BRINGING PETS TO SRI LANKA
Shanaka explained that there are two main ways in which pets could be transported. “This is either as Cargo or as Accompanied Baggage. Transporting pets as Accompanied Baggage is comparatively less expensive than transporting as Cargo. When transporting pets during long haul journeys, it is advised that the pets travel as Cargo on pet friendly airlines as the pet will be given professional care and comfort during the layover in the transit country. Hence the pet will be given food/water and the travel box will be cleaned. When pets are transported as Cargo, pets are carried in a special area within the Cargo hold of the aircraft which is well ventilated, pressurised and heated.”
“If pets arrive in Colombo Airport as Cargo, Customs clearance is required and this would take between three to five hours,” he said. “At Pet Express we ensure that pets are provided with food & water as soon as they arrive in the Cargo terminal. Once the pet gets Customs clearance, the pet is transferred from the cargo terminal to the Naikanda Animal Quarantine Facility. Here a government vet or a surgeon has to do an official quarantine inspection before the pet is released to go home. They are available on weekdays from 8.30am to 3.30pm excluding weekends and public holidays. therefore, we inform the clients prior to their arrival and ensure the smooth process of quarantining.”
Another way in which pets could be brought in is as accompanied baggage. “Most major international airlines do not allow pets to be inside the cabin unless it’s a Service dog, emotional support, or psychiatric service dog, but this is purely subjective to the respective airline policies. This is because some passengers could be sensitive to fur and the smell of the dog and you certainly would not like a pet dog barking inside the cabin during the flight. When the pets arrive as accompanied baggage in Colombo Airport, there’s no customs clearance required compared to pets arriving as Cargo. The pet owner needs to collect the pet near the luggage belt area and go to the Customs checkpoint as well as the Airport Quarantine checkpoint where they need to present the import permit / import license and other health documents of the pet. Since a Customs clearance is not required when bringing pets as Accompanied Baggage, the process is more straightforward and is quicker. Subsequently, the Animal Quarantine officers will escort the pet to the Animal Quarantine Facility in Naikanda, Katunayake for the pet to be quarantined.
The Airport Quarantine office is open 24/7 even on weekends and public holidays. All pet dogs / cats are quarantined for a minimum of 01 day and a maximum of three (03) days upon arrival. The Government Veterinarians at the Animal Quarantine Facility in Naikanda are only available during weekdays from 8.30 am – 3.30 pm excluding weekends and public holidays in order to carry out official quarantine health inspections. Therefore, it is not suggested to bring down pets to Colombo on weekends or public holidays.