Ep 29: How Do You Move Your Pets Abroad?

Thinking about moving abroad with a pet?In this episode, we talk through the realities of relocating pets internationally, because for many international teachers and expat families, pets are not an afterthought. They are part of the family. But moving them across borders can involve far more than booking a flight and showing up at the airport.We explore the major planning areas people need to understand before relocating with a pet: legal requirements and paperwork, transport and airline logistics, cost and long-term planning, animal welfare, housing, and daily life abroad. Brandi shares her experience moving her two cats, Luna and Sebastian, from Washington State to Prague, including paperwork challenges, crate issues, and airport surprises. Trisha adds perspective from friends, rescue animals, fostering abroad, and the important question of whether bringing a pet is always the best option.This episode is especially helpful for anyone moving abroad as a teacher, teaching overseas with family, building a teacher relocation checklist, or trying to understand how to prepare for teaching abroad when pets are part of the plan.Inside the episode:Microchips, rabies vaccines, health certificates, titer tests, and government endorsementsWhy the order of paperwork matters so muchCabin travel, excess baggage, manifest cargo, and airline crate rulesWhy some pets may face breed, health, weather, or quarantine restrictionsThe real costs of relocating pets abroadHow early to begin planning before an international moveWhat to consider about housing, daily life, vets, pet supplies, and animal welfare in your destination countryAlternatives such as trusted family care, fostering, volunteering, or supporting local rescue groups abroadIf you are navigating job changes abroad, preparing for an international teaching contract, or moving abroad with kids and pets, this episode gives you a realistic starting point before you make big relocation decisions.Links & Resources📌Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) – United Kingdom Pet Travel Scheme (PETS): https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain📌Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: https://www.agriculture.gov.au📌Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): https://inspection.canada.ca📌Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Dog Importation Rules: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs📌European Commission – Movement of Pet Animals: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets_en📌International Air Transport Association (IATA) – Live Animals Regulations: https://www.iata.org📌International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA): https://www.ipata.org📌PetTravel.com: https://www.pettravel.com 📌U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA APHIS) – Pet Travel: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel📌U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Importation of Dogs: https://www.cdc.gov📞Book a consultation with us! We’re here to personalize support for whatever choices you are facing. 😊https://connectedglobal.org/book-a-consultation/🍬 Find lots of other global education goodies at: https://connectedglobal.org💬 Have a question or story of your own? Drop it in the comments! We’d love to feature listener topics in future episodes.💓 Don’t forget to like & subscribe if you're navigating life, learning, and leadership abroad.