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You may have considered taking your furry bundle of joy away with you on holidays. But have you put much thought into the logistics of travelling with your fluffy companion?
A good deal of preparation and planning is a must whenever you go on holiday, but if you have pets, your to-do list may be that much longer. If you take your furry friend away with you, you’ll need to think of a pet-friendly destination and pack all the necessities. On the other hand you may opt to leave your fluffy family member in the care of someone else. Whatever you decide, you’ll want to ensure that your four-legged friend will be protected. More to the point, will pet insurance cover your pets while you’re away?
It's time to take paws for think; does pet insurance extend to cover away from home?
Just like you wouldn’t confuse little Fido for a feline, you shouldn’t take your pets away without the correct cover. So will your policy cover your cat or cavoodle for an overseas trip?
1300 insurance, Bupa, Medibank, Pet Insurance Australia, RACQ, Real Insurance, Petplan, Prosure, RSCPA and Woolworths will pay for pet expenses incurred for the treatment of your pet whilst they are overseas
However the definition of ‘overseas’ is fairly limited. You will not be insured for any destinations where Australian quarantine regulations require your pet to be quarantined on its return. This brings the list of overseas destinations to just the Cocos Islands, New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
When your cat or dog is exported from Australia it immediately loses its Australian health status. This means you might not be able to bring it back to Australia at short notice.
Cats and dogs can only return to Australia from certain countries and, depending on the country, the pre-import preparation time, or time spent in quarantine, can be over six months. However, if you start preparations in Australia before you and your pet head overseas, returning them to Australia can be much simpler and quicker.
Cats and dogs may come into Australia from ‘approved’ countries. However, there are some countries that pups and cats cannot be brought from into Australia. These are referred to as ‘non-approved’ countries.
Non-approved Category 2 countries include: American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Falkland Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati Mauritius, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
Non-approved Category 3 countries include: South America, Central America, Carribean, Europe, Africa, South Africa, Middle East, Canada, Asia.
For more information head to: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/cats-dogs-returning-to-australia
Let’s say you’re going on holiday with your significant furry other. Your holiday will certainly get off to a ‘ruff’ start should your pet get turned away at the airport. To avoid barking up the wrong tree, check in advance that your chosen airline will fly pets.
The following is a finite list of Australian serving airlines that will carry pets. Each will have a different set of guidelines and rules for pet travel so be sure to do your homework before you book.
Virgin - To travel with Virgin Australia, the animal must be held in a container compliant with the airline’s guidelines. The pet must not be unduly aggressive and be over 8 weeks old.
Qantas - Qantas do not allow any animal classed as a dangerous dog – including pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosa and Brazilian fila – to travel on any of their aircraft.
British Airways - Registered assistance dogs may travel in the cabin of a British Airways flight while all other pets must travel in the cargo hold, except OpenSkies flights between Paris and New York where cats or dogs under 6kg/13.2lb are accepted in the cabin.
Jetstar do not allow pets to travel within their cabin. If you wish to travel with your pets you can arrange to do so with Qantas freight, or with Jetpets.
Air New Zealand - allows domestic pets - cats and dogs (excluding any transported for profit e.g. racing greyhounds) and small caged birds to travel as checked in baggage on all domestic services within NZ.
Singapore Airlines - allow cats and dogs to travel on the same flight as you in the air-conditioned cargo hold underneath the passenger cabin. Carriage of pets in the aircraft cabin is not permitted, with the exception of service dogs.
There are strict rules around the transportation of animals by air. Airlines and transport providers along with animal welfare agencies and veterinary practitioners have created guidelines to ensure your pet travels safely and comfortably. Here are a few things that airlines typically will not allow;
Just like people, not all pets are suited to air travel. There are heaps of factors to consider before planning to holiday with your pet…
So you’ve decided not to take your pets with you on holiday; that means they will automatically be covered by your regular pet insurance while you’re away, right?
Right! However, while the majority of policies do cover your fluffy friends while you’re away, it’s still a good idea to ask these types of questions;
Although mobile phones and the internet have made it much easier to be contacted whilst you're away there is always the off chance you won’t be in reach in the event of an emergency. It’s a good idea to fill out an Animal Care Emergency Authorisation Form for your pet while you’re away. In the chance that your pet requires emergency medical attention you can be assured that someone you trust will be able to make any important decisions.
If you do decide to leave your pets at home, you need to take steps to ensure that your animals are safe, healthy and happy while you’re away. Here are some tips for holidays without pets;
Get your pets’ health checked before you go: The last thing you want is a health scare while you are trying to enjoy your holiday, so you need to be sure that your pets’ health and fitness is in good condition before you leave. Arrange a check-up with your veterinarian before you head off.
Sort out accommodation early: Unless you can leave your pets with a friend or family member, you will need to arrange accommodation with a cattery or boarding kennel. The best boarding facilities get booked up well in advance, particularly during peak times like the Christmas or during school holidays. Make arrangements in advance to avoid disappointment.
Do a trial run: If you’re leaving your pets at home for the first time, there are ways to lessen any potential separation anxiety. You may want to do a short trial run – either at a cattery/ kennel or at a relative or friend’s home – to make sure that your cat or canine is relaxed and comfortable when the time comes for you to say goodbye.
Travel insurance to the rescue! Should you be delayed home your concern may be with the
kitty or canine awaiting you back home. Thankfully, a few travel insurers such as 1Cover, Virgin Money and Webjet will cover you for any additional kennel and cattery fees you incur should you be delayed returning home –how’s that for convenience?
As with all pet care, a good deal of research can put you in good stead. Your pet insurance policy will come with a comprehensive Product Disclosure Statement which, while detailed, can provide you with a furry good understanding of your cover.
Your fur-friends are part of the family so it’s only natural to have their best interests in mind whilst you holiday. Whether you bring them along or leave them at home, making sure they’re cared for is a must. Remember that each insurance policy will differ greatly and not all benefits will come as standard. Travel Insurers will also vary when it comes to pet minding cover so make sure you compare policies before you buy.
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