Number of Pets: 2 Pet Type: 1 cat, 1 dog Pet Breed: Cat - DSH, Dog - Staffy From: Footscray, Australia To: New Orleans
Hi,
I'm preparing for a relocation to the US, perhaps in January, depending on the confirmation of employment. My cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes and I wanted to make sure this was not a barrier for transport or importation.
Thanks!
Hello,
Thanks for your question, we'd be happy to help. Here are the pet import requirements for the United States to get you started, and yes, we have moved diabetic cats before. It requires a little more care but it should be possible -- we'd be happy to talk to you about it and offer you an estimate for our services. Feel free to give us a call or fill out our quote form and we'll get back to you soon.
Name: Victoria and Greg Pet's Name: Coco From: Chiang Mai, Thailand To: Hong Kong
After a relentless search on how to transport our cat and get her into Hong Kong without difficulty, Greg came across PetRelocation.com and hurray!!!!!!!
We could not have done it without them. From the very first phone call until the delivery of Coco straight to us at our hotel, the service was amazing. Our agent was fantastic during the journey, he stayed in touch all throughout with photos and constant messages about her well being. She was nervous upon arrival only because of a lack of sleep and her new environment. Otherwise, she was taken to a vet even before he brought her to us.
We will recommend PetRelocation.com every day of our lives. Thank you for being there!!!
Name: Nilda Pet's Name: Yuka From: New York To: Puerto Rico
The thought of helping to relocate my disabled service-connected brother to Puerto Rico (PR) was extremely stressful; added to that stress was making sure the family (therapy) cat, Yuka, would arrive safe and sound.
What could I say but that from the moment I connected with Lee Maaz I felt that I had selected the right company for the job. Their online website was informative and the best part for me was that I was able to communicate through both mediums -- phone and online. Lee had a calming and reassuring manner and placed me with Pet Relocation Specialist Joe Fraser to follow through with Yuka’s relocation. After expressing my concerns, Joe was patient, kept me informed throughout the whole process, and sent me whatever information I requested. Both Lee and Joe were very professional, knowledgeable and great to work with.
PetRelocation.com’s field agents, Anthony who picked up Yuka in NY to transport to the airport, and Ester & James who picked up and housed Yuka in PR for three days were top of the line and great people. In speaking with them, you could tell they cared about the animals under their supervision. Ester had the “right touch” because Yuka arrived safe and sound, clean and fed. He was calm, alert to his surroundings, and accepting of his situation. (This for a cat that was accustomed to roaming a two-bedroom apartment.)
I would not hesitate to use PetRelocation.com again and would highly recommend you to family and friends. Thank you for the great care you gave Yuka!
In addition to staying in tune with the thriving pet relocation industry, moving to downtown Austin last year has helped PetRelocation.com become a more visible part of the business community. We've hired several new employees over the last few months and continue to grow, and we make it a goal to provide the highest quality customer service while meeting the needs of as many pet owners as we can (read some of their stories here!).
We're excited and honored to once again be included along with such a stellar group of business, and we'd like to thank our great customers and business partners for helping us achieve this accomplishment.
What's the story? The US Department of Transportation has proposed a few new guidelines aimed at helping disabled people have a better travel experience, and the rules would allow service animals such as potbellied pigs and miniature horses to ride alongside the passengers they are assisting.
Certain restrictions are attached to these scenarios of course -- overly large or disruptive animals won't be allowed to board, and the animals must have "relief areas" available them. Transportation officers will also run through a checklist to determine if the animal truly qualifies as an emotional or psychological support.
Ultimately, in each situation the airline still has final say over whether or not the support animals can fly so it's unlikely that planes are going to start resembling farmyards anytime soon, but don't be too surprised if you see a more diverse array of critters making their way through airport security in the future.
Name: Shereen Number of Pets: 3 Pet Type: 2 dogs and 1 cat Pet Breed: Dachshunds, Siamese From: Johannesburg, South Africa To: Toronto, Canada
We would like to know what the requirements are to take our pets with us to Toronto, as my husband is being transferred by his company. We need to know the costs involved, the period of quarantine, how they will be transported etc.
Warm regards, Shereen
Hello Shereen,
Thank you for contacting us, we hope we can help! These are the pet import requirements for Canada. There will not be a quarantine if you follow these rules.
When traveling internationally it's especially important to choose a pet-friendly airline with established pet safety policies in place. Take a look at our site for more info about travel crates, also, and if you'd like a quote for our door-to-door services, you can fill out our free form and a Pet Relocation Specialist will get back to you with more information.
Please contact us if you have more questions, and good luck with everything!
AUSTIN, Texas, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PetRelocation.com, an international pet travel and pet transportation service provider, has announced the results of its third annual Summer Pet Travel Survey. For 2012, travel trends have fluctuated, but overall the popularity of pet travel is holding steady and consumer demands are more specific than ever.
Nearly Half of Pet Owners Will Travel This Summer
Forty seven percent of respondents said they planned to travel with their pets within the next three months, and another 40 percent plan to travel within the next year.
Dogs Rule (Even More)
Though about a quarter of the people said they travel with their cats, a commanding 85 percent will bring their dogs along when they hit the road in 2012. In 2011, 58 percent said they traveled with dogs and 22 percent with cats.
Pet Owners Want More Pet-Friendly Hotels
When it comes to prohibitive factors, 40 percent said there aren't enough pet-friendly hotels to choose from. Hotel fees and an inadequate amount of pet-friendly airlines were also singled out as the most difficult parts of pet travel (each of these was cited by 17 percent of people). About 12 percent of respondents said they found airline pet fees to be too high, down significantly from 18 percent last year and 38 percent in 2010.
Safety Tops the List
For the third year in a row, safety was cited as the number one priority for pet travelers, with 60 percent of respondents saying it is their top concern when making travel plans. Convenience came in second place at 25 percent, and pricing was stated as the number one concern for 15 percent of people.
Pets as Deciding Factors
An overwhelming 90 percent of people said they would change their travel plans to better accommodate their pets, and more than half (57 percent) would choose a hotel based on its pet-friendly features.
The full results of the 2012 Pet Travel Survey can be found here.
About PetRelocation.com PetRelocation.com offers door-to-door pet travel services using pet-friendly airlines for domestic and international pet moves. Founded in 2004 in Austin, Texas, PetRelocation.com safely moves hundreds of household pets worldwide each year. For more information, please visit http://www.PetRelocation.com.
Name: Belinda Pet's Name: Bronte From: Colorado Springs, CO To: Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
When you move to Saudi Arabia from Colorado, everyone assumes you'll be putting your furry friends on Craigslist, but I knew when I took a new job overseas that I would be bringing Emily Bronte, my Siamese/Himalayan rescue cat, to the desert with me. What I didn't know was how.
I read tons of accounts on the internet about how people manage (successfully and not so successfully) to bring cats on planes with them for transatlantic flights. At the beginning, this was my plan, but I soon realized that getting my cat on the plane and keeping her from meowing for hours was the least of my worries. There were health certificates, import permits, international offices with phones that aren't monitored, and conflicting information coming from all directions about how, exactly, one gets an American cat into Saudi Arabia.
Needless to say, I also had a few other things to do--such as tying up the loose ends of my entire life, packing, and saying goodbye to friends, family, coworkers, and over 20 years of memories. I had neither the time nor the experience necessary to handle Bronte's move on my own.
Initially, I hired a local pet relocation company that quoted me a remarkably low fee and quickly proved that, at least in this case, I stood to get exactly what I paid for. These people had no idea what they were doing, and I was NOT going to leave them in charge of my 8-pound kitty in the hopes that they could get her successfully to her new home. After just one week of "planning" the trip with this company, I fired them.
That's when I found PetRelocation.com. Jon Bartosh was my first point of contact, but Abbey Seidensticker was my (and Bronte's) main guardian angel throughout the process. Even though Abbey is based in Texas, the company's network of pet relocation agents is so extensive that I knew I was leaving Bronte in good hands. This was not their first import to Saudi Arabia, and the experience and confidence that Jon and Abbey offered absolutely made the choice for me.
I left the country about a month before Bronte, and from there Abbey took care of absolutely all of the details. She coordinated with my vet, where Bronte was boarding, made arrangements with the CO USDA, made sure the Saudi Import permit was issued properly through the Department of Agriculture in KSA, and did a lot of general hand-holding for me--because I was really anxious about the whole process. When it was time to travel, Abbey arranged transportation to the airport, and food, water, and monitoring during the trip. She also did an amazing job of making sure I knew how to track Bronte's travel and verify her safe arrival at each destination. I even received a photo of Bronte just before she left the Denver airport.
Just this Thursday, Bronte arrived in Saudi Arabia. She had a direct flight from Denver to Frankfurt where she spend the night in the Lufthansa pet facility at the airport and was able to stretch, eat, use the litter box--all the things cats need to do. It was so nice to know that she was getting a break between two rather long flights. The second travel day brought her straight into Jeddah where I met her at the airport. We're now happily reunited in our new home!
I should note that PetRelocation.com does offer a door-to-door service, so I could have foregone the trip to the airport altogether, but I opted to do this bit myself, with the help of another agent who we worked with here in Saudi Arabia.
I couldn't possibly be more satisfied with PetRelocation.com. At a very stressful time in my life, they helped to manage what could have been the most stressful part of all. I will certainly use their services again when Bronte and I return to the US someday.
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!
If you have any other questions about moving pets to Germany you can check our website or contact us for a free quote. We'd be happy to help you sort everything out!
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.
Alaska Airlines has announced a new partnership with Banfield Pet Hospital that will help travelers navigate the pet transport process more easily. Banfield, which has more than 800 facilities in over 40 states, will now give Alaska Airlines customers a free office visit, a travel consultation, and a $10 discount on the required health certificate.
Alaska Airlines flies pets in both the cargo and the cabin areas of the plane, and in the statement they issued Monday, professes a commitment to pet care and safety. Starting on May 1, they will be implementing new kennel standards for pets traveling in the cargo hold, and through June 9 will offer a 10% discount on PetStreak Animal Express shipments (the service for shipping pets via freight when the owners are not on the same flight). Visit this website to find out how to redeem these offers.
This partnership shows that travel service providers are truly taking notice of the fact that more people are traveling with pets these days. It's a trend that's on the rise, so smart businesses will likely continue to innovate and expand in order to safely accommodate the needs that go along with shipping pets.
We can't wait to see who steps up next, and we'll certainly keep you informed as life becomes even more streamlined for pet travelers.
On that note, have you taken our pet travel survey yet? We're checking in with as many pet owners as possible so that we can get an idea of current and future trends. Let your voice be heard by taking the survey, too!
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: Stacy Pet's Name: Neely From: Connecticut To: England
When I found out we were moving to England I was so excited and overwhelmed all at the same time! My biggest concern with the move was being able to bring my dog with me. The thought of leaving Neely behind was not an option, and the thought of transporting her overseas terrified me. At first, I was determined to get all of Neely's travel documentation and flight plans in order myself. However, with all the other stresses of moving and the possibility of me not being able to fly out with her, my husband decided it was time that I get some help.
My husband's employer had given me Cara's contact information so that I could talk to her to see what PetRelocation.com could do to help me. After the first phone conversation I instantly felt comfortable. Cara and Ashley had both walked me through every single step that I needed to take in order to get my dog over to England. They checked and double checked every piece of paperwork and answered any questions that I may have had. They kept on top of all the changes that were being made by DEFRA, and notified me immediately as to what those changes were. They made sure that Neely's crate was appropriate for travel, and even mailed us out a welcome pack!
When I found out that I needed to go over to England before I could get Neely out there, Ashley worked with my father to complete her travel requirements. On the day of Neely's travel, she was picked up at my parent's home and brought to the airport. Ashley had notified me when Neely was up in the air and gave me a confirmation number so that I could track her. They also kept in touch with my father to let him know the same. During her travel they made sure she had a pre and post- flight potty break as well as water and clean bedding. Once Neely cleared customs they called me to let me know that she would be delivered to me shortly.
When Neely arrived she acted as though she had been on one big adventure! She was so excited to be at her new home, and most importantly she arrived safely, clean, and happy!
It's now been close to three weeks since she arrived and she has settled in without a hitch! PetRelocation.com has made this moving experience stress and worry free. Cara and Ashley always took the extra step to make sure that everything was done right and that Neely would arrive home safely. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who has to transport a beloved pet and I would certainly use their services again in the future!
Relocating pets is a team effort, and we employ the help of agents and drivers all around the world to help transport your furry family members safe and sound.
Last month we introduced you to John Kernan of Pawsitively Dogs in our first Driver Spotlight, and today we'd like you to meet another trusted collaborator: Rebeca Berni of Dog Gone Taxi based near Seattle, WA.
We've worked with Rebeca many times and now we're taking a moment to shine the spotlight on her. Read on to find out more about one of our top pet agents!
How long have been in the pet transportation business?
I've been in this business since 2005.
How did you get started?
I was the owner/operator of a physical therapy center for dogs (doing warm water hydrotherapy). Many clients had difficulty getting their pets to and from their appointments, as the dogs were disabled or had injuries that made it difficult for them to walk.
That's when I started Dog Gone Taxi. Soon after that - about six months later - a dog transportation company in Seattle that did daycare & boarding drop-off and pickups went out of business. They kept their website but changed their phone number to our number without letting me know. We grew our local business rapidly after that. A year later we got a call from a pet broker service to do an airport delivery. They helped educate us on the industry and told us how to get fully licensed with USDA.
Year after year we have added more pet brokers and gotten more experience in the industry. In 2010 we started providing private (one families' pets at a time) cross-country pet relocation. As the pet transportation business grew, I became unable to do the water therapy clients and changed that business into pet boarding and daycare. We now offer pet boarding (dogs & cats) and doggie daycare in our Seattle office, as well as the transportation business in WA, OR, and CA, and we now have several employees.
Rebeca Berni (and dog pals) on a cross-country trip.
What’s your average day like?
There is no average day. Some days we have check-ins at 4 a.m. and pickups at 11 p.m. Typically in the AM we have our local business daycare/boarding drop-offs and again for a few hours in the afternoon. The airport check-ins and drop-offs are fit in between.
What’s your most memorable pet move experience?
We recently moved 12 roosters & chickens from Victoria, BC to Fargo, ND. They were family pets, kept in the home and in a coop. Fresh eggs in the AM meant that the chickens were happy!
Do you have pets of your own?
Yes, I have two dogs. A Bichon and 17-year-old blind Beagle.
What’s your favorite part of this job?
Seeing the happy owners face when their pet has been delivered all safe and sound. And of course, playing with the puppies!!
Do people find what you do unusual?
Yes, but once I explain what it is we do, they usually say, '"Oh, I wondered how people moved with their pets, I just never thought about it."
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Stay tuned for another Driver Spotlight to appear on the blog soon... There are many more interesting pet agents to meet!
Name: Clarisse From: New York, NY, USA To: Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines Pet: Koda, Dog (Pembroke Welsh Corgi, 9 months,18 lbs)
Is my dog going to be flying on the same flight with me or will he be on a separate flight that will allow for stops and such? It's far to travel from the US to the Philippines. I'm aware of the toll it takes for an almost daylong flight. I want to know that my dog will be safe, taken care of, and as comfortable as he's going to be while in transit.
Thanks,
Clarisse
Hi Clarisse,
Thanks for the question, we hope we can help! First, here are the pet import requirements for the Philippines. It's not necessary to be on the same flight as your pet (especially if you're hiring someone to help you clear customs or handle transportation), and we do often suggest breaking the trip into parts rather than choosing a direct route in order to allow time for rest breaks, etc. Primarily it's important to choose a pet-friendly airline with established safety policies. Your concerns are valid -- it's certainly taxing to fly internationally, so the best you can do is choose a trustworthy airline.
Please give us a call if you have any more questions, and fill out our free quote form if you're interested in our services. Good luck!
Name: John and Tina Pet's Name: Jackson From: Huntington, NY To: The Villages, FL
We decided to move from Long Island, NY to Florida and searched out many ways to transport our four legged son. After searching the Internet we found the PetRelocation.com web site and made our initial telephone call. We were contacted by an agent, Lee Maaz, who handled the entire transaction.
Lee immediately made us feel at ease and eased the anxiety that we both felt regarding the relocation. He was with us through every step and showed both compassion and concern for our feelings and was the main reason we decided to use the service. During the process we also were very satisfied with both Anthony who picked up Jackson at our Long Island location and Lynn who delivered Jackson to us in Florida.
The best part of the move outside of the wonderful people who handled Jackson's move was to see his wagging tail at our Florida pick up. Jackson is doing very well and has adjusted nicely to his new home, which we mainly attribute to the way he was transported by Pet Relocation.
We will definitely use PetReclocation.com again and recommend them to anyone who is considering relocating.
Thank you so much for moving our two cats from Austin to Portland, OR. Both arrived safe and sound and are settling in nicely. Neither one appreared the least bit traumatized by the journey. We were extremely satsified with your customer service and your prices were quite reasonable for door-to-door transportation. Could not have been a better experience and we could not be more satisfied. Special thanks to our coordinator, Marissa. She was wonderful.
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!
We know you have many questions about moving your pet. Please complete the fields below to receive your complimentary consultation with one of our PetRelocation specialists, as well as to obtain an estimate for your pet(s) relocation.
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.
Here's an excerpt from John's website: