Moving: Help for moving children, pets

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Children

Moving can be difficult for the entire family. It can affect a family financially when one spouse has to leave a job to follow a military member to a new location. Younger members of a military family may find it hard to leave friends behind and start over at a new school.

Many military families look at moving as an adventure, and jump into making connections in the new community. Doing some research before arriving can help smooth the way.

Much information about helping the entire family get ready for and adjust to relocation is available at the Defense Department’s Web site, www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.

Click on “Troops and Families” to find information ranging from details on installations to the Military Teens on the Move program. There are links to Web sites such as www.militarystudent.dod.mil and www.milspouse.org, which help with numerous relocation issues for children and spouses.

Organizations such as the Military Child Education Coalition, www.militarychild.org, and the National Military Family Association, www.nmfa.org, can provide information and other resources.

Pets

Stateside. Service members must move pets at their own expense, although the cost is tax deductible.

Most states have laws governing the entry of animals. Most require up-to-date rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats and interstate health certificates for dogs and horses. Some states inspect all animals crossing state lines.

Overseas. For a fee, the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command allows service members on a permanent change-of-station move between the U.S. and a foreign country to transport up to two dogs and/or cats in the cargo compartment of military aircraft. Waivers are required to transport more than two pets.

Pet(s) and carrier(s) must not weigh more than 99 pounds; otherwise, private shipping arrangements must be made. Pet carriers must be approved by the International Air Transport Association.

Pets and carriers weighing less than 70 pounds will be charged as one piece; those weighing 71 to 99 pounds (or 100 pounds or more on a return trip to the U.S.) will be charged as two pieces. Fees depend on the distance traveled and the animal’s weight. See your local transportation office for details on routes, charges and other limits.

Confirm your reservation as far in advance as possible. You must present a rabies vaccination certificate (DD Form 2208) or its civilian equivalent, or a veterinary health certificate (DD Form 2209) at your transportation office. It is your responsibility to meet all documentation, immunization and other requirements of the destination country.

There are three ways to ship a pet on commercial airlines:

•In the baggage compartment. An excess baggage rate may be charged, even if you have no other luggage.

•In the passenger cabin. This is for very small pets, if airline policy permits and the pet is in a secure carrier that can be tucked under a seat.

•As freight in a cargo plane. Cargo holds on these planes do not always have heat and air conditioning, so this method is the riskiest for your pet. Check with the airline before agreeing to this type of shipment.

Some airlines restrict carrying pets during extremely hot or cold months, which could endanger the animals. Some have tracking systems so you know where your pet is at all times.

Another option is to use pet shipping companies. Pet Air, for example, is a German company that will take care of all flight arrangements with same-day arrivals, boarding service and daily flights to more than 200 U.S. airports and most Canadian airports. There is pickup service throughout Germany.

Other pet-shipping companies can help you determine what shots and paperwork your pet needs before entering the host country, as well as boarding options for your pet.

Contact: Pet Air (Germany), www.petair.de; Animal Port Houston animal transit station, www.pettransport.com; Jet-a-Pet pet relocation, www.jet-a-pet.com.

Quarantine. Pet arrangements can be complicated for service members transferring overseas. The earlier you start the process, the more likely you can avoid pet quarantine.

Many nations have quarantines of from two weeks to six months. For specific information, see DoD Foreign Clearance Guide (DoD 4500.54-G).

Hawaii recently began its 5-Day-or-Less Program, in which owners can reduce the number of days a pet spends in quarantine by following procedures on a checklist. If the pet meets all the requirements, it may be released directly, or after five days, to the owner. If the requirements aren’t met, the pet may be quarantined for up to 120 days.

Japan has become stricter about pet importation. Pet owners must now follow a strict regimen for their pets that includes getting a microchip, two rabies vaccinations and blood tests for rabies antibodies after 180 days.

Base transportation offices, U.S. Embassies and Humane Society offices also have information on foreign nations’ pet entrance requirements. Check the Defense Department’s MilitaryHomefront site for information on specific pet restrictions at any installation.

The Defense Department will pay up to $550 to help defray costs of quarantining pets.

Contact: Hawaii’s Agricultural Gateway, (808) 483-7151; www.hawaiiag.org; Japan District Veterinary Command, www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/import_d.htm; www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil.

Did You Know?

Airlines are now required to report any losses of or injuries to animals. Check the safety records of commercial airlines that transport pets at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports.

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