my bro and sis in law had a heck of a time getting permission to take their pets to Germany (bro is in army)
after much haggling they could take the cat, but the dog (labrador/collie cross) was deemed a 'large, agressive breed'

mby German immegration so they gave him to a friend in UK... in Germany they got a lab/alsation cross who is twice the size!!
both pets have their pet passports and I think they would be as likely to leave Simba and Sam behind as they would to leave their son behind