Portugal Startup News

I cracked up when reading a survey finding that 10% of respondents had snuck their pets into a hotel through their luggage. I couldn’t help but imagine a movie-like scenario in which the dog would start barking at the reception.

But that image soon gave way to compassion for the pet and its owner, and I started wondering how heartbreaking it can be not to be able to accommodate your dog with dignity and peace of mind for whatever reason. 

Accommodation is just one of the many hassles that those traveling with their furry friends deal with. The stress associated with traveling with your pets – which 58% of people have found difficult – starts much earlier, especially when you’re flying internationally.

You have to make sure you’re complying with country-specific pet travel regulations, fill out all the forms, find the right airline, deal with the boarding process, and much more.

“Have I filled out the forms correctly? Did I miss any vaccine that my pet must have received? Will I have a hard time going through security and customs? I’ve heard before that someone’s dog was put on a different flight than mine – can it happen to me too?”

These are all the thoughts that might circle in your head, and rightly so. One missed, wrong, or inaccurate detail can lead to your pet being denied boarding, placed in quarantine, or refused entry, or to you having to pay extra fees or face other similarly undesired situations. 

I’m not a pet owner, although I’ve lived with friends’ pets before. But you don’t need to be one to appreciate that traveling, even under normal circumstances, is rarely without its stressors, let alone when you add pets into the mix. 

Now, you might be saying: Can’t you get professional help to figure it all out? Or aren’t there any digital platforms where you can have all these arrangements made seamlessly?

These are the same questions that Marisa Hoskins was asking herself when she wanted to move with Harley and Kalinda to Thailand.

Years before, she had brought them to Canada from Hong Kong, where she had adopted them from a local shelter, in a long process that she describes as “brutal.” 

Trying to figure out the airline rules, health paperwork, crate requirements, translation of documents, timelines, and more was just a mess. No one could offer her a straightforward process, so she had to “wing it.”

Fast forward to her move to Thailand, she figured that international pet travel was still a “nightmare.”

$1,300.

That’s the quote she received for pet relocation consulting. But that price tag was not the end of her ordeal – the advice she received was wrong. So that was the end of that, and she also couldn’t find an all-in-one platform that could fulfill all her needs.

She remembers sitting on the floor surrounded by paperwork, feeling like she was doing a PhD in pet relocation.

The irony is that she had built a 7-figure pet brand, but even with all her experience, connections, and research skills, she was completely overwhelmed in a maze of old answers on forums, conflicting advice, undecipherable government instructions, outdated guides, confusing airline rules, unclear restrictions, obsolete forms, and endless calls that would lead nowhere.

Before moving on, let’s have a flashback for those who may be curious about the pet brand that Marisa scaled and sold.

Harley was just a 10-week-old, alert puppy when adopted, but Kalinda’s health was declining as she had been used for years as a breeder dog. She was overweight, missing all her teeth, and barely able to walk.

Nothing helped – not even the so-called “premium” pet food brands. So Marisa started researching, worked with a holistic veterinarian, shifted her to whole foods, and slowly saw her come back to life. 

That experience, which deserves an article of its own, inspired her to found Puppy Gang Fresh Foods, which ended up becoming one of Canada’s most trusted pet food brands and helping thousands of pet parents.

So there was Marisa, packing up for Thailand in true digital nomad fashion after selling her business and beginning to feel a different kind of pain that pet parents struggle with. One she knew well herself. 

“No one should have to go through this alone,” she thought. And, being the problem-solver she is, she started building what she always wished existed.

Meet Paws Abroad: a first-of-its-kind, all-in-one, easy-to-use platform to make international pet travel easier, safer, and more affordable.

The ambition is definitely big, but the team behind Paws Abroad knows the importance of starting with small, but by no means insignificant, steps toward their vision.

That’s why they’ve begun their journey with the Paws Abroad Travel Planner, a personalized planner to manage your pet’s travel documents and requirements – whether you want to move to a new country, take a vacation, or plan a weekend trip.

Marisa wants you all to know that it’s not a blog or a forum. It’s your step-by-step digital guide that gives you pet-friendly airline options and offers a custom travel checklist based on your pet, airline, route, and destination. 

It also tells you exactly the forms, vaccines, and timelines you need, and you can count on it to send you helpful reminders to keep you on track. And if you’re looking for practical tools and tips to save time, money, and stress, it’s got you covered.

Launched in early May 2025, the travel planner already supports over 100 users across 14 countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. More countries are being added based on the feedback they’re receiving from users. 

Remember the overpriced consulting services? Don’t expect those on Paws Abroad.

Affordability is the heart of their product – which, to them, is more of a mission.

As part of their early access offer, you can get their Clear Path Package for $27, which is ideal for those planning one international trip for one pet. Multi-pet households or travelers planning several upcoming trips have the Smooth Journey Bundle as an ideal option for $47.

And $97 would be your investment for the Founding Supporter Pass, which offers unlimited trip planning for this version of the planner, exclusive perks, and entry to their private founding community that’s shaping the future of global pet travel. 

Concierge service tiers are also available to choose from. 

But this is just the beginning.

On the horizon are curated travel gear and partner perks, private pet travel upgrades that include empty jet legs, a global community forum, and a Digital Pawsport™ to streamline travel with one document.

And I won’t buy it if you tell me I can’t trust a sister-brother team – where one is an incredibly accomplished businesswoman in the pet industry who has moved across the world two times with her two dogs, and the other, Adrian, is a software engineer who knows how to nail the technical aspect of this mission.

With clarity, compassion, and community as their guiding values, Paws Abroad is sure to touch the lives of millions. After all, about 60% of travelers worldwide take their pets with them – a percentage that is sure to increase with the help of valuable solutions like this.

I highly recommend you visit their website to not just see their adorable logo and learn more about them, but to choose your early access tier and give both yourself and your pet the enjoyable shared experience you truly deserve.

The thousands of people who, according to Marisa, have already signed up are proof that they’re building more than a platform – they’re shaping a global movement toward a more humane pet travel experience. You’re invited to be part of the founding launch and have a voice in what’s next. 

Finally, kudos to Kalinda for inspiring two amazing companies, and to Harley for being by her side as her dear friend. Fun fact: Marisa didn’t initially plan to adopt two dogs, but Kalinda and Harley were inseparable, so she couldn’t leave one behind. How heartwarming is that!