Moving Animals

 

The beginning of a pet move can be pretty confusing and there are many things to consider, including your pet's safety, the legwork (and paperwork) involved, and how much it's all going to cost.

Some people choose to handle their moves on their own (and we're happy to offer tips for how to keep pet moves affordable, etc.), but ultimately many pet owners realize they'd rather have someone else handle everything. Whether due to stress, time, or basic logistics, hiring professional pet transportation services will bring some relief to the situation.

Here are a few reasons that many pet owners, including our own PetRelocation.com customers, choose to seek assistance with their moves.

Conflicting Information

"We had no idea how to go about organizing the move ourselves, and for a dog we loved so much, we felt secure in paying someone to do things correctly." -Michelle, who moved her dog Chunk to Australia

Thanks to the internet this has become a very DIY world, but that doesn't mean it's easy to pull off something like a pet move. Unfortunately it's the case that many government websites don't keep up-to-date information regarding animal imports, and a lot of the advice you'll find out there is just plain wrong. When your pet's safety is at stake, it's better to trust the experts who do this every day.

Time

"The list of things to do before a move is a long one. Having assistance with Cole took a huge burden away from us and allowed us to spend more time on preparing ourselves and getting our travel arrangements in order." -Mike, who moved from California to Brazil

Whether moving for work or for pleasure, the effort of relocating all your belongings, organizing the details and trying to make a home in a new place can call for huge time demands. Adding another set of concerns just isn't possible for some travelers, so that's why they call pet relocation companies like us.

 

Special Conditions

"Large dogs present more difficult travel scenarios, so getting assistance was very important for us.The overall safety and well-being of our pet outweighed our ability to handle the move on our own." - Mike, Cole's owner

Flying with an older pet, an especially large one, a snub-nosed breed or an exotic animal can all present special challenges. Again, the rules can be confusing and the internet can be a jumble of misinformation, so passing the reins to a relocation specialist who knows how things work is often the best choice for many pet owners.


Military Moves/PCS

"I had enough stress just trying to get me, my daughters and my house ready all while worrying about my husband, who was still gone (overseas in the military). Once I decided to hire Pet Relocation.com it was like a huge stress filled ball was lifted off me." -Tarnna, featured as our most recent Pet Move of the Month, moved from the US to the UK

Families serving our country who have to move frequently, often without as much notice or time as they'd like, can find themselves feeling particularly overwhelmed.

 

As you can see, there's nothing wrong with seeking some help! For more information about how to relocate your pets, check out  MyPetTravel, our blog, or take a look at our Facebook page to connect with other travelers who have done it all before.

You can also contact PetRelocation.com directly to speak to a Pet Relocation Specialist about what your options may be. No matter how you go about it, here's wishing everyone many safe travels!
 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Marshmallow for being named our Pet Move of the Month! This Dalmatian mix traveled from Maryland to the UK when her owners were called overseas, and we were happy to help them navigate the process during the hectic time that military families must so often face.

This was the family's first pet move and they had all the typical concerns (safety, paperwork, costs), but in the end everything turned out well and Marshmallow is enjoying life in the UK with all her favorite people. Her owner Tarnna, was kind enough to share the full story with us below. Read on to find out more about Marshmallow's military move!

What were some of your concerns going into the move?

We didn't want to put Marshmallow through the stress of a long flight only to arrive and have to be quarantined, that would have been devastating for her and our family.

Another big concern for me was how much is was going to cost. Moving internationally is not cheap, even if the military pays for some of it, so adding in this cost was a worry.

Did anything surprise you about the pet moving process?

I was shocked by the price to move a pet. Not just with this company, but every company I contacted and even trying to do it on my own. It is not an inexpensive thing to do and it made me change my thought process about military members who move around.

Most of the time military families will just give up their pets when they PCS, and I could never understand why until now. Luckily for us we had saved for emergencies and this seemed like a good time to use it.

Another thing that surprised me was how dismissive of my concerns some companies were -- luckily not this one -- but many that I contacted were and even the airlines directly. Getting these types of responses from other places is another reason I went with PetRelocation.com, everyone seemed genuine and like they actually cared that our animal got to us safe and sound.

How is Marshmallow adjusting to her new home?

Marshmallow loves our new home, just like we do! When she first arrived she was a bit scared and confused but she quickly settled in. The only thing that has changed is she has a bigger back yard to run around in, which keeps her happy. She has actually lost some weight from all the extra playtime she is getting. She was always a pretty laid back, good dog and nothing has seemed to change that.

How is life in the UK? Is it a dog-friendly place to be?

The UK seems to be a pretty dog-friendly place to be. We haven't searched out any dog parks yet, but we have taken her hiking, where she was loved on by everyone that passed us. Other than that we have only been here a little over a month so there aren't too many stories.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?

To other people who are moving I would say that they need to understand that if they want their pet to arrive in good condition it will cost them, but in the end it is so worth it. I would also say to people to go with their gut feeling about a company who is moving their pet; if you get a not-so-good feeling there is probably a reason. They are your pet and they are a part of your family and they deserve to be as comfortable through the moving process as you do!

Anything else you'd care to share?

At first I was put off by the cost, but after dealing with other companies and the airlines I realized that I could not do this on my own and saw that PetRelocation.com was actually the best company to go with. Like I said earlier, everyone I dealt with from my first call to the gentlemen who brought her to our home in England seemed like they really cared about her and animals in general, and they didn't put my concerns on the back burner. There are good people working for this company!

Once I decided to hire Pet Relocation.com it was like a huge stress filled ball was lifted off me. I had enough stress just trying to get me, my daughters and my house ready all while worrying about my husband, who was still gone. I felt defeated for awhile in the process and was feeling I could not get her here, but once I hired this company I knew it would be okay.

That may sound dramatic but this was the most stressful move I have had during my husband's military career, and we have moved a lot. Nothing was working out and everything seemed to be happening to hinder our move, so when the things with the dog worked out it brought some much needed sunshine. I enjoyed all the people who helped us through the process, everyone had their part, and they did it well. We are planning on using PetRelocation.com for our next move and I have referred my sister and brother-in-law to PetRelocation.com to move their dogs during their next move. They are also in the military and coming to the UK in November. 

Hopefully I didn't get too mushy, but we are very grateful for everything this company has done. We really feel like everyone went above and beyond and worked with us and their team to get us our dog!

 

Name: Kathy
Pets' Names: Dolce' and Mollie
From: Rhode Island
To: California
 

Our family (pets included of course) was being relocated from Rhode Island to Southern California, a 3,000 mile trip to take place at the end of Aug. 2011. After checking several animal-friendly airlines (most of which only accept smaller animals that can be in the cabin under a seat.), we decided to fly Continental.

The animals had to be dropped off at a special holding area, and from there they are driven in a van to the plane. We were able to watch them being loaded into the air-regulated cargo area and a stewardess assured us they were on board. At the end of the flight our transportation was delayed. The people at the animal section made a call to our cell phone to let us know the animals arrived safely and were waiting to be picked up. After all the worry of having to have the animals on such a long flight, we picked up Dolce' and Mollie at the animal pick-up area.

They were well cared for throughout the whole process. We made it a point to put tags on their crates indicating live animals inside, along with their names on the crates in several places so that the handlers could call them by name. A big shout out for PetRelocation.com for getting our family from one side of the U.S. to the other!

 

Pet transportation services aren't just limited to moving a dog or cat across the country when work or military duty calls the family to a new place. Along with technological advances and emerging international developments, transporting animals is a service in demand, leaving airlines and freight companies in the position of stepping up to the challenge or being left behind.

This recently published Bloomberg article goes into greater detail about Lufthansa, KLM, and the other companies who deal with shipping animals. It's pretty fascinating to see how trends have been changing recently and how these businesses are learning to handle exotic moves.

Want to know more? Here are a few details from the article, and you can read the whole thing here.

 

-Last year Lufthansa's Frankfurt facility handled 110 animals of various kinds (including 80 million tropical fish and 300 tons of worms).

-Lufthansa usually transports around 14,000 dogs and cats and 2,000 horses in a year.

-Animal freight makes up about one to two percent of Lufthansa's total cargo revenue.

-One of the most unconventional cargo shipments on record was a plane filled with dogs and cats evacuated from Lebanon following a missile strike.

-Before they fly out of Frankfurt, animals are inspected by up to 24 different vets.

-Some freighters are equipped with up to four different temperature zones, meaning that one flight can safely and comfortably carry warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals (think horses and penguins, for example).

-Large fish, dolphins and poisonous reptiles are not accepted for shipment by Lufthansa due to safety concerns.

 

 

Hannelore Foerster/Bloomberg

 

 

 

Name: Lindsay and Jamie
Pet's Name: Venzy
From: California
To: Maui, Hawaii
 

My husband and I decided we were going to move to Maui about a year ago. We were concerned about our kitty having to go through a long quarantine. A friend of mine told me about PetRelocation.com. A mutual friend of ours had used them and had a very successful experience moving animals from far across the globe...

At any rate, I got in touch with Abbey - an absolute champ who walked me through (and held my hand!) :) every step of the process.

Venzy was a little nervous when we picked her up but when she saw her new home, she was thrilled. We can't thank PetRelocation.com enough for all the help, support, time and effort they put into ensuring we and our whole family could experience this big move together!

Thank you/Mahalo!
Lindsay, Jamie and Venzy

 

 

Nice View!

 

 

Name: Pauline
Pet's Name: Stella
From: Los Angeles
To: London
 

I did a lot of research with all types of animal transport companies before choosing PetRelocation.com, and at first I was nervous, as we didn't know what to expect, but we are SO glad that we chose PetRelocation.com and are very impressed and happy with their services.

We chose PetRelocation.com because of their experience with handling long distance pet transporting. We were won over by specialist Sarah Rosales' detailed descriptions of what our dog, Stella, would be going through during the long flight as well as the hours before and after.

Specialist Abbey Steidensticker was also amazingly helpful and patiently answered all of our questions and addressed our concerns with a warm and timely professionalism. With her help, we did not have to worry much about anything! She prepared all documents, contacted the two vets we had for Stella, and arranged all correspondence between agents.

And the absolute best part about PetRelocation.com is their pick-up and drop-off services - we only had to crate train Stella, and on the day of her flight she was simply handed over to an experienced agent. The timing was perfect! - I flew out of Los Angeles two hours after her flight, and arrived home in London to wait for her to clear Customs. Abbey kept us very well informed about Stella's status, from the moment she checked into her flight, to when she landed, cleared Customs, and when she was on her way over to us!

Just an hour or two after I arrived, she was delivered to our door by a friendly London transport agent, which Abbey had coordinated as well. When we saw her, we were so thrilled to be reunited again!

Stella is adjusting nicely to London (although the weather here leaves something to be desired), and she is enjoying long walks in the park near our home and finally spending some quality time with both her "mom" and "dad".

Thanks so much to PetRelocation.com for an amazing job! :)

 

 

Name: David
Pets' Names: Genevieve & Jason
From: Austin, TX
To: Boise, ID
 

 

With a new job, my company relocated me from Austin, TX to Boise, ID. The relo was done on a short timeline, leaving no time to make the 3-to-4 day drive. Additionally, the thought of making that long drive with kids, a dog and a cat was not appealing.

PetRelocation.com was the most professional company I found to help us move our pets. Our coordinator, Katie, helped us navigate the government and airline regulations and kept us informed of our pets' progress along the way. When the driver, Marcus, picked the pets up at our house, I could tell right away that he loved animals, and knew how to handle them.

Katie found a great kennel in Boise to keep our pets until we arrived a couple of days later. Both pets are healthy and happy. Our dog, Jason, is a bundle of energy by day, and our cat, Genevieve, is playful by night.

PetRelocation.com did a wonderful job for us!

 

 

Do you live in the US and have an international pet move in your future? See the official instructions from the USDA below --  included is a step-by-step preparation plan, links to FAQs, information about USDA endorsements, a sample 7001 Form, and more.

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about moving pets. We're happy to help make sense of the process and/or assist with your move.

Happy traveling, everyone!

 

USDA Document: How to Prepare Animals for International Travel (2012)

 

 

Here's what's been going on with pets and pet travel this week (if you're into that sort of  thing). Have a great weekend, everyone!

The happiest animals in the world.

Amazing photos of diving dogs.

Baby Boomers help the pet industry chug right along.

Another update regarding United's Pet policies for military members.

What's it like moving pets to Kuala Lumpur and then back to the United States?

These golden retrievers have been taught to play the piano.

Are you traveling with your pets this summer? Take our survey!

 

 

Run free this weekend!

Name: Peggy and Dennis
Pets' Names: Max and Jet
From: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
To: Houston, Texas USA
 

 

I think I wrote more of a novel than a story but here goes...

In 2005 we moved from London to Houston. I didn't know about companies like PetRelocation.com and I moved our cat Butch back by myself. I had managed to get him from Norway to London in 2000 (although it wasn't easy), so I figured I could get him to Houston. What a mistake. I won't go into details, but he managed to sit in a warehouse in Houston for two hours while they tried to find him. Yeesh.

In 2008 we were living in Houston, Texas, USA when my husband accepted a position in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! WHAT??? At the time we had two cats: Butch and Max. 2008 wasn't our best year; my 90-year-old father wasn't well, we had the news of the Malaysia move, my father died, Butch was diagnosed with a brain tumor then had to have brain surgery, and then Hurricane Ike decided to show up the weekend before our move, so we packed up a bunch of wet stuff with no electricity.

The only thing that went right that year was Butch & Max's move thanks to Rachel with PetRelocation.com. At one point we weren't sure if we were moving one cat or two, but Rachel was kind and supportive, and when Butch recovered they were both safely sent to Kuala Lumpur. I'm not sure how we found PetRelocation.com, probably Google, but I am grateful everyday that we crossed paths because everything went off like clockwork.

Sadly, two years later Butch's brain tumor returned and was inoperable and he died while we were in Kuala Lumpur. For weeks Max was beside herself, so we decided to find her a friend. Enter Jet, a stray our Malaysian vet found who found her way to us.

Flash forward to 2012 and it's time to return to the USA. There was no question about us using PetRelocation.com again to get Max and Jet back, so I got in touch with Rachel, who I learned had not only survived my insanity during our first move but become the Director of Operations (we're so proud), so she put me in contact with Jon, who got the process started.

By the time Ashley started facilitating our move, things were once again crazy with our KL landlord changing move out dates on us right and left, I couldn't find the right cat kennels in KL for the plane, and I almost missed the rabies vaccination cut off date. But thank goodness Thierry (with Ricted Kennels) noticed their vaccinations had expired when he was delivering the right cat kennels (he drove to KL from Singapore with them) and I got them vaccinated just under the wire!

Luckily everytime something happened I'd get a hold of Ashley and she just went with it. She never said NO. NEVER. No matter how crazy I was with worry or just general insanity. She always had a calming, friendly attitude which kept me from going off the deep end. I honestly feel that everyone involved with the move treated Max and Jet (and Butch in the previous move) as if they were their own pets. So, we owe huge thanks to Rachel, Jon, Ashley, Thierry (Singapore), Dr. Sockalingam (Kuala Lumpur), Rome with Pets On The Go (Houston), Chestnut Animal Hospital (Bellaire) who took delivery of them and kenneled them until we could pick them up and whoever else was involved -- we all survived.

After reading this can you imagine what it is like to deal with me? Gold Stars all around to PetRelocation.com and all who work with them!

Photos: Max and Butch in our local Bellaire magazine. Jet and Max their last night in KL. Our first night together as a family in Houston. Jet and Max checking out their new Texas surroundings.

Since moving pets can be pretty complicated and will most likely coincide with a busy, stressful time in life, we're not surprised that we receive a lot of questions from overwhelmed pet owners about the logistics, the details and the costs of pet travel.

We've been shipping pets for a while now and have pretty much heard it all... Here are a few of the most frequently asked pet travel questions (along with our basic answers). Remember, no one is alone in this!

 

How do I know what the requirements are for the country I'm moving to?

Making sure that a pet's journey runs smoothly begins with research. Many countries have detailed import instructions on their own official websites; stringent countries like Australia outline almost everything while other places may not be so forthcoming, so you may need to check another source -- like IATA  or the country pages on the PetRelocation.com -- to find out about health documents, vaccines, and possible quarantines.

Which airline should I fly with?

This is perhaps the most important decision you can make related to pet travel. It's key that you choose an airline that has established pet policies and solid safety measures in place to ensure that your pet is properly cared for, not left to sit on the tarmac, and respectfully transported overall. We have a short list of trusted airlines that include KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas and United, but check with us if you have any questions about this.

How do I know my pet will be safe?

This is probably the  most common question requiring the most nuanced answer. Again, safety primarily depends on selecting trustworthy airlines and transport agents, but you can also do your best to prepare your pet physically by keeping them in good shape, acclimating them to their travel crates and setting a good example for them by remaining calm and upbeat in the days before the trip.

Remember that sedatives are strongly discouraged (and generally not even permitted). With so many moving parts it's impossible to guarantee a journey 100% free of hiccups, but by following these basic guidelines you're putting your pet in the best position possible.

Why does it cost so much to ship a pet?

We've addressed the question of pet moving costs in greater depth in the past, but essentially it comes down to the details. By the time you add up import permits, health certificates, customs clearance, delivery fees, plane tickets and a few other considerations, it simply isn't going to be a cheap endeavor. Does it end up being worth it, though? Most pet owners would say "of course".

Should I move my pet at all?

This is a tough one, and for certain people it's a question that must be asked. Air travel is taxing for humans and for animals, and older pets or those in delicate health simply may not be up for it. Also, many people don't realize how much is involved with air travel and crossing borders, so if this is just a vacation (rather than a permanent move), it will probably be better to find a trusted pet sitter rather than jump through so many hoops unnecessarily.

Ultimately it is the safety of the pet that's the most important thing to consider, so often a conversation with your vet, your family, and your pet relocation specialist will help you figure this one out.

 

 

Still have questions? We're happy to help! Give our office a call and be sure to check out our Facebook page to connect with other pet travelers who probably have the same questions as you. Happy traveling, everyone!

 

 

 

Thanks again for reaching out to us... Talk to you again soon!

 

The following post was written by Pet Relocation Specialist Sarah Smith. Find out what she had to say about a recent (and pretty complicated) pet move to Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea is an island off the Northern coast of Australia. It is culturally diverse, and over 850 languages are spoken here. With most residents making less than $1.25 US per day, it’s hardly a place I thought I would be sending any expats and their pets, but this is exactly what happened!

Sophie, a Dachshund from Dallas, needed to be reunited with her mom in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. First we thought about going through Hawaii or Japan (as there are no direct flights from the US mainland).  After some routing trials, I decided that going through Australia was the only safe option for little Sophie.

 

 

Sure, we could have gone through Japan for fewer costs, but the airline in question could not guarantee where Sophie would be kept during the 12-hour layover. If you’re anything like Sophie’s mom (or me!) this is unacceptable. We pride ourselves on knowing where your pet is every step of the way, and the uncertainty involved in this possibility simply wasn’t an option...  So Australia it was!

Australia happens to be one of the most challenging countries to import animals into, and if we were going to transit through Australia, we were going to have to meet the majority of the rules. Luckily Sophie’s mom had already planned ahead and kept Sophie up to date on vaccinations, and she even had her blood drawn for the mandatory rabies antibody test so we were ahead of the game. A canine influenza vaccine would complete the process for import into Australia.

Papua New Guinea was a different story. We needed an import permit and a Hendra test upon arrival in Australia. Hendra is a disease not worried about elsewhere in the world, but is apparently prevalent in one small area in Australia. Therefore, any animal touching down in Australia would need to be tested for Hendra.

This is a lengthy process, so I had to arrange for Sophie to stay in quarantine upon arrival in Australia for two weeks while we got the test done and the results back. This process would take a week except for the following: animals have to arrive into Australia from the US on a Thursday or a Friday, the Hendra test is only carried out on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the results arrive on Tuesdays. So, Sophie arrived into Sydney on a Friday and had her blood tested on Tuesday. The results arrived the following Tuesday, but of course the only flights from Sydney to Papua New Guinea are on Mondays and Saturdays.  But, Papua New Guinea requires animals to arrive on a Monday or Tuesday, so we couldn’t take the Saturday flight. Are you confused yet? Imagine how I felt!

 

So Sophie arrived that Friday, had her blood drawn on Tuesday, got the results back the following Tuesday, and couldn’t leave Australia until the following Monday. Luckily, Sydney’s Eastern Creek Quarantine facilities are top notch and were very communicative throughout the process, and Sophie’s mom was very understanding.

Did I mention calling Papua New Guinea or receiving a call is effective about 4% of the time, and they are exact opposites from us in terms of time? So phone call efforts were futile.  All communication had to be done by email.

Sophie finally arrive in Port Moresby safely, cleared customs, and was taken to quarantine for two days. After quarantine was complete, my agent was able to deliver Sophie to her new home (Papua New Guinea doesn’t really have street addresses, so this also proved difficult).  In all, Sophie was treated kindly, traveled safely, and is probably excited to not see an airplane for a while. After all, she was on four different planes to get to her mom.

A few things to keep in mind if you’re moving your pets to Papua New Guinea:

• Get help. You WON’T be able to do this on your own!

• Bear in mind the time differences and communication challenges.

• Save money! Papua New Guinea -- because of the routing -- is probably the most expensive place in the world I’ve moved a pet so far.

• Be patient: this process can take three weeks, just for the travel alone, not even including the preparation.

•  Be flexible: some areas of the world are quite simple and streamlined, and others are not. I received several emails from the Chief Veterinary Officer of Papua New Guinea from a Gmail account. Some things are going to change when you least expect it so know that as the professionals, we’ll handle it!

• Trust PetRelocation.com because we know how to do it safely!

 

 

 

TGIF, right? Enjoy this news link rundown before your weekend officially begins, and have a good one, everyone!


If you ask us, pets ruled the game. Here are a few of last Sunday's Super Bowl Dog ads.

Take a moment to get better acquainted with someone who transports pets for a living. Driver Spotlight: John Kernan from Pawsitively Dogs (Guess what? He's an animal lover).

This is truly an incredible story about how dogs are capable of helping the disabled. "Wonder Dog" from The New York Times Magazine. 

And this is our not-surprised face: pet business are booming, as Americans spent billions of dollars on their furry friends last year.

How smart is your dog? Find out by performing these dog intelligence tests.

The Mutt Marathon combines two great things: running and caring for shelter dogs.

Friday fun -- 25 animals who think they're people via @BuzzFeed.

Finally, we named our Pet Move of the Month this week. Find out about this five-pet relocation to Sri Lanka!

Anyone who has planned a pet relocation knows that there are many moving parts to attend to. We can do a lot from our home base (make phone calls, arrange vet visits, order custom crates, etc.), but bringing pets to and from the airport, to and from boarding facilities, and ultimately home to your front door requires the services of someone trustworthy and adept at the more physical, location-specific tasks associated with moving pets.

PetRelocation.com entrusts this job to various pet transportation professionals around the world, and we thought it was about time to introduce you to a few of them.

First up is John Kernan of Pawsitively Dogs, who started out as a businessman in California. Family matters brought him back to his hometown of Rochester, NY, and he ended up staying there when he realized he'd rather run a pet-sitting business than return to the world of suits and ties. 

We're glad this animal-lover made the career switch, as he's helped us with several moves in the upper New York region. John has even crossed the border into Canada to move a pet, so he can call himself an international pet mover!

To give all of us a better idea of what goes on during every part of the pet move, we recently asked John a few questions about his experiences. Here's more about moving pets from a driver's point of view...


How did you get started as a pet transporter?

I've come to the pet transportation business by way of the pet sitting business. Prior to that, I was in corporate America in the information technology sales world.

I've been involved in volunteer rescue for 10 or more years, walking dogs at shelters and ASPCA centers. I left the corporate world after my Dad passed and Mom wasn't doing so well. As the single sibling (I have seven others), it was easiest for me to take a break, leave California, and return to Rochester for what I thought would be a year or so.

While here, I indulged my passion for animals through work as a volunteer dog walker and trainer at the local ASPCA. I work with another rescue group here called Nuts for Mutts as well. As Mom improved I decided to start a pet sitting business rather than return to corporate America.

I began assisting with local ASPCA events, continued transporting on occasion as part of my pet taxi service, and more recently began transporting for PetRelocation.com in the New York and southern Ontario, Canada regions.

Is there anything else that inspired you to embrace this line of work?

I have a rescue dog named Bobby whose story I tell under the My Inspiration section of my website. He's been my best pal for over 8 years now...makes me laugh every single day.

Here's an excerpt from John's website:

I met him during my volunteer work as a dog walker at a No-Kill shelter in Nevada. He’d been deposited there by animal control after spending the first few months of his life on the street. After finding out that the poor guy never got walked and had been there almost a year (a positive example of this shelter’s commitment to its residents), I needed another volunteer to assist me in cornering Bobby so I could put a leash on him for a walk.

After several walks it became apparent that he was totally overwhelmed and confused… his head remained down, tail low, always hunching down as he slinked along beside me. I later learned that he’d been there almost a year and they were concerned that he might not be adoptable. I could hear no more and decided to take him home. He lay in the bed I bought him for over a week without once barking; only venturing out with me for potty breaks. Gradually, he improved as he learned to trust me and his new surroundings.

It took time and patience but he is now a shining example of what trust and affection can do for a wounded animal. His loyalty continues to astound me and he makes me laugh every single day!

What is the best part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is my initial meeting with the dogs at airport pick-ups. This potty break is often the first time they get out of their crates for hours, and they can be confused. It's nice to see the subtle changes as you talk to them and reassure them that everything is going to be OK. They're just dying for a reassuring voice and touch after a long flight, and will often nuzzle right up to you for comfort. Final delivery to the customer is also great as the animal first recognizes his "long-lost" owner.

What has been your longest trip, and do you have any interesting transport stories?

The longest transport to date was from Rochester, NY to Mississauga, Ontario, a distance of over 300 miles.

It was interesting crossing the border with the two pups I had in two separate cages. It was all I could do to convince the customs rep that I was NOT transporting illegal aliens but instead legal canines! He also found it difficult to understand that I did not own the dogs, but instead was transporting them on behalf of a pet transportation company.

After several rounds of questions and perusals at my paperwork, he finally waved me through. I do believe this was a first for him!

What advice do you have for pet owners that may help put their minds at ease during a relocation?

I think that it helps the owners to have a contact telephone number with the drivers. I always call the owner prior to pick-up at their location or from the airport prior to delivering their pet to them. It is certainly reassuring to know that the transport person is also another pet lover and understands what you're going through. I've found that customers really do appreciate the call.   
 
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We thank John for speaking with us and look forward to working with him to move many more pets!
 

Name: Nicole & Douglas
Pets Names: Isis & Caesar
To: Hong Kong

Hello Sarah. It has now been a full month since Isis (our 3-year-old Bull Mastiff) & Caesar (our 5-year-old Boston Terrier) joined my husband and I in Hong Kong. We are quickly getting settled and are excited to explore more of Hong Kong and Asia.

We are so very late with this note, so please accept our apologies. I personally just can't sleep another night without passing along our utmost gratitude to you and PetRelocation.com.

As you know, we don't have human children and Isis & Caesar ARE OUR CHILDREN. When the opportunity to move abroad was presented to us, our #1 and ONLY concern was the health, well-being and safety of our two fur kids. Everything else was just not as important. They were the only concern that had us teetering on whether to accept or not; especially given their breeds and airline restrictions. From day one, in speaking with you and your colleagues, I was immediately put at ease on the handling, preparation, safety and overall process. You comforted me and ensured me that this was your passion with a stellar track record in reuniting fur kids with their human families in their new home.

The experience from Day One was phenomenal. The attention we received from you, your availability for questions and concerns, and status updates made the whole process less stressful for all. Without your attention to detail, knowledge of the rules and regulations, we would not have been able to do this alone. We so appreciated the planning, education and numerous telephone and e-mail communications. On our last vet visit in the US, you were there by the phone ensuring that all the i's were dotted and t's were crossed. Thank you so very much!

Sue (the woman who picked up the dogs in SFO) was wonderful, compassionate, professional and kind. Despite my tears as they pulled away in the van, I had an overall sense of trust and faith that they would be handled perfectly. The Hong Kong receivers were very communicative and called us frequently to give us updates on their status -- something we appreciated beyond words.

Isis and Caesar arrived late evening, excited to see us.... healthy and happy. They were clearly well-watched over throughout their journey.

As a human companion to your own fur kid you no doubt understand the emotions and anxiety that accompany such an trip and when I tell you we had tears of joy at the sight of them coming out of their crates, I mean it... It's funny, because families that do not have animal companions can't quite understand and we frequently hear, "they are just animals". In our eyes, they are not, and unless you have had the privilege to live with a fur kid, it's difficult to impart the emotional attachment and gifts they bring into your life.

We are forever grateful to YOU and your team of professionals for helping to make this relocation less stressful and for assisting in reuniting our family.

Please extend our thanks to ALL involved, including Sue and the local Hong Kong pet movers.

With Utmost Gratitude~
Douglas, Nicole, Isis & Caesar

Name: K.
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Rat
Pet Breed: Dumbo Rat
From: Japan
To: Maryland (though Washington, Dulles airport)

I am leaving Japan in the summer (expecting to leave in the last week of July) and want to take my two fancy rats home to the US with me. I have contacted the CDC in both countries and they have said there are no specific regulations for pet rats, however I am having a difficult time just getting a list together of everything that I am going to need at the airport. As time starts to run out I am getting very stressed that there will be some sort of last minute thing that I forget!

Also, as I have never shipped a pet before, I am a little confused about how the whole process works. Do I just walk in the airport with the carrier and hand them over when I check my bags? I worry that with the stigma most people have of rats that they won't be treated as well as a larger companion animal would, but I haven't been able to find any airline that will let me take them as carry on (I'd even be willing to buy a second seat!).

I guess what I am asking is just for some idea of what to expect and what forms/ vet information I will need to have for them. Using a service such as your own also isn't out of the question. More than cost, I am just concerned about my (clearly very spoiled) rats getting home safely.

Thank you so much for your informative site. Any information that you can give me will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
K



Hello,

Thanks for your question about traveling with your rats; your concerns are certainly understandable! First of all, you're right that it's important to start the process early in order to avoid being surprised about anything.

Here is some information from our site about obtaining customized rodent crates as well as how to travel with an exotic pet, and we also recommend contacting your airline directly in order to find out about their most up-to-date regulations. The good news is that the United States allows rats to be imported without much fanfare (here's a document from the Official U.S. Customs and Border Protection site that may be helpful).

Hopefully this information is helpful to you, and please let us know if you have any more questions or if you'd like a free quote for our services. Good luck with the move!