Dogs take wing while mice come flying down

HYDERABAD: When people go abroad, many take their dogs or cats along. And, the animal traffic at Shamshabad airport is only growing. In a month, on an average, 30 pet dogs and cats either fly away or land in Hyderabad. As per the records of animal quarantine and certification service centre at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, besides pets, thousands of laboratory mice and poultry chicks arrive every a month.Dr Soniya Sharma, quarantine officer at the airport, says not all pet owners get permission to fly with their animals. There must be proper documents, including medical certificates and there are rules to follow. Out of 100 applicants, only about 25 get the no-objection certificate (NOC) to take their pets along. Rules are strict as pet birds and animals are among the main carriers of disease from one county to another, Soniya says. Moreover, many animals and birds cannot withstand air travel for long hours, she adds.Among airborne pets, 95 percent are dogs, while the rest are cats. “Here, we do not allow pet birds, reptiles or fish to fly. However, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai airports give NOC to those pets as they have special quarantine centres,” Soniya says.If necessary documents are not produced or have incorrect or insufficient data, the airline can refuse a pet shipment. For a domestic move, a health certificate and rabies vaccination certificate are required. “Document review is especially important for an international move where paperwork can be complicated,” she says. Many dogs and cats get allergies and the most common reaction is scratching. An allergy is a real head-banger in air journey, she adds.