But recently it is the requests to pull cats and dogs which were pouring in on him.
“It’s grown,” said the owner of Ottawa-based emBARK Pet Transport. “Many people move for professional reasons. And some people just want to be with their dogs when they travel,” he said. “It’s like her baby.”
Traveling with pets has increased rapidly in recent times. The variety of dogs coming to Canada annually — temporarily, permanently or getting back from an adventure abroad — increased by greater than 400% between 2013 and 2019, reaching an estimated 37,400, in response to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Even if the owners wish to go on the journey, it is not all the time easy to cross a border with their furry friend. The process may be delicate and lengthy because authorities are “constantly changing requirements,” Perrault said.
Pet travel rules vary greatly depending on the country
Canadians traveling with animals face a growing thicket of entry requirements that change drastically from country to country. Some require a bewildering array of documents, strict deadlines and even color-specific ink to adopt a pet, whether for a day or a lifetime.
“There are a lot of logistics involved when traveling to certain countries,” says Arlene Lebovic, founding father of Your Dog Butler, which helps owners transport their pets.
Starting in August, Canadians transporting their dogs to the United States can be required to fill out a free online form beforehand. The dog must even be no less than six months old and have a scanner-detectable microchip for identification.
The destinations with the strictest restrictions include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, India and the United Arab Emirates.
