Name: Jim

Pet: Merlot

From: Reno, Nevada, USA

To: Cuenca, Ecuador

In October of 2012 my wife and I, both retired, decided to move to Cuenca, Ecuador for the climate and other reasons. Not knowing anyone or having a service to work with we set out on our own to plan our move.

One of our big concerns was shipping our 60 pound Lab mix, Merlot. We received all the required paperwork needed to have Merlot enter the country, and now our only worry was getting her there. I had been doing research online and found that United was about the only airline that flew pets in cargo year round.I searched their website, which was full of information about preparing your pet for travel, the type and size of container, the actual shipping etc., but there were a few details missing.

When I went to book our flights, we needed to book ours first and then book Merlot into cargo. We booked our flight from Reno to Quito. When I was transferred to cargo they could only book Merlot out of Vegas. OK, small problem. Then I was told she could only be booked less than three days before the flight and only if it was less than 75% full, and the flight was already 75% full. Panic mode set in. With only about a week to go, how can we get Merlot to Ecuador?

I found PetRelocation and called.  They quietly assured me they could handle the details of Merlot's trip and get her to Ecuador on time. A couple of days later, a man pulls up and takes Merlot to San Francisco for her flight to Ecuador.  We followed the next day and we were all reunited in Quito, Ecuador for the rest of our journey.

PetRelocation handled our dog Merlot with the utmost care and frequently updated us on her condition.  They are quite the professional group!

One bit of advice, we had a handler that met Merlot in Quito, but customs would not let her through for 12 additional hours because the real owners were not there. If you are traveling internationally with your pets ensure they are on the same flight as yours.

Jim and Arlene

It's a fact: some pets are easy travelers and some require a little more patience and assistance. Cat owners especially often begin their pet travel preparations with hesitancy, but with a little help they're often amazed at how well their kitties adjust.

Here's a great example: Karma and Reiki, two cats we recently helped with a move from Florida to Prague. They started out a little skeptical about the whole travel process, but in the end they did a great job and they're now where they belong -- with their loving owner.

Take a look at the stages of their journey, and thanks to their owner for sharing this move with us!

Step 1: Getting Used to the Travel Crate

Reiki's new kennel. (It's good to start slow if a cat is new to travel.)

Step 2: The Big Day

Reiki gets comfortable on his blanket.

Karma isn't overjoyed right now, but in just a few hours he'll be home!

Step 3: Settling In

Here they are on Day 1 in their new home. Time to explore!

See? Life is getting back to normal already. What a gorgeous view!

Find out more about how to crate train a cat, and as always, contact PetRelocation with any questions you have.

Name: Jasmine
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: American Bulldog
From: Netherlands
To: Christchurch, NZ

Hi, I am wanting to import a dog to New Zealand from the Netherlands. The pup will be born at the end of June and its an American Bulldog. I am wanting to know the procedures and what I need to do to get this underway.

Many Thanks,

Jasmine

 

Hi Jasmine,

There are several important considerations involved in this scenario, so you'll want to spend some time researching and considering your options.

First, we don't recommend flying with a pet younger than 12 weeks old. Puppies should be old enough and strong enough to handle the travel experience, so we advise that you allow three months or so to pass before relocating your dog.

Second, flying with snub-nosed breeds (including Bulldogs) requires special care and attention. You need an extra large travel crate that will promote good airflow, and you also need to make sure the airline you choose is pet friendly and actually allows Bulldogs on board. These regulations can change according the season and from one carrier to another, so double check with airline representatives (or your pet travel specialist) ahead of time to find out if your move will be possible.

Finally, take a look at the pet import requirements for New Zealand. This is a rabies-free country that requires a quarantine, so you'll need to follow all the steps carefully and arrange a quarantine reservation if you decide to go forward.

Pet travel can be complicated, as you can see, but we're happy to assist you further. Feel free to fill out our quote form if you'd like to find out more about our door-to-door services. Hope to hear from you!

National Geographic discusses quirky pet travel rules.

It's easier to travel with five or more pets in the EU now (in case you ever need to do that).

Some pet owners turn to psychics and tarot card readers to explore pets' inner lives.

Addressing your dog's separation anxiety.

Australian pet owners really really love their furry family members.

Cat humor: Apple missed a huge opportunity.

Have a wonderful weekend, pet lovers.

On Monday European Union lawmakers ruled to relax restrictions on the movement of pets by removing the five pet per person limit that has been in place for years. If owners can prove their animals will participate in an exhibition, sporting event, or competition and have the proper documentation, they may now move freely between EU Member States with several pets at a time.

Until now, dogs, cats and ferrets with microchips and updated rabies vaccines have been able to travel fairly easily as part of the EU Pet Passport system, and this new expansion of the law aims to make life even easier for EU member pet owners. It also shows that the past laws have been successful in terms of controlling rabies and keeping pet travel a smooth process.

Will this new law affect you? Do you think it signals an overall positive change in the world of pet travel? Read more about the new EU pet rules here, please contact PetRelocation with your pet travel questions, and feel free to tell us what you think in the comments below.

Name: Ken
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Mixed
From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
To: Maryland

I'm taking my 5-year-old dog for a week vacation through New York state to Maryland. What certificates of vaccination such as Rabies etc... will we need?

Thanks,

Ken

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your question. For this trip you'll want to take a look at the pet import requirements for the United States (which actually aren't particularly strict) as well as the pet import requirements for Canada, since you'll be returning there. You will need proof of an updated rabies vaccine and an International Health Certificate issued by your vet.

Here is more information from our blog about how to cross the Canada/US border with a pet, including general car travel tips. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and have a safe journey.!

Name: Nicholas
Number of Pets: 4
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Jack Russell / Mini Fox
From: Australia
To: Spain

Can you please confirm the requirements for each dog? i.e.. Microchip, any vaccinations, etc.

What would the approximate price be to help me move my dogs to Spain? We plan to leave approximately March 2014.

Thanks,

Nicholas

Hi Nicholas,

Thank you for contacting us with your pet move question, we'd be happy to provide some information. First, take a look at the pet import requirements for Spain. You'll see that your dogs will need to need to have microchips if they don't already, and they will need to fulfill the basic vaccinations and health paperwork.

The cost will depend on a few factors. If you're interested in arranging the relocation yourself it will be cheaper, and  we recommend visiting IPATA.org to find pet travel agents in your area who might be available to assist you. If you're interested in finding out about our door-to-door services, please fill out our free quote form and we'll get back to you soon with an estimate.

Hopefully this is helpful! Please let us know if you still have questions after this, and good luck with your upcoming move.

Name: Natalia
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Siberian Husky
From: Jakarta, Indonesia
To: Saxony-Anhalt, Germany

Hello,

I need information about requirements needed for me sending my dog to his new owner at Saxony-Anhalt. What documents are needed and what is the procedure?

Please email me with some information, including what airline I should use.


Regards,

Natalia

Hi Natalia,

Thanks for your question, we'd be happy to help. Here are the pet import requirements for Germany. You'll need to take care of a few things, including a microchip for your dog and the required vaccinations.

We highly recommend choosing a pet friendly airline (we often choose KLM and Lufthansa for international moves -- carriers with pet friendly practices), and you'll want to make sure your travel crate is large enough and also airline-approved. If your dog is not used to being in a travel crate, you'll want to help him grow accustomed to it well before the trip (this minimizes stress and makes the trip smoother overall).

Pet travel can be confusing, so please let us know if you have any questions. We do offer door-to-door services, so you can contact us if you're interested in a price estimate.

Thanks again for reaching out to us, and good luck with everything!

Name: Caroline
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
From: France
To: Jakarta, Indonesia

Hello,

May I bring my cat to Jakarta? What are the requirements? What is the process? Could you handle his move from door-to-door?

Regards,

Caroline
 

Hi Caroline,

Thanks for your question. You can indeed bring your cat to Jakarta, as long as you meet certain requirements. Have a look at Indonesia's Pet Import Rules and Requirements to get an idea of what will be required. You will notice that the process involves health and paperwork requirements, as well as your cat spending time in quarantine upon arrival in Indonesia. In addition to these requirements, moving your cat means making travel arrangements for him on a pet-friendly airline and making sure his crate is airline-approved.

If you would like help with the pet travel process, we arrange door-to-door moves. If you're interested in our door-to-door services, please fill out our free quote form to be in contact with one of our pet move specialists.

If you'd like to see what it's like to move a pet to Jakarta, take a look at this story about Izzy, a dog we moved to Indonesia last year.

Feel free to contact us if you have any more questions. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Name: Ebru
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Two-year-old cat
Pet Breed: Yellow-white
From: Geneva, Switzerland
To: Wilmington, United States

Hello,

Can you please let me know the full required documentation and vaccination to move my cat from Switzerland to the US? It would also be helpful to know the timelines associated with different requirements (i.e. X vaccination Y weeks ago, etc).

Many thanks in advance, looking forward to your immediate response.

Kind regards,

Ebru

 

Hi Ebru,

Thanks for your question. To start, please take a look at the pet import requirements for the United States. In terms of the timeline, your cat will need to have a rabies shot administered at least 30 days prior to entry and you'll need a vet health certificate issued within 10 days of departure.

Other preparations to attend to include booking a flight on a pet friendly airline (we often use United, KLM and Lufthansa) and buying an airline approved travel crate (if you don't have one already). Here are a few tips for how to crate train a cat (in case your kitty is new to travel).

Please let us know if you have any questions or if you would like to find out more about our door-to-door services. Thanks again for contacting us, and good luck with the trip!

Name: Lody
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Dog and Cat
Pet Breed: Shih Tzu mix and Orange Tabby
From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
To: Phuket, Thailand

I am thinking of moving to Phuket for a year or so. I would like to take my pets. I would like to know what it entails and the costs.

Thank you,

Lody

 

Hi Lody,

Moving pets to Thailand requires following these Thailand import rules. Considering that you'll need vaccines administered at least 21 days before departure as well as USDA endorsements for the required paperwork, it's wise to allow yourself plenty of time to plan out the trip.

In terms of the travel itself, you'll also need to arrange flights on a pet friendly airline and help your pets become accustomed to their travel crates if they aren't already. If any of this sounds overwhelming or if you're interested in finding out more about our services (we arrange door-to-door moves), please contact us.

As far as costs, the total will depend on a few factors but you're welcome to fill out our free quote form to receive a more informed answer from one of our specialists.

Thanks for the question, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Our business focuses on carefully planned pet travel, but we know that sometimes Mother Nature demands that you quickly leave home and head to safer ground. If you live in an area affected by hurricanes, it's smart to have an exit plan that includes the whole family -- pets included.

Now, as hurricane season officially begins (it runs from June 1 to November 30), it's the perfect time to go over some disaster preparedness ideas that will help keep your pets safe. Here are a few tips we found useful, and hopefully you can, too.

Know where you'll take your pet if you have to leave.

A friend's house? The home of a family member? Don't wait until things get crazy to check into your possibilities. Send that email or Facebook message today finding out if you can count on someone  you know, and if you can't, check into shelter options. Many vets and animal shelters make space during storms for temporary pet housing.

Keep a travel carrier handy.

Crates make car travel safer and guarantee your pet will have a familiar place to be if you end up at a friend's house or a pet friendly hotel. On that note, crate training  your pet before it's ever necessary is a good idea, as you never know when it might come in handy.

Make sure all tags, microchips and vaccines are up-to-date.

Not only will it make you feel like a good citizen/pet owner to have your pets in line in terms of their rabies shots, well-secured tags with the right information will make it easier to locate them in the event of a separation. Again, this is planning for something that may never happen, but when it comes to your furry family members it's smart to be prepared for anything.

Have a travel bag ready to go.

Gather food and water (also dishes), an extra leash, a flashlight, medications, and anything else you'll need and have it an easy to grab bag. If time is limited later, you'll be glad you thought ahead.

Here are a few more pet hurricane preparedness tips from Trips with Pets and the ASPCA. Stay safe, everyone, and please contact us if you have any pet travel questions!

Name: Richard
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Cats
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
To: Orlando, Florida

My wife and I are emigrating to Florida and are taking our two cats with us. We are going to arrive a week in advance and they will follow with my parents into Orlando International Airport flying with Lufthansa.

What all documentation must my parents have in order that the cats clear US customs?

Thanks,

Richard

Hi Richard,

Please review the import requirements for the United States to find out what your parents will need in the form of paperwork, etc. Compared to other countries, the United States actually puts forward a pretty simple set of rules, and you won't have to worry about a quarantine.

Lufthansa is a good choice, as they have established pet policies (we often use them for international pet moves), so it sounds like you're off to a great start so far. Please contact us if you have any more questions, however, and good luck with the move!

 

It's usually one of the first questions we hear from future clients: "Will my pet need to go to quarantine?" Not every country requires that incoming pets fulfill a quarantine period, but for those who, do it's important to know that the facilities aren't the scary places many people imagine them to be.

Take Singapore, for example. We've helped several pets move to Singapore, and the photos and stories pet owners send us during and after their pets' stays reveal green grass, clean facilities, and an overall pleasant operation. Scroll down for a few photos from Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station to see for yourself.

Note that this particular facility can be hard to get into, so it's important to reserve your space well in advance of your trip. Please contact us if you have any questions about Singapore pet quarantine, and be sure to read about Purrla, Buddy, and all the other pets we've moved to Singapore.

Name: D.J.
Number of Pets: 3
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: One Domestic long hair and two Munchkins
From: San Diego, CA
To: Bozeman, MT

We will be moving from San Diego, CA to Bozeman, MT via car and would like to know if there are any legal requirements regarding interstate relocation of cats? They are between the ages of one and six years old and are in good health. We are on a budget and do not want to incur any unnecessary vet expenses.

Thank you,

D.J.

Hi D.J.,

This is a great question. Driving your cats from one U.S. state to another will not require extensive preparation the way an international move would, but you should check the laws for Montana to find out what they require from pet owners so that you can know what to expect once you're settled in. Many states require that pets be vaccinated against rabies, so having the documentation/tags that show your cats are up-to-date might be a good idea.

Other than that, just make sure you have a good travel set-up for your kitties (secure and comfortable travel crates, plenty of supplies on hand, etc.), and it sounds like you'll be ready for a good trip.

Please let us know if you have any more questions, and good luck!

Name: Joseph
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Chihuahuas
From: St. Petersburg, FL
To: Belgaum, India

I truly hope someone can help me find the answer to my problem. I live in St. Petersburg, FL and I will be traveling to India for a several month stay. I have two Chihuahuas and can't imagine going without them in addition finding someone to watch them for that period of time. I have read several posts that say it is possible but they are from years ago.

Is this possible, and who can I call to make sure I have everything that is needed?

Thanks,

Joseph

Hi Joseph,

Thanks for the question. Yes, it's possible to move dogs from the United States to India by following these import procedures for India. You'll need to to arrange paperwork and at least one vet visit, and your dogs will need microchips if they don't have them already.

We'd be happy to talk to you about moving pets to India, and if you're interested in our services you're welcome to fill out our free quote form. Finally, here's an article about pet trends in India. It sounds like it's becoming more pet friendly all the time, so hopefully you'll find it a welcoming place for you and and your dogs.

Good luck, and we hope to hear from you!

 

Name: Nick
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Mixed
From: Doha, Qatar, Middle East
To: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Hi,

I will be in Boston for one year doing a Fellowship. My question: am I allowed to bring my pet cat with me?

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks for your help.

Nick
 

Hi Nick,

Congratulations on your Fellowship! And yes, the rules for importing pets to the United States aren't overly strict, so you should be able to bring your cat along with you with just a bit of preparation. As you can see, most importantly you'll need an international health certificate and an updated rabies vaccine.

We also recommend choosing a pet-friendly airline and working to help acclimate your cat to the travel crate well in advance of the trip. Please contact us if you're interested in finding out about our door-to-door services or if you have more questions.

Good luck with your travels!

Name: Pearly
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Miniature Dachshund
From: London, UK
To: Darwin, Australia

How much will it be to relocate my dog to Darwin? And what about the compulsory quarantine in Australia?

Thanks,

Pearly

 

Hi Pearly,

Thanks for the inquiry. The cost of your move will depend on a few factors, so it's best to fill out our free quote form or give our office a call so that one of our specialists will be able to give you an estimate.

For your information, here are the pet import requirements for Australia. There is a 30-day quarantine that you'll be able to fulfill in Melbourne, Sydney or Perth, and though this is a part of the process that gives many pet owners pause, it's necessary for a transition to Australia and the quarantine facilities are friendly and safe (you can even visit your dog there). Here's a video that provides a look at what you can expect in Australia quarantine.

Take a look at our blog for stories and pet pictures from some clients we've helped with moves to Australia, and please contact us if you'd like our assistance. Thanks again, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Name: Jennifer
Pet's Name: Wimsey
From: Houston, TX
To: Lusaka, Zambia
 

As a seasoned traveler and experienced pug owner, I was confident I could navigate scheduling and obtaining the flights, health records, and immigration documents needed to get my 12-year-old pug from Houston to Lusaka, Zambia. I'd deftly managed this sort of travel independently for pug moves to Serbia, Croatia, Guatemala, and Ecuador. I planned the itinerary, the vaccinations, the microchip, and the baggies of food for the move to Zambia. And then it all fell apart with an airline agent's comment, "You can't arrive in Paris with a pug on a Saturday." Well, that one snag unraveled the whole tapestry of travel.

Desperate for someone knowledgeable and competent to help, I started looking at websites for services. I liked PetRelocation's website for the caring, timely, and recent responses I saw to inquiries from pet owners. I rolled the dice with an introductory e-mail and got a response within 12 hours. Sold!

Sarah and Amber have been incredibly responsive, insightful, helpful, and professional through every step of a pretty involved process. They communicated directly with various vets to explain the required paperwork, ably assisted with an impromptu move to Maryland (to escape the Houston heat that can ground flat-faced breeds), had knowledgeable experts on site at every layover, and provided links to track the pug's progress en route.

I really could not be happier with the service PetRelocation provided. I almost look forward to the next international move. And Wimsey is doing great in Zambia! (Only one red ant incident so far.)