Name: Jody
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Small Chinese dog, 10 to 12 pounds
From: Nanning, China
To: Houston, Texas

Can you assist me with getting my dog from China to Houston, Texas? I will need assistance with the regulations and paperwork. My wife is currently in China until the end of June and we would like to bring the dog with her back to the United States.

Regards,

Jody

Hi Jody,

Sure, we'd be happy to help you move your pet. For quicker service you can call our office: +001-512-362-6100, or you can fill out our free quote form which will allow a specialist to look over the details of your move and offer you an estimate and overview of our services.

For your information, here are the pet import requirements for the United States. Your dog will need an international health certificate issued within 10 days of departure as well as an updated rabies vaccine. We recommend choosing a pet-friendly airline and making sure your dog is comfortable spending time in the travel crate, as well.

We look forward to hearing from  you -- please let us know if you have any questions!

 

Name: Eddie
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Collie
From: Ireland
To: Canada

What do I have to do to get my dog from Ireland to Canada? Will the dog travel with me or alone, and how much does it cost?

Thanks,

Eddie

Hi Eddie,

Thanks so much for the question, we'd be glad to help. First, take a look at the pet import requirements for Canada. You'll need to take care of a few things, including the rabies vaccine and a vet health certificate. We also recommend a microchip if you don't have one, and it'll be important to choose a pet-friendly airline.

Most of the pets we ship are on separate flights from their owners, as we take care of getting them checked in and then going through customs on the other end. Let us know if you're interested in our services and we'll tell you more about how it works and what the cost breakdown is. If you'd like to organize it yourself, Ipata.org is a good resource for finding pet shipping agents.

Good luck with the trip!
 

Though there's something special about each and every pet move we carry out, some stories are especially memorable. Meet Mahalo the cat, our featured pet move this month. After enduring a natural disaster (the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan), Mahalo's owner Marian sent her beloved cat to live with friends in Colorado while she left Japan and searched for a new place to live. When she was able to get settled in a cat friendly condo in Hawaii she knew it was time to bring him home, and of course we were happy to help arrange their reunion.

Read more about Mahalo, a one-of-a-kind cat with a very dedicated owner.

Thank you for speaking with us, Marian! When was the last time you saw Mahalo before this relocation? You surely missed him...

The last time I saw Mahalo was last year around August 2012 during a visit to Boulder, where my friend was taking care of him. We had our high school reunion in Boulder so I stayed with her. The timing was great -- I attended the reunion and visited my friend and Mahalo.

What I missed most about him is hard to say because he just IS. He has a presence. He has a matter-of-fact way of getting on with life no matter what the circumstances! I guess if I had to pick, it was his inquisitive nature, his friendliness, and how he would come running when called by name. He also has a sit and shake routine! When I say sit, he would do it and then lift up his right paw for a snack!

Did anything concern you about the idea of moving Mahalo?

For the move from Boulder to Hawaii, I was most concerned about there being a hiccup with quarantine -- although I KNEW I had faxed all the paperwork and documents to Mandy. Still, windows of dates create anxiety. I have had pets experience Hawaii quarantine back in the day when there were NO shortcuts, and even with shortcuts you hear of horror stories. I have also shipped cats from Oregon to Hawaii in 2002 so I should be used to it, but in reality everything has worked out and the quarantine people are fantastic. Not sure why I was so anxious!

How has Mahalo been adjusting to life in Hawaii?

Interestingly there have been some changes. Back in Japan, he used to love dark tight corners, like underneath my bed frame, between the bottom of the bed and a futon I stored underneath. Tight! But back in Boulder he loved the crate they put out to get him acclimated, and also slept in the closet with the little girl of the house. He also licked my face to wake me up like an alarm clock back in Japan and did that with the little girl. But once he got back here, he jumps into my bed to wake me up, rolls around, etc... but no alarm clock licks of the face. He also does NOT like the crate at all, even though he did back in Boulder before leaving. In fact, when I put him in there with the fleece he loves, he growled! Gee! But he still sits and shakes on cue!

Is Hawaii a pet friendly place to be?

I am a resident owner of my condo and it is a pet friendly complex -- a new one, and I wouldn't have bought in if it wasn't. That was a condition when I started looking two years ago; while pet friendly is growing in Hawaii, it is not easy (especially for large dogs or multiple pets). I am planning to get a second cat, but I have to check out the rules.

Homeowner rules are pretty strict in Hawaii even in condos -- dogs have a weight restriction of about 25 pounds I think, and one pet is generally the rule. However, some condos have been known to grandfather in long time residents and change rules for new buyers. There are lots of vets in the city and in suburbs so you have to wonder where do these owners live? Small animal vet services are very lucrative and busy. Boarding starts at about $25 a day and there are plenty of pet sitters, but again I always advise folks to get personal referrals only. Many pet owners want people to come to their homes, and the going price is $25-$35 a day. Finally, there is a Petco in the city of Honolulu and the suburbs as well as Walmart, Walgreens and other stores that support pets, so there is certainly nothing to worry about.

The one piece of advice I would give to pet owners moving to Hawaii is to nail down a place to live first. Be sure it allows pets. Dog runs (mostly in suburbs) and parks I think are available in the city and the beach, but people must pick up after their pet. Of course that doesn't apply to cats; my cats are strictly indoors. I am not a fan of letting cats run amok outside, as Hawaii has a lot of birds and they are tame, which means they are fodder for cats. Also, living in a condo means there is no good way cats can be let outdoors.

You've moved Mahalo by yourself before, so what made you decide to hire the services of PetRelocation this time?

I found about PetRelocation through a friend in Japan who used your services from Florida to Japan back to Florida. Also, I saw you on Facebook after the friend told me about your services. I decided to use your services because I was not planning to go to Boulder to meet Mahalo, as some other issues came up precluding my doing the arranging. Also, after talking to my friend from Florida, I realized I did not want the hassle of taking him to the airport in Denver, yaddah yaddah.... Also that he would be delivered to me in Honolulu was the best part. I did not want to do the send off and pick up I have done too many times.

I liked the prompt response emails from Mandy. She went into detail about every concern I had. I also liked that you have local vendors and that you start the process early on, which was good for a planner like me. I couldn't have done without the hand-holding on the communications regarding departure, arrival, and quarantine. For me, just firing off emails and getting an answer was the best!

Thanks again, and we're looking forward to Mahalo becoming famous. Just as an FYI - he was a show cat in Japan and has won his share of ribbons, although he is now retired. He placed in his class of neutered short hair cats.

Thanks to Marian for sharing this wonderful story with us. We're glad Mahalo is home safe and sound at last! Please contact us for more information about moving pets to Hawaii, and travel safely, everyone.

Here's an email recently sent to our CEO by some very happy clients. We thank them for sharing their thoughts (and for sharing their move with us, of course)!

Dear Sir,

I contacted your company when it was decided that my wife and I were returning to Scotland and our two dogs would be coming with us. The logistics of packing the house for shipment coupled with getting the dogs to Scotland was a very daunting prospect.

Our first contact was with Joe Fraser and a little further down the line we worked with Dan Guyder.

I must congratulate you on having such professional and courteous staff members. From the very outset they both acted with complete professionalism that instilled in us the confidence that we only had to take care of packing and shipping the household goods to Scotland.

Working with Joe and Dan was a total pleasure, and they not only relieved us of all our concerns by taking care of every aspect of the move, but the level of their concern gave us the impression that they acted in a manner which could only be achieved if they were relocating their own pets - not ours.

The relocation went as smoothly as we expected, despise a slight hiccup with Glasgow Airport which was handled by Dan to our complete satisfaction, and the dogs are now settled into our new home.

We can only reiterate that working with your company through Joe and Dan was a pleasure, and that their professionalism, confidence and courtesy was an asset in promoting your company image.  We would have no qualms about recommending PetRelocation to anyone considering a move that requires relocating their pets.


Our very sincere thanks,

Rob and Fiona

Celine & Shari, two lucky dogs now living in Scotland.

Name: Leah
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Border Collie Mix
From: Denver, USA
To: Singapore

How can I transport my dog from the US to Singapore in July?

Thanks,

Leah

Hi Leah,

The steps for moving your dog to Singapore from the United States are outlined here. You'll need to have your dog microchipped if not already, update the required vaccines (paying close attention to the rabies vaccine procedure in particular), and secure a vet health certificate within 10 days of departure. Since Singapore imposes a quarantine, you'll also need to make those arrangements well in advance.

International pet travel can be confusing, so be sure to allow plenty of time to plan and don't hesitate to seek assistance. Many people decide to enlist professional help when moving a pet, and we'd be happy to tell you more about our door-to-door services if you're interested. Here is a link to our free quote form if you'd like a cost estimate.

Contact us if you have more questions, check out our Facebook page to meet some of the pets we've moved, and good luck with everything!

PetRelocation belongs to an international network of pet shipping specialists called IPATA (the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association), which means we are able to meet and share information with some of the world's best service providers in our field. 

Last week we attended a regional IPATA meeting in Dallas, TX (that's just a few hours away from our Austin headquarters), and there we were able to get to know a few of our colleagues a little bit better. In fact, a few of them were so interested in what we do that they decided to prolong their time in Texas and come down to our office for a visit. Today Manuel Leunda from Las Lunas in Argentina and Simon Jackson from Dogtainers in Australia were kind enough to spend some time with us for a "Lunch & Learn."

Manuel is actually the current president of IPATA, and he updated us on all the latest pet shipping news and plans for expansion in South America. Simon is the IPATA Treasurer, and he answered our questions about Australia import rules and how they may be changing in the coming years. The world of pet travel is busy, complex and dynamic, so we were happy to have the chance to catch up with these friendly experts. It's always beneficial to have face-to-face meetings with people we normally do business with by phone and email, and we love showing off the great city of Austin to out of town guests, as well.

Thanks to Manuel and Simon for stopping by and giving us great overviews of the important work they do. Thanks also to Kyle Freeman from VIP Sitters in Canada, who stopped by last Friday to say hello. Come back anytime, y'all!

Lunch & Learn with fellow IPATA members

Name: Georgia
Number of Pets: Three
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: Domestic Short Hair
From: Adelaide, Australia
To: Bergen, Norway

Hi,

My soon to be husband and I are wanting to immigrate from Australia to Bergen at the beginning of next year, and we want to bring our three cats with us. I was wondering how long the quarantine period would be in Norway for my cats? Also, how would we go about finding long term accommodation (through renting) that would allow our pets?

Thanks,

Georgia

 

Hi Georgia,

Thanks for contacting us, and congratulations on your upcoming life adventures! Here are the pet import requirements for Norway. There is currently no quarantine for pets being transferred here, however you will need to take care of a few arrangements in order for everything to go smoothly (health documents, rabies vaccines, etc).

We're not directly in contact with any apartment owners/locaters in Norway, but we'd suggest searching online and checking out expat websites such as expatarrivals.com.

Thanks again for the questions, and please contact us if you're interested in our services or are wondering about anything else. Good luck with everything!

Name: Michele
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Cockapoo
From: Sweden
To: USA

We are moving back to the US from Sweden at the beginning of July. Before our dog came to us, she went through all of the requirements for Sweden. Eighteen months later, we are going back and have a few questions.

First, are there any requirements for the USA she needs to complete? Second, how can we best ship our dog in April in the most economical way? We have learned that she can't fly with us on the flights we arranged.

Thanks for your advice,

Michele

Hi Michele,

Thanks for your question, we're happy to assist. First, take a look at the pet import requirements for the United States. This is one of the less stringent countries when it comes to bringing pets in, so if you've traveled recently it sounds like you'll be in pretty good shape. Most importantly: You will need to secure a health certificate from your vet within 10 days of departure, and your rabies vaccine will need to be up to date (administered at least 30 days before departure).

As far as the flight, most of the time our clients are not on the same flight as their pet. As long as there is someone to deliver your dog to the airport and pick her up (this could be you, a friend, a delivery agent, etc.), she should be able to ride in the cargo area of the plane unaccompanied. We highly recommend doing some research to select a pet friendly airline (we often use KLM, United and Lufthansa).

Please contact us if you have questions about these logistics, and if you'd like to find out more about our services, here is our free quote form. Good luck with everything, and thanks again for checking in with us!

Name: Sonia
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Labrador
From: Houston, TX
To: Delhi, India

I am planning to take my pet to India for a period of three months and come back to the United States. Could you please let me know the documentation required and processing fees?

Thanks,

Sonia

Hi Sonia,

Thanks for contacting us. Traveling to India for three months means preparing your dog for the trip there and then meeting the necessary requirements for the return to the states. Here are the pet import requirements for India as well as the pet import requirements for the United States -- you'll need to formulate a schedule in order to secure all the documents at the proper time.

The fees will depend on how much of the process you handle yourself and how much you'd like to hire someone else to help with (drivers to or from the airport, for example). You can check out IPATA.org to contact individual pet shipping agents, or you can contact us if you're interested in our services. Finally, if you'd like to try to do it yourself, you can peruse our blog for more resources about traveling with pets to India.

No matter how you decide to do it, good luck with everything!

Name: Beth
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: Main Coons
From: US
To: Germany

We are moving in a few months to Germany. Do we need both the EU Vet and International Health Certificates? Do both have to be validated and stamped by the USDA?

Thanks,

Beth

Hi Beth,

Thanks for your question. These are the pet import requirements for Germany -- you'll see that you need the EU Vet Health Certificate (EU 998) and the International Health Certificate (APHIS 7001). There are several steps to complete, so we advise giving yourself plenty of time to plan.

Here's more about moving pets to Germany and tips for how to prepare your pets for an international move. Thanks again for checking in, and please contact us if you have any more questions.

Name: Eden
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Turtle
From: South Korea
To: Australia

Is it possible to relocate my pet turtle from Korea to Australia? If so, what is the process of doing this?

Kind regards,

Eden
 

Hi Eden,

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately turtles are not permitted to travel to Australia from South Korea or anywhere else, as this is a country with very strict pet import rules. Find out more information about which pets are allowed into Australia here, and please contact us if you have any more questions.

Good luck with everything!

Name: Randy
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Maltese and Shih Tzu
From: Wichita, KS, US
To: Cairo, Egypt

I need to know how to move my dogs from A to Z. What carrier will do it, what will they require, how much is will it cost, and what does Egypt need in they way of paperwork, implants, etc.

Regards,
Randy

Hi Randy,

Thanks for your inquiry, and you're in luck -- moving pets safely from point A to point B is our specialty. Here are the pet import requirements for Egypt. To prepare for the trip you'll need to have your dogs microchipped, vaccines will need to be updated, and you'll need an international health certificate.

Please take a look at this information and then let us know if you have any questions. Also, if you're interested in finding out more about our door-to-door services, you can fill out our free quote form and we'll get back to you with an estimate for your move.

Good luck with everything, and we hope to hear from you soon!

Name: Taw
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Female
From: Malaysia
To: Buffalo, New York

I want to take my cat from Malaysia to the United States. What do I have to do?

Thanks,

Taw

Hi Taw,

Thanks for your question, we'd be happy to provide some information. To start, here are the pet import requirements for the United States.

Your cat will need an up-to-date rabies vaccine, a microchip, health certificate, and we recommend choosing a pet-friendly airline. (We often use United, KLM and Lufthansa, for example.) In case your cat has never traveled or been in a travel crate before, here are some cat crate-training tips.

Please contact us if you have any questions about moving, and have a great trip!
 

Name: Betty
Number of Pets: Two
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Bulldog, Mixed Breed
From: Charlottesville, VA, USA
To: Auckland, NZ

I'm very worried about flying our Bulldog because of temperature extremes, etc. for the exceptionally long flights and layovers to New Zealand. Are there any options? Cruise ships? Please help!

Thanks,

Betty

Hi Betty,

Thanks for your questions, and please know that your concerns are totally understandable. Flying internationally with pets, particularly snub-nosed breeds, can be stressful, but starting the process early and doing some research will help ease your anxiety.

We've moved many Bulldogs long-distance, and there are a few important things to do to help the trip go well. First, talk to your vet and consider doing a full health-diagnostic on your dog to reveal any underlying issues. If you decide to proceed from there, choose a travel crate that's nice and big so as to promote good air flow, and be sure your dog is comfortable spending time in the crate (you may need to start training several weeks in advance of the trip). Another crucial element is the airline you choose. Be sure to go with a pet-friendly airline, one that has established pet policies and well-trained employees so that temperature issues do not come into play.

This is just a quick overview (here's another link with some smart pet travel tips), and we'd be happy to talk with you further. Feel free to give our office a call or fill out our free quote form if you're interested in finding out more about our services. Either way, we hope this helps and wish you a great trip!

 

Name: Jaimie
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Labrador
From: USA Washington, DC
To: Nairobi, Kenya

I am just trying to find the most affordable and safest way to ship my dog to me in July 2013, or information about airlines that would allow her to fly as cargo with me.

Thank you,

Jaimie

 

Hi Jaimie,

Thanks for your question. Kenya isn't the most common place to move pets, but believe it or not we've done it a few times. Here is the story of a dog named Bear who we recently relocated there, as well as a rundown of the pet import requirements.

As far as airlines, we have used KLM to go to Kenya and would recommend checking out their services. They are a pet-friendly airline and we often use them for our international pet flights.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, and if you're interested in finding out more about our door-to-door services, please fill out our free quote form.

Thanks again, and we hope to hear from you soon!

Name: Robert
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Persian
From: France
To: Florida, USA

My cat has a current (four months old) rabies vaccination as recorded on his passport by our French vet. Does he have to be revaccinated for a 30 day requirement for entry into Florida?

Thanks in advance for your response.

-Robert

 

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the question. These are the pet import requirements for the United States. In terms of rabies, it sounds like you're in good shape (you should have an up-to-date vaccine administered at least 30 days before departure).

Please take a look at this information and then let us know if you have any more questions. Thanks again, and good luck!

Name: Mark
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Mixed Breed
From: Sri Lanka
To: Sabah/Borneo, Malaysia

We have been looking at the pointers on this site, but admittedly it's all very confusing for me. We brought our dog from the UK to Sri Lanka in March 2012 and have been living here for the last 11 months. We now wish to leave Sri Lanka and relocate to Sabah in Borneo.

Can you please give me the timeframe that we need to apply in order to make the move without a hitch? Our dog is microchipped and has a European PETS Passport, does this make the process any simpler? Is there any reduction in quarantine period if we were to stay in mainland Malaysia for a period prior to going to Sabah?

We look forward to your response.

Thank you,

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your inquiry, we'd be happy to offer some information. It is a bit tricky to bring a pet to Sabah, but we've actually done it before and learned a lot. Here are the details of how it works to ship a pet to Sabah and Sarawak -- please take a look if you've yet to come across this post on our blog. Since you're coming from a Category 2 country there will be specific steps involved in order to observe Sabah's rabies-free status, and  yes, it is good that you already have a microchip.

Hopefully this is helpful, Mark! Please contact us if you have any more questions, and if you'd like an estimate for our services please fill out our free quote form.

Name: Ahmed
Number of Pets: Three
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Two Labradors and One German Shepherd
From: Egypt
To: Thailand

I have all the papers for the dogs and everything they need to travel. With these papers will we be able to enter Thailand?

Thanks,

Ahmed

Hi Ahmed,

Thanks for your question. We have moved many pets to Thailand and are happy to help you with some information. For reference, here's a link from the Thailand Ministry of Agriculture that details the requirements. With the correct preparations there will be no quarantine. Here are links to a few of our customer stories for even more insight into the process. Here are the pet move stories of Lucy and Behr as well as a three-dog move to Thailand.

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

 

It's both exciting and challenging to work in the global pet shipping industry. Though located in Austin, TX, PetRelocation is able to safely move pets door-to-door, to and from far-flung cities all over the world. We get to talk to a variety of people and learn about dozens of different cultures every day, and much of our success is based on being excellent communicators well-versed in all available technologies.

Not only do we use phone calls, text messages, emails and social media like Twitter and Facebook to keep in touch with our clients, when possible we also arrange Skype conversations for an even more personalized experience. We love that more and more people are making themselves available online through implements like video chat, and hope that we continue to see this develop and expand as a tool for communicating with the pet owners we serve.

Missy and Val - Our client's cats in Sri Lanka

Recently Pet Relocation Specialist Bethany was able to sit down with one of her clients for a Skype chat. "It was so nice to put a face to a name," says Bethany. This particular client (her name is Melissa and she is moving her dog and two cats), lives in Sri Lanka, so the time difference sometimes makes it a challenge when it's time to check in directly.

Melissa tells us that, though email is still her preferred form of communication, being able to "meet" her Pet Relocation Specialist via Skype was "the icing on the cake." She goes on to say that, though she doesn't really consider herself a very tech-savvy person, "Living in a remote village in Sri Lanka as I do, email and Skype have become indispensable to me as a way of communicating."

Of course we'd love to meet every person and pet face to face, but when distance separates us we're happy to be available through video, voice, and text. It's all about keeping in touch to answer questions that arise and address the normal concerns that go along with shipping a pet from one place to another—we know that it's a stressful time, and it's our job to help!

Do you use Skype and Facetime to talk to faraway relatives and friends? Have you ever brought your pet into the conversation, too? Feel free to share your stories and tips with us!

Sri Lanka is just a Skype or email away

Thanks,

Maya

Hi Maya,

Thanks for contacting us, these are great questions. First, here are the pet import requirements for Taiwan. The costs will depend on a few factors, but if you're interested in finding out an estimate for our services, you can fill out our free quote form.

Many people decide to handle their pet moves themselves, however it does require a fair amount of research and logistics planning. Leaving it to the experts indeed costs more, however many pet owners find that it's well worth it (especially when moving to a country with complicated requirements and/or a quarantine). We'd be happy to discuss your options further, and for reference here is an overview of why people often choose to hire professionals to help with pet moves.

Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with your upcoming pet move!