Traveling Internationally with Dogs and Turtles
Advice About Dog and Turtle Transport
Hi!
I've looked through your wonderful site but didn't find the answers to these questions:
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Is it advisable to subject the dogs to so many travel hours?
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Will we have to take a direct flight or will our dogs be allowed in an airport for a connecting flight?
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Are turtles allowed to be taken overseas? Do they also need veterinary clearance, etc?
Thanks 😊
Paula
Hi Paula,
Thanks for the kind words! We'd be happy to go into a little more depth to try and answer your particular questions.
First, you'll want to take a look at the official pet import requirements for South Africa. As you'll see, your dogs will need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and an Import Permit and a Veterinary Health Certificate are also needed. They won't need to go to quarantine if all rules are followed correctly. (Please read the linked information carefully to find out all the details.)
Turtles are trickier -- based on the online information it's not clear whether or not South Africa allows turtles and it also depends on the exact species you have. We advise that you contact the Director of Animal Health to find out about the most up-to-date policies. You'll also want to ask the airline what their rules and regulations are regarding traveling containers, etc.
For our pet clients traveling on long trips, we do often schedule them a flight with a comfort stop (pets traveling on Lufthansa can often have a layover at the Animal Lounge in Frankfurt, for example). No matter what you'll want to follow a few best practices to help make your pets' flight a smooth one. Here are a few basic pet travel tips to get you started.
Hope this is more helpful, Paula. If you think you'd like some assistance with this move, please fill out our online consultation form so that a PetRelocation Specialist can get in touch to discuss your move options with you.
Thanks again for reaching out, and good luck with everything!
Pet Transport Question Details:
Name: Paula
Number of Pets: 4
Pet Type: 2 dogs and 2 turtles
Pet Breed: Dogs: very small mixed breed (similar to Chihuahua); Turtles: semi-aquatic
From: Portugal
To: South Africa