When Anakin, a big, gentle, snow-white dog, moved from Los Angeles to his family’s new home in Bengaluru, India, his trip crossed three countries on two KLM flights — and ran into something no pet travel plan can predict: a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. Here’s how his move came together, what happened when the ash grounded his flight, and what the rules would look like if Anakin ever comes back to the United States.
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Amsterdam (AMS)
- Bengaluru (BLR)
Meet Anakin
Anakin is what his family calls a gentle giant: a big, fluffy, easygoing dog who has never met a stranger. He was moving to India to join his family in Bengaluru, and this would be his very first time in a travel crate — let alone on a long-haul international flight.
His route took him from Los Angeles to Amsterdam on KLM, through a layover at Amsterdam Schiphol, and on to Bengaluru on a second KLM flight. Before any of that, his paperwork had to be right: India’s entry requirements and a USDA-endorsed health certificate, which our team had in hand three days before departure.
Departure Morning at LAX
Our team met Anakin and his dad before sunrise near LAX, collected his original vaccine certificate, and loaded him up for the short drive to the KLM cargo facility. For a dog on his first crate trip, he could not have been calmer.
At the cargo facility, Anakin went through his weigh-in, crate inspection, and document check while our team stayed with him. His crate was labeled for live animal travel, his water was topped up — his family made sure we knew he drinks a lot — and he settled right in. By mid-morning he was checked in and cleared for his flight, and, in the words of our team, everyone at KLM fell in love with him.
A Layover in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the world’s major pet transfer hubs, with a dedicated animal hotel where dogs and cats rest, get water and exercise, and are cared for between flights. Anakin was scheduled for about a day there before his connection to India. (Learn more about Schiphol and other key airports in our Global Pet Relocation Hubs guide.)
We shared the KLM air waybill number with the family so they could follow Anakin’s shipment online, and we watched the tracking along with them. When a status changed to “OK Replanned,” we checked with KLM and explained what it meant — an internal timing update, not a problem.
Then Came the Volcano
On the morning Anakin was due to leave Amsterdam, his flight to Bengaluru was canceled. A volcanic eruption in Ethiopia had sent ash plumes across the region, disrupting flights to India.
For a family waiting on the other side of the world, a cancellation like that is stressful. Our team confirmed with KLM and our partner in India that Anakin was rebooked on the next day’s flight, made sure he would stay in the animal hotel’s care, and asked for a photo so his family could see how he was doing. The answer came back with a picture: Anakin had become the team’s honorary office dog.
Home in Bengaluru
The next morning, after a short delay, Anakin’s flight departed Amsterdam. He landed in Bengaluru that afternoon, our partner on the ground handled his arrival and clearance, and by evening he was home with his family — four days after leaving Los Angeles, volcano and all.
Anakin’s timeline
What If Anakin Ever Comes Back to the U.S.?
Anakin’s move was one way. But many families who move abroad eventually come home, and for dogs, India matters: it’s on the CDC’s list of high-risk rabies countries. Any dog that has been in a high-risk country in the six months before arriving in the U.S. faces stricter entry rules — and which rules apply depends on where the dog’s rabies vaccine was given and what paperwork was done before it left.
The easier path
U.S.-vaccinated, with the U.S. certification
If a dog leaves the U.S. with a USDA-endorsed Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination, it can come back with:
- That certification
- A CDC Dog Import Form receipt
- A microchip, and an age of 6 months or older
- Arrival at any U.S. airport listed on the receipt
The harder path
Foreign-vaccinated, or no U.S. certification
Without it, a dog returns under the CDC’s foreign-vaccinated rules:
- A Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip, completed by a vet abroad and endorsed by an official government vet within 30 days of travel
- A rabies titer from a CDC-approved lab
- A reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and arrival at that airport
- An exam and revaccination on arrival — plus a 28-day quarantine there if there’s no valid titer
How that would apply to Anakin
The U.S. certification has to be completed and endorsed before a dog leaves the U.S. — it can’t be added once the dog is abroad. There’s an older shortcut too: the CDC accepts a USDA-endorsed export health certificate in its place, but only if it was issued on or before July 31, 2025. Anakin’s was endorsed in November 2025, so that shortcut wouldn’t apply.
There’s one more catch that surprises families: the U.S. certification only works while the U.S.-issued rabies vaccine stays valid. Once a dog living in India gets its next rabies booster there, it becomes a foreign-vaccinated dog in the CDC’s eyes, whatever paperwork it left with.
So if Anakin came back after a few years in Bengaluru, he would most likely follow the foreign-vaccinated path. In practice, that means:
- Keeping his microchip readable and his rabies vaccinations current, with no gaps
- A rabies titer blood test sent to a CDC-approved lab, drawn at least 30 days after a valid vaccination and at least 28 days before he lands — a passing result can stay valid for life if his vaccinations never lapse
- The foreign rabies vaccination certificate, completed by his vet in India and endorsed by a government vet in the 30 days before travel
- A reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility and a flight into that airport — LAX has two, which makes a return to Los Angeles one of the simpler options
- An exam and a U.S.-licensed rabies vaccine at the facility on arrival before he could go home
Plan the trip home before the trip out. If your U.S.-vaccinated dog is going to India, Israel, Brazil, the Philippines, or any other high-risk country — even for a visit — get the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination before you leave. It’s the difference between landing at any U.S. airport and arranging a stay at a CDC facility.
What Anakin’s Move Says About International Pet Travel
Most international pet moves go exactly to plan. But long routes with connections depend on airlines, weather, and, occasionally, volcanoes. A few things made the difference for Anakin:
- The right connection hub. Routing through Amsterdam meant that when his flight was canceled, he waited in a dedicated animal hotel rather than a cargo shed.
- Someone watching the shipment. We tracked his air waybill, explained status changes, and confirmed the rebooking with KLM and our partner in India.
- Partners on both ends. Our team handled LAX, and our partner in Bengaluru handled arrival and clearance.
- Paperwork done early. His endorsed health certificate was ready days before the flight, so the delay never put his documents at risk.
- Thinking past the arrival. For high-risk destinations like India, the return trip is part of the plan from day one.
FAQ
Is India a high-risk rabies country for dogs entering the U.S.?
Yes. India is on the CDC’s list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, so any dog that has been in India in the six months before arriving in the U.S. must meet the CDC’s additional requirements.
Can a dog get the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination after moving abroad?
No. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must complete it and USDA must endorse it before the dog leaves the U.S. A dog that left without it returns under the foreign-vaccinated rules, unless it has a qualifying USDA-endorsed export health certificate issued on or before July 31, 2025.
What happens to a pet when a connecting flight is canceled?
At major hubs like Amsterdam Schiphol, pets stay in a dedicated animal facility where they’re fed, watered, and cared for until they’re rebooked. Your pet shipper should confirm the new flight with the airline and keep you updated.
Where can a foreign-vaccinated dog from a high-risk country enter the U.S.?
Only by air at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility where the dog has a reservation. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has two such facilities.
Can I track my pet during an international flight?
Yes. Pets flying as cargo have an air waybill number, which you can use on the airline’s cargo tracking site. We share it with every family and help explain any status changes along the way.
Planning an International Move With Your Dog?
From LAX check-in to arrival on the other side of the world — and the paperwork to bring your dog home again — our team handles every step.
