When it comes to animals, Move One’s Animal Transportation department has extensive experience in not only relocating family pets, but also providing comprehensive transportation services for security and working dogs. The global demand for security dogs remains strong, particularly for specially trained munitions detection dogs and standard government security dogs, employed in hazardous and remote locations. Due to the political unrest in many countries, a growing number of police and private institutions are also using security dogs, with the price of a working dog now averaging US$15,000.

Apart from the challenge of standard cargo and logistics projects, transportation of ‘live’ cargo such as working dogs demands exceptional skills, expertise and knowledge. In only a short period of time, Move One has come to specialise in the transportation of working dogs deployed to support military field operations in war zones, safeguard military bases, embassies, and consulates; and detect land mines, explosives, and other ordinances.

With a wide distribution of offices in the Middle East, to include Qatar, UAE (Headquarters for Move One), Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, Move One has earned a reputation in the region for specialising in the transportation of working dogs, but we also address the needs of the ‘rest-of-the-world’ as well. For example, our Pet Transportation Specialists have assisted the shipment of 26 detection dogs from the Mine Detecting Dog Center in South-East Europe to Azerbaijan, Lebanon, and Iraq. We also shipped a consignment of working dogs within Afghanistan from Kabul to Herat, further demonstrating our capabilities of transporting these animals within challenging environments such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly nine years of in-country experience in both countries provides us with deep insight into their transportation conditions, giving Move One an advantage over other carriers and forwarders in the same line of business.

In September last year, Move One again had the opportunity of handling transportation of 31 Military Working Dogs who completed their service in Baghdad, Iraq, and were scheduled to be shipped back to Houston, Texas. This involved a lengthy road trip with security and a flight from Erbil, Iraq to Dubai. Our team kept their ‘eyes-on’ our four-legged customers, from the time of pickup to airlift to Dubai.

Military working dogs are ‘four-legged soldiers.’ Their tasks in war zones are equally dangerous as those of soldiers. These powerful, agile and specially trained dogs risk their lives protecting military operations wherever they are needed. They are loyal companions, members of a military family, sharing good and bad with their human handlers.

The process of shipping these dogs represents a unique challenge. With its vast experience in transportation of military working dogs, especially in the region of the Middle East, to and from Iraq and Afghanistan conflict areas, Move One has developed the specific expertise, not only in the technical aspects of transportation, but also in understanding how to handle and prepare these animals for shipment. For example, Move One needs to be fully aware of watering and feeding requirements as well as exercising and dog hygiene at transit points. In addition there is a host of medical and administrative documentation which allows the transfer of animals from origin to final destination. In short, each animal must be ‘fit’ to travel, but more importantly, qualified to travel based on origin export policies, and final destination requirements clearing the animal for a safe and legal entry. When animals are shipped, it is mandatory that they travel in kennels fitting the size and weight requirements stipulated by IATA and the airline. Water and food supplies may accompany the consignment based on the customer’s requirements.

As part of the pre-shipment preparation, it is necessary that staff handling the shipment, and especially transit of the dogs, are familiar with all technical and legal requirements for export and import of these animals. Dogs being transported to and from a country of deployment require the following documents as a minimum:

• Vaccination records of the dogs
• Health certificate from country of export
• Permission (OK-to-transit) at transit points
• Import permit – required for most countries

With the increase in security risks, in both war zones and high political risk countries, the demand for security working animals has also escalated. To meet these needs, Move One has increased its service capacity by expanding its operations in the UAE to include Sharjah and Abu Dhabi as import and export points. This will provide greater flexibility in handling inbound and outbound requirements.

Move One’s Animal Transportation department specializes in the transportation of military and other working and service dogs, as well as household pets and exotic animals. Please contact us at pet@moveoneinc.com for a tailor-made quote or more information.

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