!!! I was there once and it was nice.

[lilgidget]

I have no idea but HOPEFULLY someone will be able to help you.

[Lovetodream88]

I would try to find someone to help because cargo is very dangerous. No matter what some people say it is absolutely not meant for pets. It can be very scary. I have heard of many pets dying, many getting lost, stolen and getting really messed up. There is a huge chance just like with luggage that it gets completely lost or ends up somewhere else.

[matese]

The only way I see this coming out without incident is to hire a nanny or a friend to come with you where one of your babies can be placed under their seat. I would absolutely NOT put one of my babies in cargo.

Good luck.

[yavenay]

I'm at a lost as to what to do. Has anyone heard of those pet transport services? If so, what are you thoughts? This is the only detail I have not been able to work out.



I can offer to pay for a friend depending on price. It's starting to look like the only solution will be the most expensive solution and that's simply to pay the expenses of someone to carry the second pet which would bring up an even bigger problem when I leave Panama in a year. How do I get them both back home, will I have to do the same?.........oh boy.......this is turning into a huge problem.



Right now I can only think of two people who could keep my cat for a year. I can pay all of her expenses such as cat food etc and have a credit card on file at the vet's office. My cat is obviously much more easy to take care of than Duchess. Chloe is pretty low key and not destructive at all. She only uses her scratching post to sharpened her nails. This may be my best option if one of my friends agrees to it.

[yavenay]

I don't want to make two trips as I would have to leave Duchess alone in a foreign country. What if I can't get back in the country (anything can happen when traveling to a different country). Duchess would be stuck there so making two trips isn't an option. I don't want to take that chance.

[matese]

OMG, making two trips is out of the question. It would be ideal if you can leave kitty Chloe with a friend for the year you are gone. if not, yes, the way you went if you hired someone or paid someones fair is the way you would have to come back home. Having a friend keep her is best for all.

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by yavenay

I'm at a lost as to what to do. Has anyone heard of those pet transport services? If so, what are you thoughts? This is the only detail I have not been able to work out.



I can offer to pay for a friend depending on price. It's starting to look like the only solution will be the most expensive solution and that's simply to pay the expenses of someone to carry the second pet which would bring up an even bigger problem when I leave Panama in a year. How do I get them both back home, will I have to do the same?.........oh boy.......this is turning into a huge problem.



Right now I can only think of two people who could keep my cat for a year. I can pay all of her expenses such as cat food etc and have a credit card on file at the vet's office. My cat is obviously much more easy to take care of than Duchess. Chloe is pretty low key and not destructive at all. She only uses her scratching post to sharpened her nails. This may be my best option if one of my friends agrees to it.

That might be your best option (the last one). My uncles fiancé did that with her best friends cat.

[Lovetodream88]

You made sure of all the stuff you have to do to bring a dog into another country right? I know some places have strict laws and others don’t.

[lilgidget]

Have you managed to work out the details of taking your pets with you? Please keep us posted.

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

You made sure of all the stuff you have to do to bring a dog into another country right? I know some places have strict laws and others don’t.

Yes I have thoroughly researched all of Panama's requirements for bringing a pet into the country. Unfortunately Panama has an annoying habit of making changes and not updating their docs. So I have to be prepared for not being able to get into the country if that should happen.


I will be making at least 2 trips without Duchess before I move officially. So on both trips, I will get a chance to confirm their procedures on bringing a pet into the country. I will be going down to establish residency first and finding us a place to live and getting everything setup first before bringing Duchess.

[lilgidget]

Are you planning on taking both pets or just Duchess.

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

Have you managed to work out the details of taking your pets with you? Please keep us posted.

Not quite, I still unsure of an option for my cat. Taking one pet is easy but taking two pets with just one person is turning into a logistical nightmare but I do have some options. Each option comes with it's on caveats. I am leaning towards having one of my friends keep her though. However if they unable to do it, I don't know what to do.


I think my worst case scenario if I can't find any one to keep her for a year would be to put her in cargo as much as I dread doing that. Giving her away is not an option. However, there are direct flights to Panama from Miami and Huston TX.


I can drive to Miami from Delaware and catch a direct flight from there to spare Chloe the trauma of flying in cargo for two flights. Once I get to Panama City, I could then rent a car and drive 6 hours to Boquete Panama instead of flying to David Panama from Panama City.
This would be my worst case scenario option


It's a logistical nightmare but I am semi retire so I have the time and money to do all that driving if need be. Besides, I can't think of a better way to learn a new country than to drive 6 hours to get to my destination.


The things we do for our pets.

[yavenay]

Originally Posted by lilgidget

Are you planning on taking both pets or just Duchess.

If I can't find anybody to keep Chloe (the cat) for the year that I will be gone, I won't have an other option but to take both pets. Giving either one of them away so I can move to Panama for a year isn't an option. So I will have to deal with the logistical nightmare of getting them there and back home again.