The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

6 AFSA NEWS • JUNE 2006 I n theU.S.,more than60percent ofU.S. households had at least one pet in2005. ForeignService life complicates the com- monplace. “Sometimesmy cats havemore papers than I do,” Foreign Service officer Amy Pitts notes. As a resource specialistwith theForeign Service Institute’sOverseasBriefingCenter, Maureen Johnstonhas helpedmany fam- ilies navigate the maze of pet regulations. Her recommendations, and those of other pet owners, follow. Do your homework. Research restrictions before bidding. Get OBC’s Pet Chart and check post wel- come cables, also available from OBC. Confirm the informationwith post, espe- cially for exotic animals. Consider hous- ing, local attitudes and available services. Will your 120-pounddog be permitted in an apartment? Will your elderly tabby thrive without vet care? Reconfirm requirements. Once youhave an assignment, recheck and schedule entry procedures. Some countries require a six-month process on a specific timetable. Making a mistake or starting late could lead toanexpensivequar- antine. Book travel early. Plan layovers and itineraries, asking recent travelers for the best transit points. Airlines limit the number of animals on board, and some no longer permit pets in the cabin or as accompanied baggage. Reservation agents do not necessarily have accurate information, and theirword carries noweight at the airport. OBCoffers an Intranet summary of airline policies. Check that, go to theairline’sWebsite, print out the policy and carry it with you. Consider back-up options. Situations change. Unfortunately, research does not guarantee results (although it helps!). Could you leave your animal behindwith a friend, relative or pet shipper if necessary? Enlist help. Youmayprefer using anauthorizedpet shipper, expensive but a “sanity saver.” Or ask if familymembers canhelp. “I shipped mycatsout of Indonesia twomonthsbefore I left,” says office management specialist JenniferHenderson. “It was one less thing to worry about.” Purchase supplies. Ask pet owners at post if basic necessities such as kitty litter or medications are available. Learn how to groompets or provide other necessary ser- vices. Plan for pack-out. Moving day confusion can cause your pet to head for the nearest open door, or tohideandendup lost orpacked,withtrag- ic results. Find a safe haven for your pet. Prepare for shipping. What kindof crate or containerwill the airline accept? Companies differ in inter- preting rules. Attachphotosof yourpet and use both stick-on and tie-on labels with your name and your pet’s name, contact numbers, itinerary anddestinationaddress. Stay alert when traveling. Get to the airport early. Notify post of your (andyour pets’) travel plans andenlist help in case you are separated en route. Locate the animals at transit points and ensure they make the next flight. Carry photos of your pets for identification. Save your receipts. Youmay request reimbursement forpet shipping (not quarantine) expenses as part of your foreignor home transfer allowance. Unreimbursed costs can be claimed on your federal income taxes usingForm3093 (see www.irs.gov ). Make arrangements at post. Amy Pitts adapts housing to keep her pets safe: at one post, for instance, she paid tohavewindowscreensmade and installed. As amanagement officer, she plans ahead for possible evacuations. “At every post, I find a ‘Noah,’ someone willing to take all the animals out before an evacuation,” she explains. Start planning ... again. Well in advance of departure from post, research new posts or requirements to return to the U.S. For instance, birds need CITES (Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) certificates and bands. European Union countries may require aparticular type ofmicrochip, even for transit. Expect the unexpected. Twice Jennifer Henderson found that she needed additional cash to collect her pets, even though she had supposedlypaid in full. Amy Pitts once stopped a foreign airport vet as hewas about to lethally inject her cat: he had failed to notice the paper- workU.S. officials had attachedunder the cage. Enjoy! “It has cost me a lot of extra effort and money,” Pitts says, “but my cats are defi- nitelyworth it! Theyhave enrichedmy life, andIwouldn’t goanywherewithout them.” For more information, see the OBC’s Intranet site, fsi.state.gov/fsi/tc (click “OBC” and then “Traveling with Pets”) or e-mail: FSIOBCInfoCenter@state.gov. o TIPS FOR TRANSFER SEASON Pets — From Paperwork to Pack-out Amy Pitts