Recently, Luka the puppy made history as the first pet to fly internationally from the Cochin International Airport. Luka flew onboard a Qatar Airways flight from Kochi to Doha via Dubai. CIAL became the only airport in Kerala with the clearance to export pets abroad. With this clearance, pets can be carried as cargo in specially prepared cages to different parts of the world. However, efforts are underway to obtain permission and clearance for the direct import of pet animals from abroad. During the Ukraine evacuation, many Keralites who flew with their pets relied on the Bengaluru airport as Kochi didn’t have the clearance. Besides, the number of passengers travelling with their pet dogs and cats in trains too has increased.
Elephants on train
Not just cats and dogs, you could take your pet goat, horse and even elephant on trains. Bigger animals are transported in the luggage van or in special coaches. Meanwhile, passengers could take their pet dogs in first-class AC coaches. However, he/she cannot do that with just a single ticket. A special fee has to be paid at the luggage office to take the pet with them (the recipe should be kept safe). Bigger dogs could be transported in special cages in break vans too by booking them as luggage. In any case, the dog should be presented in the luggage booking office, at least three hours before the journey, after paying the fees. Pet animals aren’t allowed in the second AC, third AC, chair car, sleeper and second-class coaches. A certificate from a veterinary doctor stating that the animal doesn’t have any infectious diseases should also be produced by the passenger. This certificate should be acquired 24 – 48 hours before the travel. Besides, vaccination reports and other medical certificates need to be submitted. However, puppies could be carried in small cages or baskets in any class or coach, just by paying the luggage charge. A doctor’s certificate too is required for carrying puppies on trains. For more details, you could contact the commercial department at the railway stations.
