It is said a dog is a man’s best friend, but while flying in a plane, all pets are.
There are people who are so attached to their pets that whenever they are flying to another country either temporarily or permanently, they opt to take their pets with them.
Make no mistakes about it, for some people, pets are a medical prescription for emotional support, those with verifiable psychological disabilities that substantially interfere with major life activities such as anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder or panic attacks.
Hence for people travelling with their pets, airlines require pets to have passports just like human beings and owners are expected to buy tickets for their animals.
The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) requires passengers tagging along their pets to state their intentions for doing so.
The pets are then medically examined by specialist veterinaries and given sleep injections before being allowed into a plane in kennels and are then placed in the baggage section ready for travel.
Victor Rasugu, the CEO of Ahadi Movers, has been in the business of handling the logistics of people planning to relocate and has dealt with numerous clients who task him with ensuring that their pets arrive to the destination safely.
Speaking to Business Today, Rasugu says that his company has a dedicated department that handles pet relocation due to the numerous paperwork and health requirements required to move them.
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“At the point of departure pets are inspected by specialists who give all the necessary licences,” said Rasugu.
For individuals seeking to bring pets into the country, the Immigration Department requires them to microchip their pets with an ISO complaint microchip, in the event that the pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, the owners are expected to bring their microchip scanners.
Immigration also requires the pets to be vaccinated for rabies more than 6 months and less than 12 months prior to entering the country.
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If the pet had been vaccinated against rabies less than six months earlier to arrival in Kenya, it must also be accompanied by a certificate signed by the government veterinary officer at the country of origin stating that it had not been within 30 miles of its place of origin.
The owner of the dog must also present a health certificate from the country of origin on arrival to Kenya.
A ticks and tapeworm treatment within 48 hours of entry is required when entering Kenya.
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