PetRelocation.com

Another week, another batch of pet news headlines to entertain and inform us. Enjoy these, and have a great weekend, everyone!


Many of us choose to adopt and rescue pets instead of buying them from a breeder, but the process of being approved can be surprisingly difficult.

Almost a year after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, these pet rescuers are working to help the animals left behind. (Don't miss the last few interactive slides - via The Atlantic).

If you care about THIS sort of thing: William and Kate have adopted a new dog.

Ummm, yeah. This bunny thinks it's a sheepdog.

Also: a surfing goat.

Have a political pal? Check out Pet Lovers for Obama.

Are you on Pinterest? Join us!

Hi Taylor,

Thanks for submitting a question to us. First of all, here are the pet import requirements for Norway. We definitely recommend starting the process well in advance of your date of departure, and it's very important to choose a pet-friendly airline. We often use KLM and Lufthansa for international pet travel.

Take a look at our blog for more information about cabin vs. cargo travel and common pet travel misconceptions (most people assume that cabin travel is better, but when orchestrated correctly cargo travel is actually safe and even preferable). Hopefully you find this information helpful!

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Taylor, and good luck with your trip!

We (specifically Pet Relocation Specialist Sarah) recently moved Dexter, a lab/retriever mix, from Canada to Shanghai. It always takes pets a little while to adjust to their new surroundings, but Dexter encountered an extra surprise upon arrival: his owner found and adopted a new pup shortly after relocating, so Dexter found himself with a new  home and a new sister, Lotte. We wish this sweet family lots of luck!

Here's what the dogs' owner had to say:

Dexter and Lotte are doing great --  after a week of little fights they are too cute together ;) My boy is not a baby anymore, he is so big now... he still thinks he is a little puppy and sits on mommy's lap.

Name: Amanda
Pet's Name: Josh
From: Japan
To: Singapore


We chose PetRelocation.com because of their home-to-home delivery service. It was our first time moving Josh and we were very paranoid about this. We read many stories online about how dogs died on the plane so we wanted to ensure that everything would go smoothly.

Our Pet Relocation Specialist, Sarah,  was a great specialist to us. She was empathetic and patient to our inquiries, and she made herself available to us at all times. Even though we were in Japan, she gave us details to ensure that Josh's export documents were in order.

On the day that Josh was supposed to move there were sudden changes, and I had to call Sarah at night. But everything went in order. It was never chaotic. We were never worried.

When Josh arrived in Singapore, he was so energetic and so curious about the whole new environment even after the exhausting flight. At the end of the whole procedure, we realized we worried too much when actually everything went perfectly well.

So to other pet owners out there, if you ever wondered like I did if this is a made-up blog, I can absolutely tell you, no, it is not. PetRelocation.com is a great pet transport service provider. Keep it up!

Name: Pat
Pet's Name: Pepper
From: Ellicott City, MD
To: Seattle, WA


Bob was offered a job with Boeing in Washington, and we lived in Maryland. What to do with Pepper was a big concern.

Pepper is an older dog and has diabetes. We considered driving, but a cross-country move in the winter didn't seem too safe. We chose PetRelocation.com after looking at their web site and they were also recommended by our relocation service provider. After speaking with our vet and the Relocation Specialist, Rebecca, we knew that they were the ones to help get her there safe and sound.

Rebecca was there for every step of the way with information and she really calmed my concerns, which were many. Many phone calls and emails later, I am happy to say that Pepper survived the whole ordeal better than we did. She is doing fine, her spirits are high, and she's back to her old self! The temporary housing we are staying in is very pet friendly; they have a doggy patch of grass on the roof and she meets up with some of the pets that use it.

Name: Deb
Company: Copper Mining Company
Pets' Names: Scarlet and Dyna
From: Arequipa, Peru
To: Silver City, New Mexico
 

After having a bad experience with another company, I was very concerned about getting my pets back to the United States. I searched the net and found that PetRelocation.com received excellent reviews and that the "other guys" pretty much received reviews from others that compared with my experience.

I insisted to our HR department that I be able to use PetRelocation.com, who happily ended up having a working relationship with our corporate relocation contractor.

What a difference! How nice that PetRelocation.com got back with me immediately. E-mails and phone calls were responded to promptly; I knew the state of my pets at every juncture, and I even got photos of them at a wayside boarding facility!

Name: Jacqui
Pet's Name: Alpha
From: Dallas
To: Louisville


I received two quotes that were extremely expensive for what I would describe as a relatively short relocation for a cat. After looking online, I found PetRelocation.com and found your staff to be well-informed and professional.

I dealt with Rebecca, who was nothing short of amazing. From the first contact I had with her up until the end, she constantly exceeded my expectations. She was prepared to go above and beyond, and she continually assisted me in making the transition and the relocation for Alpha as simple as possible.

Thank you, Rebecca, for your time and energy - it has been very much appreciated.

Name: Yin
Number of Pets: One
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: GSD
From: Peninsular Malaysia
To: Sarawak

What is the quarantine period in Kuching, if required?

Thanks,
Yin




Hi Yin,

Thanks for contacting us with your question. Malaysia can be a confusing place to move pets in and out of, and we recently discussed how to move a pet to Sarawak on our blog. It looks like, since you are coming from Malaysia, a "category 2" country, you will face a minimum 30-day quarantine.

Please take a look at this information and contact us if you have any more questions. Good luck!

Name: Doreen
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Dogs
Pet Breed: Shih Tzu
From: Germany
To: USA

We recently moved to Germany from the US. We would like to travel back with our two dogs to the US for vacation. What do I require to bring my dogs back to Germany? We will only be gone for 10 days.

Thanks
Doreen



Hi Doreen,


Thanks for contacting us with your question. These are the pet import requirements for the United States and the pet import requirements for Germany. Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date, and you'll need to once again have the correct health documents signed and verified within 10 days of departure.

While it sounds like you're experienced travelers, we normally suggest that pet owners avoid booking long flights for their dogs if possible (it may not be worth the time, effort and stress to go through the experience of flying if it's for a quick vacation rather than a permanent relocation).

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Doreen, and good luck with whatever you decide!

Good luck with everything, and please contact us if you have more questions or if you'd like some help handling your move.

Name: Charlotte
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Cat
Pet Breed: Domestic Short Hair
From: Norfolk VA, USA
To: Turkey

What do I have to do to take my cat to Turkey in terms of shots, etc.? Can she travel with me in the plane as a carry on?

Thanks,
Charlotte



Hi Charlotte,

These are the pet import requirements for Turkey. It's a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time to complete these, and in terms of flying you'll want to contact the airline to find out about their pet-policies and most up-to-date rules regarding cabin travel. Remember that, with a pet-safe airline, flying your pet in the cargo area is a safe choice.

Check out these links to find out more, and please contact us if you have any further questions. Good luck!

Happy Friday, pet lovers! Enjoy a safe and fun weekend!


It turns out the Lunar New Year is a busy time for pet travel -- owners must be sure to make reservations nice and early.

When carrying cats in the airline cabin, be sure to make sure those latches are properly secured to avoid a cat escape like Ripples'.

Let's all take a moment to be jealous of Raja, the world-traveling Shih Tzu who visited Machu Picchu.

How pets are affected by domestic violence and its aftermath.

Remember those new year's resolutions? Oh yeah... well here are some ideas for winter dog workouts in case you need some motivation.

Stay on top of the latest travel rules: Bulldog restrictions on Continental.

The Super Bowl is coming up... and so is the Puppy Bowl! Check out the lineup of this year's all-stars.

It's long been tricky to move snub-nosed, or brachycephalic, breeds.  In addition to the fact that it's reasonable to harbor health concerns about them, even if you decide to go for it many airlines impose breed-specific restrictions. It can be difficult to sort it all out, and things have recently become a little simpler (though not more amenable) to owners of snub-nosed pets.

As of December 2011, Continental no longer accepts English Bulldogs older than six months of age or who weigh more than 20 lbs. This embargo is based on the the fact that inherent breed characteristics make it less safe to fly bulldogs, particularly two to three-year-old males. A recent New York Times article discusses the common health problems unfortunately found in bulldogs, and Continental's response to these increasingly high-profile issues has been to limit their transport.

Read more about brachycephalic breeds on our blog, and please check with PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about flying snub-nosed breeds.

Name: Beth
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: German Shepherd
From: United States
To: United Kingdom

Hi, I'm thinking about purchasing a 10-12 week old puppy from the US and I need to know what I need to do to bring the puppy into the UK without quarantine.

Thanks,
Beth




Hi Beth,

The pet import requirements for the UK have recently changed (it's easier to move there now), so if you meet the basic conditions you will not face a quarantine. Note that we here at PetRelocation.com do not recommend moving dogs before they've reached the age of four months old so that they can get all their vaccines and will be strong enough to handle the stresses of travel.

Please contact us if you'd like a free quote for our services or if you have any more questions. Good luck!

Name: George
Pets Names: Quinn & Shadow
From: Atlanta, Georgia
To: Shanghai, China


About a year ago we found out we would be moving to China. During a discussion with some people that had gone before us, PetRelocation.com was mentioned. We needed to move with two dogs, one of which was a rescue with severe epilepsy. His condition requires medication every 12 hours to prevent cluster seizures, which would kill him. Ashley worked with us to research what would be the best way to get there. We settled on flying from Atlanta to Detroit, stay overnight there, and start fresh the next day on a direct flight to Shanghai. As it turns out, this was a very good choice. Detroit had a snowstorm that day and our connection would most likely have been missed. When traveling in the winter, it is always a good idea to choose a direct flight or leave enough time between connections.

During our house hunting trip to Shanghai, James, with Pet Relocation in China, came over to our hotel to go over our special needs for Shadow. This was apparently about a two hour drive each way from the kennel. Having the chance to meet who would be responsible for our dogs in quarantine and go over the requirements really gave us peace of mind and allowed both of us to better prepare for the upcoming trip.

Our pets traveled on Delta as accompanied luggage. Delta went out of their way to allow us to stay with Shadow and give him his medicine at the last minute. Thankfully the first officer of the 747 let us know that our pets were on board. Had they not we would have disembarked prior to closing the boarding door.

Upon arrival in Shanghai, by the time we had gotten through immigration there was James with our two pets in customs. Once reunited we were able to feed, water, and medicate our pets, however I am not sure which they were more interested in, the food or us.

It wasn't long after quarantine that James was able to deliver our dogs to their new home in Shanghai! Overall we would highly recommend PetRelocation.com. Without their support and advice, this move would have been nearly impossible.

Name: Kara
Pet's Name: Bandit
From: San Diego, California
To: Newtown, Pennsylvania

My family and I just relocated from San Diego, CA to Newtown, PA. As anyone reading this knows, relocation can be somewhat chaotic! Add to that the fact that your pet (who is most likely your best friend) can often not travel closely with you, and this can add a great deal of stress to the relocation. Two weeks prior to our move, however, I contacted PetRelocation.com after receiving a recommendation from our relocation company. My husband and I were concerned about putting the welfare of our dog in someone else's hands - but after my first conversation with Amber of PetRelocation.com, I knew that Bandit was in the best of hands!

For the two weeks before Bandit's move, my husband and I had what seemed like a million questions a day. Amber was always available to answer our questions quickly and completely and she NEVER made us feel like we had too many questions! She was a delight - Amber took care of all of the tiny details that we just would not have had time to complete. Everything from tips for crate training to getting Bandit's health certificate in order! By the time my husband and I were to drop Bandit at my in-law's house and fly out of San Diego, we knew the PetRelocation.com staff would take care of everything and make sure Bandit made it to us safely.

On Bandit's big travel day we were already in PA but we received CONSTANT contact letting us know that Bandit was safe, healthy, and well on his way to his destination. There was not a moment that we were worried about him! Considering some stories we have heard about pet travel, having this level of comfort was huge. When Bandit was dropped off at our new front door he was happy, healthy, well rested and ready to play :)

I'd say that, for us, the best part of Bandit's move was when he was dropped off and he and Mike (the PetRelocation staff member that dropped him off) looked like they had been friends forever. Bandit is settling in nicely in PA, he spent the whole day exploring!!

Thanks so much PetRelocation.com! We don't plan on relocating again, but if we do you will be sure to hear from us! For now - we look forward to sending Bandit's friends your way if they are going to be taking a trip :)

Name: Shelly
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Cats
Pet Breed: Persian
From: Texas, USA
To: Stavanger, Norway

My husband may be relocated to Norway, can we take our pets with us? I checked online for all the information and then called an airline company who told me no, however, that is not what I am finding when doing research online...

Thanks,
Shelly



Hi Shelly,

Here are the pet import requirements for Norway -- as you can see it's not the easiest place to relocate a pet, but it should be possible. Take a look at these rules and please let us know if you have questions about them! We'd also be happy to offer a quote for our services if you're interested in enlisting our help.

We often discuss the importance of using pet-friendly airlines. Lufthansa and KLM are our frequent choices for European travel.

Good luck with your move and thanks for the question!

Name: Maya
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: English Lab
From: Miami
To: Costa Rica

Is the flight on American Airlines as checked baggage safe? The flight alone is 2.5 hours. My research shows that a certificate is needed from Costa Rica and the dogs vaccination papers must be kept with us. Will cabin pressure and temperature be comfortable for our dog? Costa Rica's high temperature this time of year is around 85 degrees, will the dog be allowed to travel now?

Thanks,
Maya



Hi Maya,


First of all, in case you need them, here are the pet import requirements for Costa Rica. Let us know if you have any questions about these rules.

There are many misconceptions about pet travel -- one being that cargo travel is somehow inherently risky. The most important thing is to choose a pet-friendly airline (we often use Continental) who will diligently see to all the details. When handled correctly, the cargo area is pressure and temperature controlled, and pet crates are secured and kept apart from the luggage. Animals shuold not be left on the tarmac (thus weather doesn't play as big a role because your pet is not subjected to the outdoors for more than a few moments). Finding a pet-friendly airline who follows these conventions is vital.

The bottom line is to investigate the airline you plan to use to find out about their most up-to-date pet policies -- the last thing you need is to encounter surprises on travel day. Please contact us if you have any more questions, and good luck with everything!

Name: Andy and V
Pets' Names: Shimmy and Bella
From: Northern Westchester, NY
To: China


Back in March of 2011, we were given the opportunity to move to China and further our respective careers, but one question immediately popped into mind. How do we get our two cats there safely? My wife and I searched and found several pet moving agencies, but ultimately chose to go with PetRelocation.com. They were not the least expensive, but when it comes to moving a member of the family (as these cats have become), the sense of security and the remarkable service we received from Ashley soon let us know we had made the right choice. She helped us navigate through all of the paperwork and medical requirements. Additionally, through PetRelocation.com we were able to avoid having our cats having to serve a seven-day quarantine period here in China. The move recently took place just this past December.

The choice to use Ashley and the team at PetRelocation.com only became more appreciated when some last minute paperwork issues from our vet forced our cats to have to leave a week after we originally planned. Through Ashley we were able to set up door-to-door service from my wife's parent’s house, where the cats were temporarily housed, to our new home in China. Ashley's calm sense of confidence throughout the process made it far less stressful than I imagine it could have been.

Once the cats were picked up, my wife and I had constant updates on their whereabouts and the status of their journey. PetRelocation.com's Shanghai based associate, James, met us in the airport to collect some paperwork, and nine days later showed up at our door with the rest of our family.

I really can't say enough good things about the services we were supplied with. Even after delivery they helped me source out some supplies that were difficult to locate locally.

Moving is tough enough. Moving to another country, like China, is a whole new level of headache. For example, our personal items (clothes, pictures, etc.) have been stuck in customs since landing here. If you plan on bringing your pet(s), do yourself a favor and contact the team at PetRelocation.com.