Gosselin in Georgia first active member of IPATA

Gosselin Georgia was a provisional member of IPATA, the Association for Pet Moving, for one year. During this trial year, Gosselin Georgia had to satisfy various criteria before they could become an active member. Now, it’s official. Regional Manager John Braeckeveldt explains.

“To become an active member of IPATA, we needed two recommendations from other pet moving companies we work with. I also studied the IATA regulations on moving live animals and took a training program given by IPATA. You need these certificates to become an active member,” according to John.

You don’t just stuff an animal into a moving box, after all; there’s a lot of know-how involved. “The cage has to be large enough to accommodate the animal’s size. They need food, but may not be fed too soon before departure. You also have to try to make the trip as short as possible to minimize stress to the animal.”

Over the past year, Gosselin successfully carried out several pet moves, and generated good recommendations for John’s team. “We take really good care of these animals. We drive them to the airport in air-conditioned trucks. We also walk them with two leashes instead of one to eliminate as many risks as possible.”

Country advisors for IPATA

Another responsibility involved in IPATA membership is providing free information to pet owners. “This is just a normal part of the moving and customer service for us. We act as a contact person for the move of people’s household goods as well as their pets.”

Gosselin doesn’t just educate its customers, but also other IPATA members. “We are country advisors for our region,” John clarifies. “This means that we give other moving companies advice on moving pets. For example, you’re not allowed to move short-snouted breeds because they get too stressed during the journey.”

About Gosselin

Gosselin is a leading provider of international moving and destination services. Our clients are  multinationals, relocation management companies, expats, diplomats, military personnel and private persons. With 56 offices in 34 countries, Gosselin has a strong presence in Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 
Gosselin is a division of the Gosselin Group that has its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1930 and employs a staff of 800 that generates more than 270 million euros in turnover.