Over these past few months, after resigning from the company I loved working for the most and where I made the most friends — Anglo American (yes, I say the name proudly, with a foreign accent) — I’ve been reflecting a lot on life and letting in thoughts about my next steps. Some time ago, I decided to move to Italy. We’ll talk more about why later on.
The fact is, after all those years working in Supply Chain, moving giant shipments from one side of the world to the other, I never imagined how complex and bureaucratic the logistics would be to bring my best friend along: Gino, my “dogvisor” and “assistant for ruff-and-random affairs”.
If you, like me, have never taken your furry friend on an international trip, know that you’ll need 4 to 6 months in advance to get everything organized.
From microchipping compliant with ISO 11784 and 11785 standards, a rabies antibody titer test (that alone takes at least 90 days), and the CVI (International Veterinary Certificate), to booking his spot in the aircraft’s cargo hold. On top of that, you’ll need to buy an IATA-compliant travel crate and train him to get used to it.
Tip: Requirements vary depending on the destination country. I strongly recommend checking directly on the official Brazilian government website: 🔗Traveling to another country with your dog or cat (CVI) (page in Portuguese)
Many companies charge for this documentation and “door-to-door” transport service, delivering the animal even freshly bathed. It’s convenient, but the price tag is steep: I got a quote for US$10,000.
I decided to handle everything myself, to learn, save money, and make sure my distinguished “dogvisor” stayed with me the whole time. By the way, if anyone reading this post needs help with this process, I’d be more than happy to share what I’ve learned.
It’s worth mentioning the challenge of ground logistics for Gino, both in Brazil and at our first destination, Germany. Specialized transport had to be arranged in both places. I also have tips and suggestions to share about this, in case anyone’s interested.
Gino, an exemplary good boy, already has all his paperwork ready and — with a bit of bribery, of course — already walks into and stays in his travel crate, which, for his size, looks more like a Volkswagen van.
As for me, I’m still trying to fit everything I need into three 32 kg (70 lb) suitcases. That’s the most I managed to negotiate with the airline, on top of space for Gino’s crate and my bicycle in the cargo hold.
Time to speed up the final preparations, practice letting go, and burn the boats — after all, departure day is getting close.
Follow along for the next posts, and let’s go Reimagining the Route together!