Anyone have experience moving a pet overseas?

[Hillbeans]

Just wondering how your experience went, good or bad?

Any suggestions or advice you could provide?

 

[Poohforyou]

I just read an article about moving overseas with a pet. I wish I could remember what magazine or newspaper it was in. Anyway, one of the things it stressed was to do your paperwork as soon as possible and know the medical documentation that is needed. The long quarantines that you hear about happen when people can't prove when shots were given and other necessary information like that.

Here's a link I found (not what I read but full of helpful info):

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0311/moving_pets_overseas.shtml

 

[Squirrel!!!]

It depends where you are going. Most if not all require your pet to be microchipped with an ISO compatible microchip often before Rabies vaccination to prove that is the animal given the rabies......and on and on.

The worst health certificate I have been involved with so far is to New Zealand, I think. The dog had to have titers for all tick borne diseases, rabies titer, and a few other things that I am not thinking of at this time. Planning it's departure took about 5 months.

So, research your country!!!! Many veterinarians will not do international health certificates due to the hassle and liablity!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Make sure you get TWO microchips. DH has a friend who went overseas to London and the dar n microchip broke so they had to pay to have the poor animal quarantined for six months because once they get to the new country and you can't positively identify the animal they aren't allowed in and they aren't allowed back into the US. It cost a fortune and the family was so upset.

also, be careful what time of year you travel, the cargo area isn't air conditioned so some people have lost pets that way

 

[Hillbeans]

I just read an article about moving overseas with a pet. I wish I could remember what magazine or newspaper it was in. Anyway, one of the things it stressed was to do your paperwork as soon as possible and know the medical documentation that is needed. The long quarantines that you hear about happen when people can't prove when shots were given and other necessary information like that.

Here's a link I found (not what I read but full of helpful info):

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0311/moving_pets_overseas.shtml

It depends where you are going. Most if not all require your pet to be microchipped with an ISO compatible microchip often before Rabies vaccination to prove that is the animal given the rabies......and on and on.

The worst health certificate I have been involved with so far is to New Zealand, I think. The dog had to have titers for all tick borne diseases, rabies titer, and a few other things that I am not thinking of at this time. Planning it's departure took about 5 months.

So, research your country!!!! Many veterinarians will not do international health certificates due to the hassle and liablity!

Thanks to you both.

I have been planning her move for months, so the dog has been ISO microchipped and has all the required shots and paperwork. I am getting the USDA to certify the Int'l Health Certificate that I got today at the vet and she'll fly Saturday halfway around the world to DH in Shanghai.

I am using a company that specializes in Int'l moves and am not as worried about the logistics as I am about her emotional well being. I'm just wondering if other people had a long adjustment period for their pet in their new home after a long trip like this.

 

[tomthebarncat]

I have moved pets to Germany from the states and I am moving to Beijing, in a few weeks. My Dh and Ddog will be joining me in 6 months or so. I have already started emailing companies that deal with this sort of thing, and have been impressed with how quickly and accurately they have responded. When I flew with my cats on Delta out of Atlanta, I handed the carriers to the young man along with a 50! I did this as my way of thanking him for taking care of my most prized possesions. Once I got on the plane the captain announced over the loud speaker that Ginger and Dolly were also flying with us today!! that we should all have a safe flight. I did the same thing when my hubby flew, we handed the carriers to a young man and a 50!! When DH and Cody leave Germany, my hubby will hand the guy the dog and a 50 euro bill, it is money well spent, and a nice way to say thank you. I will pm with some additional information about Shanghai, as that is originally where I was going but it changed to Beijing!

 

[blackdogg]

definitely check and with airlines and the receiving in on medical updates and ways to possibly avoid quarantine... this could be the difference in getting your pet straight away or weeks of wait. also consider heat restrictions... our dogs had to hang back for months with my parents due to a heat embargo that only allowed travel for certain times- obviously for reasons of the pets health. also i was advised from somewhere: take a piece of paper and attach a photo of the animal along with your address/phone info... just in case. other note: tell them when taking animals if there is anything that might be helpful: like keeping them close... our dogs preferred being together in a crazy sort of way, one got overly protective aggressive when they were moved apart causing barking etc- we let them know to keep them in close proximity... we were told later that they were glad they knew... apparently they were pulled apart for awhile during loading and as soon as they were back by each other they calmed-- those things can matter. also, you should get a ticket saying they have been loaded on plane while in your seat btw... we gained this experience with 2 large dogs moving from georgia -> hawaii & then hawaii -> alaska - safe travels to you!

 

[Katy Belle]

We moved our Beagle to Doha, Qatar and then back to the USA. We lived there over 5 years. We used a professional pet mover to get her there. DH flew her back to the USA.
When she got to us she had a hoarse voice! Perhaps she barked the whole trip! But she was fine. She suffered from jet lag longer than the rest of us, nights and days kind of mixed up for nearly 2 weeks. And she was really exhausted the first 2 or 3 days and slept a lot. Other than that she was just happy to be with us.
Good luck on your move!

 

[luvmy3]

Mine found it hard to learn a new language

 

[marie1203]

We use to move our dog with us every time my mom job move us. We never had any problems of course he was small enough to travel in the cabin with us. The biggest problems we had is when flights got delayed we had to got take him out and then we will have to pass security again which was a pain.