Go to the other side of the world with your dog
What administrative papers do you need to go to the other side of the world with your dog? What is a trip to Thailand with your dog like? and in South Korea? What is transportation like with a dog abroad? Charlène tells you in this article!
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Musher and I travel a lot but very little outside our borders. Traveling abroad with your dog requires very good preparation for the trip. There are many things to know. In this article, you will find valuable tips for preparing for this type of trip.
Charlène from Animaniacs does not have a dog because she changes country for her job very very regularly. When I interviewed her, she was in South Korea in Busan. She also lived in Thailand, China, Cambodia, Sri Lanka… At this stage of the article you are surely wondering why I interviewed a person without a dog?? and what is the connection with this article? Charlène is a dog-lover like you and me. The proof is; she created a great blog dedicated to animals: Animaniacs!
And then, in most of the countries she crossed, she joined an animal protection association and cared for and helped many dogs there. I asked her to share her experience with us and to tell us how dogs live in the different countries she has visited, particularly Korea and Thailand. If in France the dog is part of the family, elsewhere it is not always the case. This is important information to also know to travel serenely with your best friend.
Administrative papers
As for us, your dog must have his European passport to be able to leave the borders but also to return there. Your pet must also be chipped and be up to date with all their vaccines. You will also need to find out from the French Embassy about the countries you wish to visit because each has established more or less strict rules for the reception of animals. The website http://www.pettravel.com/ can also be a good tool for finding all the right information. Some countries will require specific tests or quarantines, for example. It is therefore important to establish a international certificate of good health for your animal before leaving.
Of course, remember to take all your certificates and health records with you for the trip.
How is it in Thailand?
In Thailand, what struck Charlène was the number of stray dogs in the cities. They live in packs in the streets and are therefore left to their own devices. This poses serious health and safety problems. Charlène worked in the association Phangan Animal Care. She came to the aid of the most crippled dogs. If some were lucky enough to be adopted, most of them, too wild, were cared for and re-deposited near Buddhist temples where the monks have the obligation to feed them. The association leads many sterilization campaigns to try to control the phenomenon. She has witnessed many scenes of violence against street dogs. Unfortunately, you will find many testimonials of this type on travel forums. Animal respect is sometimes a concept in this country that often makes headlines for its scandals around animal abuse. It is a beautiful country with breathtaking landscapes; but it's still not good to be a dog over there… If you intend to travel with your dog, for you as for him the anti-rabies vaccine is obligatory. Be aware that the encounter with street dogs will surely be inevitable… and that you will have to know how to manage the situation.
Transportation
To reach Thailand or any other destination, you will need to choose a mode of transport. Here is some information to make your choice.
Plane: Air travel is not particularly pleasant for dogs, especially long-haul flights. Find out about the travel conditions offered by the airlines for your animal. Some companies accept small dogs in the cabin while larger ones must travel in suitable transport cages but in the hold. Nevertheless, for pug or bulldog type dogs, the plane is strongly discouraged because of their recurrent respiratory weakness. Some companies do not accept them.
Boat: Boat trips are easier. Companies are gradually starting to offer more suitable choices for traveling with your pet. I am thinking in particular of the Brittany ferry company, which recently modified its regulations in favor of animals so that they can travel in better conditions.
By train or by bus: Animals are rarely accepted on buses except in exceptional cases such as accompanying dogs or, in certain cases, small animals. In trains, they are more easily accepted (example in France, the SNCF allows certain dogs). It remains quite difficult to travel with your animal even if these modes of transport are very often used because they are more economical.
It is best to opt for travel by car or in a converted van. This mode of transport offers significant freedom and saves a lot of money in the end.
How is it in South Korea?
Charlène currently lives in South Korea in Busan. She works for the association BAPS (Busan Abandoned Pet Sanctuary). Very small dogs are the kings of Korea. In the small street where she lives, there are 3 petshops which are chock full of dog accessories. Coats, hair clips, shoes, perfume… everything is there to dress (clown?) your dog. There you can even paint their ears or the tip of their tail blue or pink according to Charlène... I'll leave you alone to judge these practices. For my part: 😡😡!! You should know that Koreans only adopt puppies. Adult dogs up for adoption have almost no chance of getting adopted, so the association Charlène works for sends them to Europe to give them a chance to find a new loving family. There are a lot of cocker spaniels arriving at the association. A baby cocker spaniel is so cute but of course it grows! And as it is an overpopulated country where every square meter counts, a dog that is too big is quickly abandoned... The conscience of society is changing and so is the place of the dog but there is still a long way to go for respect for the animal... and Charlène's daily work is proof of this.
Animal welfare while traveling
After this little Korean bubble, here are some tips to ensure that your companion's trip goes well in Korea or elsewhere. It's great to travel with your pet, but you should never forget its well-being:
- A first aid kit dedicated: as for us, your dog must have its own first aid kit. It is not uncommon for animals to have small digestive problems, especially after a long journey. Stress can also strongly affect our doggies. To avoid a few panic attacks, there are essential oils or small tablets that you can take and give to him before departure.
- His personal effects: like a child, the dog needs to be entertained but also to have some bearings. So remember to take along some of his favorite toys and his blanket/basket, for example, in order to keep a familiar smell.
- Maintain your eating habits: it is best not to change your eating habits overnight. You can bring his favorite croquettes with you and change his diet little by little during the trip.
- Choose your favorite a dog carrier adapted in which he feels good: the transport cage is a very important or even the most important element of the trip. She will follow you almost everywhere. It is therefore important to opt for a cage that is perfectly adapted to its size and which complies with the rules given by the transport companies with which you will be traveling. It is advisable to get your pet used to going there or even sleeping there before the start of the trip so that on the big day, transport can be done more easily with less stress.
Thanks to the advice in the article and to Charlène's experience, which shows us that dogs have a different status in each country, I will end this article by presenting her blog Animaniacs.fr in a few words. On his blog you will find tips for taking good care of your dog but also of your other animals, articles to understand animals and discover them and animals that are up for adoption! Go take a look; you should like it 🙂 or else go to her Facebook.