Flying is for the Birds

My name is Cayenne, and I am an African Grey parrot.

I have lived with my mother since I was only four months old. I was 15 years old in April.

My mother joined the Foreign Service when I was 8, and since then, I have had to get used to this travelling thing. Mostly I have had to get used to my mother's fretting about the travelling thing.

When we went to Jerusalem, no one told my mom that I needed something called a CITES certificate. The officials at the airports in Tel Aviv didn't seem to know that either. They never asked for one. Of course, they also didn't ask for the USDA form that is also required. So maybe they just don't know.

Anyway, this CITES certificate is something about importing and exporting exotic species. I'm not sure why this applies to me, since I was born in Mississippi. I guess Mississippi is sort of exotic....

Anyway, mom didn't know this was a problem until we were coming back from Jerusalem. That is when someone told her that she was not allowed to import me from Israel because they had bird flu.

She told them she wasn't importing me, that like her, I am a native Southerner. And that the bird flu was only in Gaza, and that I was never allowed to leave our apartment in Jerusalem.

They didn't seem to care. They said she had to get a CITES permit or I would be put down when we got to the States.

Not sure why that is a big deal...mom holds me and then puts me down every day. But she seemed really upset. I got a lot of hugs during that period.

Anyway, it all worked out. They accepted my hatch certificate from Mississippi and she got the permit. I did have to stay at this fancy hotel in New York for 30 days, but mom was more upset about that than I was. This nice lady talked to me every day and gave me some medicine she said was just in case I brought anything nasty back with me. She even let me have some of my toys and my own food with me.

The point of all of this is that this time, mom is making sure she gets that CITES permit so I can both go overseas with her and come home again at the end of the tour. Because you know, we Greys live 25 to 50 years on average, so I am still pretty young. I bet I'll get to see mom retire.

So if you are travelling with your bird, you should check and see if they need that permit too. Just in case. You can find the info about it here and here.

Pet Air Travel Tips: More Safety - Less Stress

Sorry I haven't written you in a while...I have been adjusting to my new brother. And now I am adjusting to the idea that we are moving soon.

So in the spirit of moving, my mom got this email from PetLink the other day and I thought I would steal it and share it with you.

Dear DiploDoggie's mom,
Taking flight with DiploDoggie? Make it safe and relaxing for both of you with a few tips from your friends at PetLink.

Many thousands of animals travel safely aboard aircraft every year. How do they travel? You may transport your pet as accompanied baggage, if you are a passenger on the same flight as your pet. On flights of less than 6 hours most airlines will allow pets to be taken with the passenger in the cabin (except when flying to the UK). The container for the pet must fit under the seat in front of you and must have a waterproof bottom. The other way that pets can travel by plane is in the pressurized cargo hold (if they cannot be accompanied or if they are too large to fly in the cabin). Whether the pet is flying as checked baggage or as cargo they will arrive in the same special area of the cargo department, which is pressurized and temperature controlled. Airline personnel make every effort to handle pets with the care they deserve.

If you are thinking of flying with your pet, how should you prepare?

Safe

•Visit PetLink.net and update your contact information, including adding temporary contact information where you can be reached during your vacation.

•Animals traveling internationally need to have a 15 digit microchip that should appear on all Veterinary and Vaccination Certificates. This microchip will also be read at security.

•Purchase an IATA compliant pet carrier crate in which your pet can comfortably stand, lie down and turn around. Remember to cover the bottom of the pet carrier with a cozy towel or other absorbent material and give your pet at least one month to become familiar with the carrier.

•During the winter months, the airlines may require documentation called an 'acclimation certificate' stating that your pet is acclimated to temperatures lower than 45 degrees.

•Check your pet's collar tag to make sure it won't become caught in the carrier doors. Get a durable collar tag that shows your pet's microchip number and the PetLink toll-free number. As a precaution, also attach a separate collar tag with destination address & contact information.

•Clearly identify your pet on the outside of the crate including his or her photo, name, and contact information for your pet's destination point. Carry a photo of your pet.

Healthy

•Within 10 days of your trip, obtain a health certificate from your vet, including an update of vaccinations. •Bring your pet's medical records.

•Bring your first aid kit.

•Bring DiploDoggie's medications - especially anti-diarrheal and motion sickness meds.

•Take prescriptions with you.

•Take along fresh water - freeze it the night before.

•Choose direct flights where possible to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures or stress of sitting in the cargo hold.

•For longer flights or layovers, attach a small pouch of dry food to the outside of the carrier.

•Keep in mind that each airline has its own guidelines: let airline personnel know that you're traveling with a pet.

•Always remain on the same flight as your pet.

Remember, the number one stress-relieving tip is to prepare well enough in advance of your trip - beginning with a visit to your vet and another one on http://www.pettravel.com/airline_rules.cfm to learn more about pet travel! Relax! Thousands of furry travelers fly safely every year.

Most importantly... have fun!

Sincerely,Your PetLink Team

PS The ASPCA does not recommend flying your pet in the cargo hold. If it is unavoidable, the above tips can help ensure your pet's safety and well-being.

Pets in Cairo

This post is from Life After Jerusalem. I wanted other pets to know about this and tell their parents to help if they can!

DiploDoggie



AFSA has started a new Facebook page for Foreign Affairs Friends of Animals Network. They have sent a couple of emails recently that about the pets of the folks evacuated from Cairo that I wanted to share with you. The second is the more important, because they are looking for your help. They are having a couple meetings for people here in DC who can help, especially those who are in a position to foster some pets.

Here is the first:

Colleagues –

Per the U.S.U.S. Embassy Egypt evacuation status, non-emergency Embassy personnel and families have been ordered to depart Egypt, and some 2,000 U.S. citizens and family members have been evacuated since January 31 – but evacuation flights are not able to accommodate pets. Meanwhile, reports have been trickling out about the paucity of pet options for evacuating USG staff and families – and indeed, for all US citizens.

We have established contact with animal welfare organizations in the U.S. and in Egypt, to evaluate what if anything we can do to assist U.S. pets and pet owners involved in the current evacuation.

Additionally, through AFSA, we have started a dialogue with the DOS Director General’s office, with the goal of developing an SOP for handling pets in future evacuations. We are looking at the model of the U.S. domestic Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 – an Act passed and signed into law by President Bush in the aftermath of Katrina, in response to evidence that human lives were put at risk when people were ordered to evacuate without their pets.

Are you a pet owner who has been involved in the Egypt evacuation yourself, or do you have close contact with a pet owner who has been involved?

Do you have ideas about what our network might do to help U.S. pets and pet owners involved in the evacuation?

Do you have suggestions for the proposed SOP to cover handling pets in future evacuations?

The Foreign Affairs Friends of Animals Network can help advocate for better evacuation plans that incorporate elements of domestic legislation. We want to hear from you!

Here is the second:

The FLO has started a blog to gather detailed information about pets remaining in Cairo, and to coordinate their care and transport as appropriate. The URL is Escapecairo.blogspot.com.

While the FLO works on that end, they have asked AFSA and the Foreign Affairs Friends of Animals Network to help with contingency planning on the DC end. We don’t know how the situation will evolve in the coming days, but one scenario may possibly involve flying the pets to the DC area, in which case a network of volunteers would potentially be needed to provide short-term care for some of these cats and dogs.

Are you in the DC area and interested in lending a hand?
- Let us know if you can meet at the AFSA office, 2101 E Street NW in DC this Saturday or Sunday Feb. 5 or 6 at 2 pm.
- If you can’t come to a meeting this weekend, but are potentially available to provide short-term fostering in the DC area for a USG dog or cat, please let us know that too.

Traveling with Pets

I don't know what any of this means, but mom said you might need it if you are in the Foreign Service and travelling with your pets.

She said some of the links are not regular interwebs links and can only be clicked from a State Department computer.

She said you'd know what that meant.

SUBJECT: TRAVELING WITH PETS 2010
UNCLAS STATE 020701

1. Summary: This telegram provides guidance for pet owners who are preparing to transfer this year.This guidance supersedes all earlier guidance relating to traveling with pets. End summary.

2. Shipping a pet is the owner's responsibility. Although the USG may reimburse some costs and posts may provide pet owners with some level of assistance, the USG does not accept any liability relating to the transportation of pets, including the death of a pet in transit.

3. The Department strongly advises travelers to contact their post of assignment to obtain post‐specific information pertaining to pet shipments. Travelers are cautioned that some air carriers may refuse to transport pets during certain times of the year. The desire to travel on the same flight as a pet is not justification to fly on a foreign carrier, travel a less direct route, or make other changes to an itinerary that would violate travel regulations or result in increased costs. Travelers are encouraged to confirm arrangements for their pets well in advance.

4. An excellent resource on traveling with pets is the Overseas Briefing Center (OBC) located at the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center or online. This website contains valuable information and links to resources on pet travel, including current U.S. air carrier pet shipping policies, country specific pet entry requirements, import and quarantine restrictions, as well as a list of commercial pet transporting services located in the Washington metropolitan area. OBC's DVD "Traveling with Pets" also contains up to date information and can be viewed or borrowed from Room E‐2126 at the Shultz Center. The 2010 "Traveling with Pets" program sponsored by the Transition Center will be held at the Shultz Center on Wednesday, April 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. To register for this program call 703‐302‐7268 or e‐mail FSITCTraining@state.gov.

5. The Travel and Transportation (GSO) section at each post will also have invaluable information that generally includes any restrictions on pet import and export, clearance procedures and fees, and quarantine (if applicable). Please contact the GSO or management officer at post for specific requirements. A current post TMTHREE would also include pet‐specific information.

6. Reimbursement for Expenses: The miscellaneous expense portion of the Foreign Transfer Allowance and the Home Service Transfer Allowance (DSSR sections 241, 242, 251, and 252) provide for reimbursement of "certain extraordinary costs" related to moving to and from foreign posts. Such costs may include expenses for shipping a pet. In keeping with current Department policy, only the transportation portion of any charges for shipping a pet from airport to airport is considered allowable when itemizing miscellaneous expenses. No other expenses related to moving the pet to a new location (e.g. veterinary costs, kennel costs, quarantine costs, transportation to and from the airport) are allowed.

Please note that only pet shipment costs from foreign post to foreign post, from foreign post to U.S. duty station or from U.S. duty station to foreign post are allowed. Reimbursement for pet transportation costs is not authorized in connection with travel to and from a home leave address or as part of R&R, nor is it authorized for training periods. On a post‐to‐post transfer where the employee takes home leave, training or R & R before proceeding to the new post, expenses related to shipping the pet to a home leave, training, or R & R address may be calculated on a cost construct basis, based on the cost of shipping the pet directly from post to post. Without receipts, reimbursement for all miscellaneous expenses is paid at a flat rate of the lesser of $500 or one week's gross base salary for single employees and the lesser of $1,000 or two weeks' gross base salary for employees with families. Single employees who present itemized receipts for their miscellaneous expenses may be reimbursed for actual allowable expenditures up to the lesser of one week's gross base salary or the one‐week gross base salary of a GS 13/10, ($1,786 in 2010). Employees with families who present itemized receipts for their miscellaneous expenses may be reimbursed for actual allowable expenditures up to the lesser of two‐week salary of a GS 13/10, ($3,572 in 2010). Please visit the Office of Allowances' Intranet site at for additional information.

7. Tax deductions for moving expenses: Costs beyond the limits prescribed in the DSSR are considered personal expenses. In some cases these costs may be claimed as moving expenses for income tax purposes. Check with a tax advisor or with the IRS for more information on the tax treatment of these expenses. Forms, publications, and other information are available from the IRS Internet web site. Of particular interest is IRS Publication 521, "Moving Expenses." In addition, to assist employees living abroad, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a new IRS brochure, IRS Publication 4732, "Federal Tax Information for U.S. Taxpayers Living Abroad." It is available here.

8. The three ways to transport a pet via air are listed below (not all airlines provide all three options):

(a) As excess/accompanied baggage:
Depending on the airline, a pet may be able to travel on the same flight(s) as the traveler, either in the cabin or in the cargo hold. Pets transported this way may be considered excess baggage and charged accordingly. Do not assume that the pet will be allowed on the same flight. Seek confirmation in advance. Animals weighing 100 pounds or more will usually travel as cargo, even if on the same flight as the traveler. Check with the airline.

(b) As air cargo:
Pets may be transported as an air cargo shipment on a separate flight. In this case the pet does not have to be accompanied, but must be picked‐up at the final destination. The cost of this service is often considerably higher than shipping a pet as excess/accompanied baggage.

(c) As air cargo via a commercial shipping company:
A licensed commercial shipper can arrange to ship a pet as air cargo. Some airlines require use of this method unless the pet is small enough to fit in the cabin. Charges are likely to include the cargo rate plus the shipper's fee. Arrangements for shipping pets as cargo can be lengthy. It is crucial to plan in advance. Be sure any commercial shipper used is either a "known shipper" or holds an Indirect Air Carrier (IAC)license. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) strictly enforces regulations regarding the shipment of cargo, including pets, on passenger planes. (This does not affect pets traveling in‐cabin or pets traveling as excess/accompanied baggage.) Airlines will typically only accept air cargo from a "known shipper," or from a company that holds an IAC license. A "known shipper" is a shipper that does business on a regular basis with an airline.

9. Shipment of pets to member countries of the European Union (EU): The EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) established requirements for the shipment of pets to member states, although some EU member countries impose stricter requirements. Requirements can also vary depending upon where the pet previously resided. The pet section of each post's welcome cable (TMTHREE) should include specific pet entry requirements. The GSO or Management Officer at post can also provide detailed information. Travelers transiting an EU country for a limited number of hours and not taking possession of their pet may avoid some of the more stringent EU Pet Scheme requirements. Links to the EU and the UK Pet Scheme websites are available here

10. Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA): In addition to the other websites mentioned in this telegram, travelers may wish to visit the IPATA website. IPATA is an international trade association of animal handlers, pet movers, kennel operators, and veterinarians who care for pets locally, nationally, and worldwide.

11. Airline Restrictions and Pets: Some U.S. carriers impose restrictions or embargoes on shipping pets between May and September, the hottest months for pets to travel in the Northern Hemisphere. It is important to note that restrictions imposed by U.S. carriers are not uniform from carrier to carrier. Also note that airline partners and code share flights may have different restrictions. Detailed airline‐specific information is compiled in the OBC's "Shipping of Pets Checklist," which is available from the OBC or online.

12. Additional contact information: Any questions regarding this ALDAC may be addressed to the Overseas Briefing Center, Maureen Johnston, johnstonm5@state.gov or telephone 703‐302‐7277, or the Transportation and Travel Management Division at TransportationQuery@state.gov, or the Office of Allowances at AllowancesO@state.gov