Dealing with the Stress of Dog Travel to Australia

Name: Vicki
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Labrador Retriever
From: New York, NY, USA
To: Sydney, Australia

Dear PetRelocation.

Please can you help me? Unfortunately I have to leave New York and go back home to Sydney, Australia rather suddenly.  I anticipate I need to leave by mid January 2015, and I would like my dog to come, as well.

How do I do this safely, compassionately, and gently for her?

I am terrified at the thought of her being alone in quarantine for months on end, and the long flight, and care she may or may not receive on the flight, and other parts of the journey.

Please can you help? I look forward to your email.

Kindest Regards,

Vicki

Hi Vicki,

Thanks for your message, we’d be happy to help with some information and/or moving assistance.

First, if you’ve yet to do so, take a look at the official Australia government website. This will help you accurately figure out your timeline and import requirements based on your dog’s current status. Pet owners sometimes need to move ahead of their pets, and if this is the case for you, you would need to arrange for boarding or help from a friend in the United States to carry out all the necessary requirements. It’s not ideal, but it’s possible to accomplish.

We’ve helped pet owners arrange moves such as this, so if you’d like to find out more about our door-to-door services, please fill out our free quote form or give our office a call at 1-877-PET-MOVE. Remember that if all the steps are completed correctly in the US, your dog will just have a 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Australia.

As for the actual flight, we often use Qantas for pets traveling to Australia. This airline has pet-friendly practices in place, and if you take the proper steps to crate-train and hydrate your dog before departure, the trip will be long but not unreasonably stressful for her.

Finally, see below for a few customer stories from pets who have moved to Australia. Sometimes it helps to know that others have gone through the process safely!

Jack's Relocation to Australia

Pet Client Story: Bea and Mikey in Australia

The Long Journey from California to Sydney: We Did It!

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance, and good luck with everything!