Moving Dog

Name: Dale
Pets' Names: Chief and Sheera
From: Wildwood, Florida
To: Alice Springs, Australia

When my husband was offered a job in Alice Springs, Australia, the only stipulation I had was "the dogs HAVE to come with us!" I started doing some research and my heart sank when I realized that the amount of work it was going to take to get these dogs moved just might break me.

I was still working a full time job and going to grad school on top of organizing a huge move overseas, so I started to feel like this move for my pups, Chief and Sheera, was not going to happen. I then started looking around for someone to help me. That is when I read an article in the New York Times talking about this company, PetRelocation.com. From the moment I sent my initial email asking for information to the moment my dogs arrived safely in Alice Springs, PetRelocation.com has been my sanity.

Moving overseas is not easy for humans, and it is especially not easy for pets. My agents, first Scotty then Elaine, helped me crate train my "hillbilly" dogs to prepare them for their long flight. They walked me through all of my vet visits (and there were many!) and were always available during the visits if the vet had any questions or concerns.

Chief and Sheera were picked up from my home and taken care of their entire trip to quarantine in Australia. Elaine was available to me during the entire trip to let me know when my pups made it from one flight to another, or to tell me that they were enjoying a walk during a layover. Everything was taken care of, and all I ever had to worry about was missing my dogs or when I was going to see them again!

I could never have done this without their help, and when my time in Australia is done I will be utilizing their services once again! Thank you Elaine and PetRelocation! My dogs just arrived safely to Alice Springs after 30 days of quarantine and look better then the day they left my house in Florida!

Name: Lauren and Cassie
Pet's Name: Midnight
From: San Diego, CA
To: Fredericksburg, VA
 

PetRelocation.com was amazing! It was our first time flying our dog Midnight across the country, and we were very nervous, especially because she is 10 years old.

PetRelocation.com took great care of us and our dog! The experience was also extremely convenient. We didn't have to worry about not having the right forms or not having the right stuff to fly Midnight. They put an entire checklist together for us, which made it very easy. They also coordinated with our vet to confirm that everything was good to go!

Midnight arrived safe and sound in Virginia and seemed her normal, happy, loving, calm self upon arrival! We are so thankful to PetRelocation.com for such a great first experience with flying our pet!

Name: Camilla
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Mix Breed
From: Oslo
To: London

How can I arrange my dog's travel myself, which airline should I use, and how expensive is it?

Thanks,

Camilla

Hi Camilla,

Thanks for your question! It's definitely understandable that you're researching your options and working on planning your pet move yourself, as pet travel can certainly be expensive no matter how you go about it. First, here are the pet import requirements for the UK (they've recently been relaxed so that's good news). Choosing a pet-friendly airline is very important, and we often fly with British Airways when we go to London. 

Additionally, on our blog we've offered some advice that may help you: how to control the costs of a pet move and pet travel lessons from a DIY pet move. Hopefully these will help to get you started. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with everything!

 

Just as its becoming more common for people to fly with pets, more and more pet owners are driving with them, too. Whether for a vacation or a trip to the grocery store, many people have no qualms about bringing their pups along for the ride -- but a debate has arisen about what is safe and what isn't. (No, we're not going to dive into the whole Mitt Romney and Seamus situation.)

In Rhode Island, legislators are considering a ban on the practice of letting dogs roam freely in cars. It's been shown that wandering dogs can be a dangerous distraction to drivers (and can also be a safety hazard for the dogs themselves), and though some pet owners balk at the idea, many say the lap dog practice should be made illegal.

Here's the full article about the Rhode Island situation from The Wall Street Journal. A few other states have tried to instate similar laws and many places have bans on texting and talking on the phone while driving, but it seems that pet-related legislation is actually pretty tough to pass and no one has succeeded thus far. We'll see what happens this time around, and will do our best to keep up with all the latest pet travel news as it develops.

Do you restrain your pets when you drive or allow them to move around the car? Do other drivers' habits regarding pet travel make you feel unsafe? Let us know what you think!

Do you buckle up before you hit the road?

We've made it to another Friday! If your week was too busy to let you keep up with all the pet news, here are some links to the top stories. Enjoy...

Travel + Leisure names its Top Pet-Friendly Vacation Destinations. Spoiler alert: Denver does pretty well.

Check out these photos of Afghan rescue dogs, nicknamed 'battle buddies,' who are being brought to the United States.

Here's a slideshow of books "authored by" celebrity pets.

The Aggressive Breed debate never seems to end. A Maryland court examines Pit Bulls and finds them to be 'inherently dangerous.'

Sometimes it's possible to handle a pet move yourself, but most people think it's worth it to seek out a little help. Top Reasons Pet Owners Hire Pet Transport Services.

Did you meet Marshmallow, our Pet Move of the Month?

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!
 

Name: Barb
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Golden Retrievers
From: Frisco, TX (Dallas suburb)
To: London, England

Hi! We may be moving overseas ( we will know in about 30 days). We know the rules have changed. Question is: Our one golden is 10 years old and hyper and in great shape. Is she too old to travel nine hours? (Our other golden is only 5 years old.) Thanks!

Will keep you informed....

Barb
 

Hi Barb,

Thanks for your question. You're right, the UK pet import rules have recently changed, but of course it's normal to still have questions about how to move your pets overseas.

Here at PetRelocation.com we have flown dogs that were ten years old and older. There may be greater risks associated with older pets, so it's great news that your pup is in good shape. The best you can do is keep her fit and healthy in the weeks before the flight, choose a large crate that will allow for plenty of airflow, and finally, talk to your vet about the trip to see what she/he advises.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Barb. We'd be happy to help you with your move if you do end up going overseas!

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: Michael Nelson
Pets' Names: Hunter and Lulu
From: New Jersey, USA
To: London, UK
 

PetRelocation.com offered a worry-free service, and with all the hassle of moving a family internationally it was well received. They were very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about what it takes to move our family dog and cat around the world.

Hunter and Lulu were picked up one morning in New Jersey and arrived the next afternoon in London at our new doorstep. There were no customs or quarantine issues as they took care of all the paperwork.

The pets arrived safely and a little jet lagged, and for that we appreciate and recommend their services.

The Nelson Family
 

Name: Finn
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Mixed, small dogs
From: Brasil
To: Portugal

What are the required documents I'll need? Will there be a quarantine for the dogs in Portugal?

Hi Finn,

Thanks for submitting a question to us. Here are the pet import requirements for Portugal. There is no quarantine at this time, but you'll need to satisfy a few guidelines.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, and feel free to fill out our free quote form. Good luck and happy traveling!

 

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: Jimmy
Pet's Name: Tori
From: Florida
To: California
 

I own a tea-cup Yorkshire Terrier. I wanted to have him transported from Florida for my girlfriend who is the true owner.

We were both concerned about the move, as it was our first experience transporting a pet across the country.

However, from the moment that we sought out PetRelocation.com, the representative on the phone (Lee) was extremely professional and caring. Moreover, the person that he delegated responsibility to (Amber) was also very professional and kind. Both Amber and Lee took all of our concerns into account. Finally, Lin and Lisa, the agents who brought Tori, our dog, to the airport and to our home, were very caring, kind and diligent.

What both I and my girlfriend took away from this experience was that PetRelocation.com has employees that love their job and take a vested interest in seeing that their clients are satisfied and that their pets are safely transported.

This was the first and most memorable experience for us.

While there are many contingencies that come into play -- some outside human control -- I would highly recommend that PetRelocation.com be given the opportunity to carry out this responsibility.

Sincerely,
Jimmy and M.Y.

Name: Maria D
Number of Pets: Three
Pet Type: (One dog and two cats)
From: Dubai, UAE
To: NY, US

Hi,

We are planning to relocate to NYC with our dog and two cats in due course. All the pets are up-to-date with their vaccinations.

Could you talk us through the process so that we are 100% prepared when the time comes?

Thanking you in advance,
Maria

 

Hi Maria,

Thanks for reaching out to us.... We'd be happy to direct you with a few links and documents, and if you're interested in our door-to-door services you can also fill out our free quote form if you'd like.

Here are the pet import requirements for the United States as well as some information about pet travel crates and a few helpful resources. We also can't overemphasize the importance of choosing a pet-friendly airline and trustworthy customs agents/drivers who may be helping you along the way.

Hopefully this gets you off to a great start. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with your trip!

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! :)

The prospect of moving can be both exciting and overwhelming -- that's according to Stacy, the owner of our featured Pet Move of the Month. That seems to be how most of our customers feel about pet moves, which is why PetRelocation.com is happy to step in and help move treasured dogs like Neely when the family is called overseas (it was for military reasons in this case).

Military moves can be especially daunting, but Neely made the trip just fine and is doing well in her new place. Read on to find out the whole story (you can also check our blog for even more info about this pet move). Congrats, Neely! We're so glad we could help you in your journey across the pond!

Is this the first time you’ve ever moved a pet?
Yes it was.

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
The two major concerns that I had when it came to Neely’s move were her safety and the possibility of her needing to be quarantined.

Why did you decide to use PetRelocation.com to help out with your move?
I decided to hire your services because it took the work out of trying to figure everything out. Also, after reading all the great testimonials I knew Neely would be in great hands and would arrive home safely.

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
It wasn't that I found anything surprising, but I would say that some of the steps that were required in order for Neely to travel were a bit confusing at times. We were traveling to the UK during a time where a majority of the rules were changing rather quickly, thus making it difficult to keep up. That is why I am SO glad that we had the people at PetRelocation.com there to help us. With all the things that you have to remember to do in order to prepare for moving, it was a relief to know that I didn’t have to worry about keeping track of all the rule changes and requirements for Neely's travels.

How is Neely adjusting to the new location?
Neely is loving England! On her first day here she just slept the day away in an attempt to recover from doggy jet lag. It has taken her about a week or so to settle in and adapt to all the new sights and smells, but now its like she’s been here forever!

What is life like in the UK? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
The town where we are living at in the UK is in the Lakes District and is very pet friendly. Many of the dogs here are very socialized and are often off leash. Some of the pubs and stores even allow pets in, just as long as they are well behaved. There are plenty of footpaths where we can go on walks and there is a very nice park in our area as well. On weekends we often go out for long hikes, which Neely loves!

When we first arrived here I had set up a vet appointment for Neely to make sure that there were no other vaccines that she needed, especially because there is so much livestock around where we are. I also wanted to make sure that her current heartworm prevention and flea and tick treatments were appropriate for the region. The vet we took her to was extremely helpful and thorough. We had copies of Neely’s vaccination records from the states which definitely helped the vet figure out what she had already been vaccinated for and what she needed boosters for in the future.

There are plenty of small locally owned pet shops in our town as well as some chain pet stores in some of the larger towns (which are not that far away) for pet food, toys, etc. One thing I would advise pet owners to do before moving is to make sure that the local pet stores carry the brand of food that your pet is currently eating. When we came over here we found out that the brand of dog food that Neely was currently eating was not supplied here at the local or chain pet stores. As a result, we had to switch her food over to something else, which was kind of a pain because Neely is a fussy eater. The only un-pet friendly thing we found about the UK was trying to find a rental property that allowed pets.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
The advice that I would give for anyone who might be planning a move is to prepare as far in advanced as possible, educated yourself on the process, and ask TONS of questions. This will greatly help in reducing the amount of stress that is involved with moving because you won’t find yourself running around trying to do things at the last minute. Also, make sure you have copies of your pet’s full vaccination record as well as any records in regards to illnesses or procedures that he or she may have had.

And just out of curiosity, where does the name “Neely” come from?
Neely was a rescue dog that my mom had found for me through Petfinder.com. When I had adopted her that was the name that she had came with. I was thinking about changing it when I brought her home, but she already new her name at that point. However, she does have a nickname of “Bean” that I call her very frequently. She earned that nickname because she was only a tiny eight pound pup when I got her.

We love showing off the furry faces of the pets we move on our blog and Facebook page, and believe it or not, we don't mind parading cute pics of our own dogs and cats, either. We introduced you to some PetRelocation.com employee pets last Valentine's day, and today we're back with a few more photos to share.

The other day our friends at Petmate (whose motto is "We Have Pets Too") were cleaning out their offices, and they kindly decided to send us a goodie box filled with fun toys and accessories. We're all pet owners/lovers here, so the surprise was truly appreciated! Just check out some of our happy pets below.

Thanks again to Petmate for making our week a little brighter!

Winston guarding his new rubber ball

Chubby Charles working on her fuzzy mice catching skills

The more slobbery the toy is, the more you can tell Raef loves it

No caption needed for this one (that's Django, BTW)

Bandit approves of the Scoop Bowl

Rhett hardly knows what to do with so many mice

Planning a relocation that includes your pets adds a fair amount of prep work to the equation. Not only do you have to research pet import requirements, schedule vet visits, and buy an airline-approved travel crate, you'll need to help your furry friend feel comfortable spending time in the crate as best you can.

Some pet owners are lucky to have dogs or cats that tolerate or even like stepping into their home-away-from-home, but others have a challenge at hand. Based on general personality traits it seems easier to help dogs gradually accept crates and learn to treat them as a safe and cozy place, but we all know that cats can be a different story.

Before you throw up your hands in defeat imagining a lot of hissing, scratching, and yowling from your one-of-a-kind kitty, take a look at the following tips and give crate-training a try. Your cat will probably never love the experience, but with time and patience applied to the situation, you can at least remove some of the discomfort.

Familiarity - It's a problem if cats only associate travel crates with being jostled around in the car and then taken into the vet's office to be poked and prodded. Try leaving the crate out in a room where the cat often goes so that the sight of it becomes less of an event and just a part of everyday life instead.

Treats - Always leave the door open and place toys inside the crate to pique feline curiosity. When the cat goes near it or inside it, offer praise and maybe a yummy snack. Soon your little skeptics will begin to put two and two together and will look to you for a handout each time they step inside.

Time - Don't expect change to happen overnight. It might take weeks to see any progress, but with steady exposure and positive reinforcement, even the most stubborn kitty will show signs of progress.

Practice - Once your cat no longer freaks out at the sight of the crate and begins treating it like just another box to crawl inside of, it'll be time for some practice runs. Take a car ride around the block to start, and then try some longer drives so that when moving day arrives, that longer journey won't be such a shock.

Talk to your vet if you have any particular concerns about cat travel, and don't hesitate to ask your Pet Relocation Specialist for their own tips and advice, as well. We have lots of experience moving pets of all breed, size, and temperament, so don't be shy!

Travel crate? Yeah, I'll think about it.