It Starts With the Right Crate

Every international move we handle starts the same way: making sure the crate actually fits the pet. For Kilo, that meant an in-home visit from Chris, one of our Seattle-based agents, who came out to the family's Oregon home to measure Kilo and test a couple of airline-approved crate sizes in person rather than guessing from a chart.

It took a little trial and error — Kilo's family had tracked down a well-loved secondhand crate locally, and Chris confirmed on-site that the ventilation openings met airline spacing requirements before giving it the green light. Getting this step right in person, instead of over email, is exactly why we send an agent to do fittings — a crate that looks fine on paper can still be the wrong call once a real dog is standing in it.

Health Certificates and Vet Records, Coordinated End to End

With the crate squared away, our team turned to the paperwork — health certificates, vaccine records, and veterinary sign-off, all coordinated with Kilo's vet clinic back in El Paso. This is often the part of a move that causes the most stress for families, simply because clinics are busy and certificates have to be signed and returned on a tight timeline.

Our team stayed on it daily, following up directly with the clinic to keep Kilo's certificate moving, and looping in the family only when a phone call from the pet parent would get a faster response. By the time boarding day arrived, every document Kilo needed for departure, his Miami connection, and arrival in Puerto Rico was in hand.

Pre-Flight Boarding and a Send-Off Fit for Agent Kilo

Before departure, Kilo spent a short stay at one of our trusted Seattle-area boarding partners, where our team made sure he settled in comfortably ahead of his flight — right down to double-checking his heartworm medication made it over with him after the family realized they'd left it behind at drop-off. By the time check-in rolled around at Alaska Air Cargo, Kilo had already won over the entire boarding staff, who sent him off with some extra love.

Our team handled the full check-in process at the Alaska Air Cargo facility in Seattle — paperwork, crate inspection, and getting Kilo comfortably settled for his overnight flight to Miami.

A Hands-On Connection Through Miami

International and multi-leg pet moves almost always come down to what happens at the connection, and Kilo's route — Seattle to Miami to San Juan — had one of the trickier ones. Our partner agent in Miami met Kilo planeside as soon as his flight landed, personally walked him through the layover, and handled the full recheck-in for his connecting flight to Puerto Rico.

That meant a fresh bed to rest on, a change of bedding in his crate, and a walk before boarding again — not just a cargo handoff between flights, but a person looking after Kilo the entire time he was on the ground.

Touchdown in San Juan

Our agent in San Juan was waiting when Kilo's flight landed, took custody of him from the airline, and handled everything through to release — so that by the time Kilo's family arrived, all that was left to do was scoop him up.

“It was a pleasure working with your family from start to finish — and it meant the world to see Kilo land safely and get to watch that reunion in San Juan. Hugs to Kilo!” — Anna, Across The Pond Pets