Most of us know how incredibly time consuming and stressful organising pet travel can be especially if we have more than one pet. With the country import and export regulations periodically changing and becoming more and more meticulous it’s a real achievement when owners such as ourselves take the time money and effort to take our pets with us.

In all our years of pet relocation, we know the key component is advanced planning. As soon as a person knows they we will be needing to move countries it is in their best interest to get in touch with our Ex-Pet-riate pet relocation specialists, to allow for a smooth and organised process. Luckily our type of Door to Door service handles everything on your behalf and with the added pre-planning we will be able to make your pet’s relocation as smooth and comfortable as possible.

It is important to bare in mind, if your pet’s destination is somewhere like Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, to name a few, which requires more than 3 months of preparation, it is definitely in your best interest to let the professionals handle it so you and your family can focus on other aspects of your household move.

Once you have had a chance to discuss your worries concerns and questions with our relocation agent, we will be able to advise you on what type of crate including size and make to purchase. It is important to get the proper airline approved crate ahead of time, which is a key benefit of pre-planning, this will allow you to crate train your pet which will alleviate some of the stress and fear they may experience during travel.

Need more info? : Read our How To Crate Train your pet article.

By organising for your pet’s travel crate early you can help your pet by taking them for short car rides in their crate to get them used to the motion of travel, and moving around in their crate. Now we know some of you may have pets who suffer from motion sickness, so because you planned early you will have enough time to consult your veterinarian on what are the best options for your pet’s journey. Please be aware that most airlines do not allow pet’s to be sedated during their flight as this can cause issues with breathing, so make sure to avoid this type of solution.

While we know like most pet owners we take our pets to the vet regularly it is important to double check your pets have had all their vaccines
including rabies and have been microchipped. Airlines and government agencies will need to see clear proof of this so make sure you get it from your veterinarian, usually in the form of a pet passport or booklet. It’s also a good idea to get a print out of your pet’s medical history to take with you to your new destination so your pet’s new vet has the right information. We advise you communicate to our pet relocation specialist any medication of physical ailments your pet has, not only can we make your pet’s travel more comfortable but we can make sure the other professionals handling your pet throughout their trip are informed as well.

Many pet owners like myself went through the concern of whether to keep my pet with me or put them in a kennel for the week before we move. On one hand you and your family want to spend as much time with your pet until you have to say ‘Goodbye for now’, but on the other that means your pet will be exposed to the chaos and stress of moving, seeing the house empty out, strange people walking around packing. I know every time my pet sees my suitcase (when I’m going on a short vacation) they get upset and sulk for days. So I opted for what was best for my pet, the kennel option, and it worked out so well. We kept our pets at Saar Kennels and we visited them a couple of times, they were happy and relaxed, and were blissfully unaware of how stressed out the family were. Although it is initially difficult I highly recommend this to pet owners, but if you must keep them with you make sure to isolate them in a room away from the chaos.

As you are busy preparing for your arrival to your new home we recommend taking a few moments to think about your pet. To minimise the shock of a new place climate and home environment your pet’s will need something immediate and familiar other than you and your family. We suggest packing your pet’s favorite toys, food and water bowls and bedding so that when they arrive to their new home they have something familiar and comforting waiting for them.

This may sound like a lot of information, and may be a little daunting even for the most seasoned traveler, but that is why we provide customers like yourself with a stress free Door to Door service, where our relocation agents handle every aspect of your pet’s move on your behalf. On top of that we provide you with knowledgeable information based on our years of hands on experience. Our relocation specialists know the best pet friendly routes, airlines and stopovers and will be happy to share with you any details about pet travel you may want to know. Our goal is to alleviate the stress of moving from yourself and your pet. We have a 100% success rate, because we treat pets as if they were our own.

Click here for more information on our Pet Relocation services.