Pet relocation isn’t only dogs and cats. Ferrets, rabbits, birds, reptiles and small exotics can travel internationally too, but each species sits under different airline rules, different EU rules, and different destination-country rules. Woof Airlines plans the route, prepares the paperwork, and sources the right transport equipment for every species we’re allowed to ship.
What 'other pets' actually means
The EU pet-travel regime (Regulation 576/2013) only covers dogs, cats and ferrets as “pet animals”. Everything else — rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates — travels under different rules: the destination country’s import regulation, the airline’s live-animal cargo policy, IATA’s species-specific crate standards, and (for many parrots, tortoises and exotics) the CITES international trade convention.
Common species we plan transport for:
- Ferrets — covered by the EU pet passport scheme, but require the same rabies vaccine + 21-day wait as dogs and cats. Banned or restricted in some countries (notably parts of Australia).
- Rabbits — not on the EU pet passport scheme. Need a country-specific veterinary health certificate; many EU countries also require RHD-2 vaccination before transit.
- Small rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, chinchillas, degus) — usually require only an exotic-pet health certificate, but many airlines refuse them in passenger cabin. Cargo or ground transport often the only option.
- Birds — non-CITES species need a fit-to-fly certificate plus avian-influenza testing on most routes; CITES-listed species (most parrots, cockatoos, macaws, African greys) need export and import permits, which can take months.
- Reptiles — temperature-controlled transport is non-negotiable. CITES applies to most tortoises, many lizards and snakes. Many destinations ban or restrict specific species outright.
- Aquatic species and invertebrates — case by case. Some shipped under live-aquatic-animal rules, some classified as livestock.
Three things to know up front:
- EU pet passport doesn’t apply to most species — you’ll need an official veterinary health certificate per movement.
- CITES paperwork takes time — 6 weeks is fast; 3–6 months is normal for exotic birds and reptiles.
- Cabin travel is rare — most carriers accept “other pets” only as cargo, and several refuse them entirely.
Country-of-destination rules
Each destination has its own list of which species are allowed and under what conditions. Highlights from the routes we plan most often:
| Destination | Notable rules for non-dog/cat species |
|---|---|
| EU member states | Species-specific vet certificates; some species require pre-arrival notification to the receiving member-state authority. |
| United Kingdom | Most rabbits and rodents allowed under fit-to-fly certificate. Many reptile species restricted; some banned outright. CITES strictly enforced. |
| United States | CDC dog-import rules don’t apply to other species, but APHIS / USFWS rules do. CITES enforcement at port of entry. Some bird species banned under HPAI rules. |
| Australia / New Zealand | Extremely restrictive. Most exotic species are not permitted at all; ferrets banned in some Australian states. Always check before planning. |
| Japan | Pre-import notification required for most species. CITES strict. Reptile imports possible but often via specific airports only. |
Always check the official authority for the destination before committing to a date. Rules change; embargoes happen mid-year. Where we plan a route we re-verify against the issuing authority for every shipment.
Where Woof Airlines fits in
- Species-by-species feasibility check — before you book a vet, we confirm the destination accepts the species at all and on which routes.
- CITES paperwork — for listed species, we coordinate the export permit (CITES authority in the country of origin) and import permit (destination CITES authority). This is the longest lead-time item; we start it first.
- IATA-compliant container — IATA Live Animals Regulations have species-specific container specs (CR-1 through CR-49+). We source or specify the right crate before the vet appointment, not after.
- Airline coordination — we pre-clear the booking with the carrier’s live-animal desk because many “other pets” bookings are refused at check-in if the airline wasn’t notified.
- Ground legs at both ends — temperature-stable transport from origin to airport and from arrival airport to final address.
Species we don't ship
We don’t transport dangerous, prohibited, or insufficiently-regulated wildlife. If your animal is on a national protected-species list, was wild-caught, or sits in a CITES Appendix that requires non-commercial-trade documentation we cannot legitimately produce, we’ll tell you so up front rather than starting paperwork that won’t clear customs.
Quote in under 48 hours — tell us the species and the destination, we’ll come back with what’s possible, what’s not, and what it costs.