17 Nov Welcoming Your Assignee’s Pet in His New Expat Home

Bringing their pets with them to their new location of employment is very important to some assignees — and helping to see that no harm come to that fuzzy animal can become part of your job as a global mobility specialist. Expatriates see their beloved cats and dogs as an extension of their lives, and coming home to their welcome bark or snuggle can be the highlight of a very long, tiring day. If Garfield starts throwing up and Snoopy moans in pain, your assignee’s performance and focus can get affected, which is something you don’t want to happen.

As the Wall Street Journal explains it, a pet goes a long way in making the assignee feel welcome in his new country. Their loyalty, devotion, and perpetual presence is a stress-reliever and a source of comfort. A guard dog can protect the assignee from harm, while a cuddly cat can become a bridge to break the ice with the neighbors. A pet is not just part of the assignee’s family, but a beloved companion who helps him transition to his new normal.

A successful transition also comes under the scope of your responsibility. Here are a few tips on how to make pet relocation work for your assignee, and for you as well:

• Guide your assignee into transporting his pet safely from the country of origin to his new destination. That means getting to know the rules and regulations concerning the mobility of these creatures from the airlines that your assignee will be using. International Health Certifications might be required. Some airlines are also more stringent about these rules, which are actually more beneficial to your assignee.

For example, they would put the owner’s mobile phone number on the tag placed on the collar that the pet is wearing. This precautionary measure prevents the pet from being lost, which can happen should he jump out of his cage the minute a concerned airline employee opens it to give him a plate of water. Once the pet is found, the phone number on his tag will make it easy for the airline officials handling him to find your assignee.

• Always ensure that your assignee’s pet is healthy to make your assignee productive and happy. This action takes place prior to the departure of the pet from his country of origin. Book direct flights, instead of one that requires a couple of transfers. All that moving around, from one plane compartment to another, can literally make the poor pet sick.

• Make sure that your assignee has proper access to veterinarians and other pet care providers near the place of his new residence. A 24-hour pet clinic can prove to be a valuable resource in case the pet suffers food poisoning or some other illness. If there is none, then settle for the next best thing: a pet clinic open on regular hours or a couple of pet doctors only a few minutes’ ride away from your assignee’s new accommodations.

• Then, once your assignee and his pet have made themselves comfortable in their new home, you might want to refer him to a pet sitter who can look after the animal while he is busy in the office. It might take your assignee time to adjust to the idea, especially if he has not used a pet sitter before. Back home, his relatives were the ones taking care of his pet. One way to assuage his concerns is employing smart sensors that will check the arrival and departure of the sitter, and their activities with the pet throughout the day. The sensors will inform the assignee if and/or when the sitter safely brought the pet to its kennel. They will also record if the home of the assignee had been properly secured.

• Other smart devices can be used to monitor the pet itself, watching out for its health and safety. Smart collars track its vitals, and will alert the owner immediately if it gets sick, weakens, or suffers an accident. A GPS tracking device will also show the assignee the exact location of the pet at any single time. If the pet suddenly finds a way to leave the assignee’s home, the owner will know and can activate a search quickly and effectively. Check out more smart pet devices at Product Hunt.

Relocating a pet from one destination to another is almost as important as doing the same with the assignee’s child or family member. Do your homework at once as soon as the motions for transfer are underway. Involve other shareholders like the pet owners’ association of the assignee’s new neighborhood. California Corporate Housing provides great accommodations and furnished apartments to many pet-loving people in northern California.