Re: Relocating with pets
 

Love the second photo, such a total "give me love coz I'll love you right back until the second I want to give you grief" face :thumbsup:

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Perth quarantine - thanks for that, it's well worth knowing. We've got 2 cats and a dog, so at least i'll only be panicing over one of them!


Good advise, i'll certainly keep it in mind when we come to rent.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

I am counting the days till I get him.:wub:

He yelled his head off when I visited him last week and left him when it was time to go.:(

Its harder on the owners than it is on the animals I reckon. Although what I found sad was at about 11.25am - five minutes before visiting time starts, all the dogs started howling at once and then barking.:wub:

Gordon was in his watch tower when I went to see him and I had to call him for him to come down.

I also stuck my head up against the glass to say hello to some other cats and there is a very nice old looking torti cat on the left hand side near the door entrance, I made a point of talking to her through the door as she was such a cutie.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Quarantine is the bit I'm dreading, not because I'm worried about their welfare as there are so many people saying so many good things about the stations but because my house seemed empty and wrong when my boys went to get neutered and away for a whole 2 hours after I got home! God knows what it will be like without them for a month :(

I've heard its far worse on the owners, and can well believe it.

Not long before Gordon goes home now though :thumbsup:

Re: Relocating with pets
 

I'm panicking a bit about renting now... I've got 2 male cats & they are coming with me but the rental market for pet owners sounds difficult. I hope it will be ok. Having said that, the house I'm renting in UK at the moment said 'no pets' on the advert & I managed to persuade them...hope I can do the same in Oz! Is anyone else having problems finding a place?:unsure:

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Good luck! You know - I have no children, I personally, I would rather rent to pets than kids! I think toddlers are more likely to mess stuff on carpets, draw on walls etc. My cats just sleep!

Re: Relocating with pets
 

All


We have two Stafford's to take with us, have had a few quotes and think we're going to use Overhill Kennels (as recommended by a friend).
But at the mo we don't have our visa, or a case officer...
How soon before we have to seriously start thinking about this and getting the ball rolling?
They're both probably due for their boosters at around the end of Spring/beginning of Summer - do I ask the vet then not to give them the lepto part of the vaccination?
So many things to take into consideration!!!!!

Re: Relocating with pets
 

If you're intending to go this year i would ask the vet not to include Lepto.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

i did my dog from aus to uk with all the vet bills that cost me $5000 when i moved back here i left her with my mam

god job i did its turned out to be good company for her since my dad passed away

and she is a little australian silky AKA a yorkshire terrier in uk

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Well hoping to, yes :)
Thanks Mary

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Hi,

Kitty got picked up today by airpets. Man it was actually very heartbreaking.

She will be with them until Wednessday, and arrive in Perth on Thursday.
Hope she gets there ok ! She must be thinking we have abandoned her :(

If anyone go and visit their pets, please ask how Kitty is doing. SOme feedback would be great.

2 weeks for us, then we are on our way, then can visit her.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Oh bless her, she's lovely. Don't envy you the next 2 weeks - its the bit I'm dreading most of all & trying to work out how to plan it to minimise not seeing the boys.

Safe trip to her (and you!), I'm sure she'll be ok but expect a bollocking from her when you see her in Perth:lol: Hopefully someone on BE will be visiting at the end of this week, and you can always call Byford to check how she's doing.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Oh Kitty is lush! :wub: I bet you're lost without her, too.

Han, Bo and Fu get picked up this coming Monday. They're already very unsettled as furniture keeps moving around/disappearing/going for cleaning etc., and Han is barfy. :( He's my mature boy - he's not daft, he knows something is going on.

He also knows he's having to endure even more kisses and cuddles than usual, but he's humouring me. (We'll be following ours, just a couple of days behind them.)

All the best to you and Kitty in your new life. :)

Re: Relocating with pets (freaking out)
 

Hi, a bit of a freak-out last night at 22:30.

Airpets gave us a flight number and arrival time for Kitty's plane to Perth.
So, being curious, I wanted to track the progress of the flight.
To my horror the flight number given shows that it lands in Sydney, not Perth.

Man did we freak out, stress out, then freak out some more, then go banannas etc etc. Lots of phone calls to figure out what the hell is going on, and of course airpets is closed at that time.

The last thing we wanted to be happening is poor Kitty ending up in Sydney, left alone, no one to pick her up. Would be even more traumatic for the poor little thing.

At 00:50 i managed to speak to someone at the Quantas Freight handling service in Perth, and using the way-bill number supplied, we figured out that Kitty was changed to a connecting flight in Singapore. So she was indeed on her way to Perth, just not on the flight number we were given. What a relief.
Could finally go to bed.

I am am upset with airpets for not noting this fact. I understand a connecting flight is needed, but then we should have been given the details of the real flight number that lands in Perth. Added to this is the fact that we had to give the flight number to the quaranteen centre in Perth, so what if they did the same mistake?

Well all in all it worked out. Kitty is safe in Perth as of 07:00 this morning.

Re: Relocating with pets (freaking out)
 

I'm not surprised you're miffed, I'd go spare if I thought my little ones were going to the wrong place.

We're sending them ahead of us and I'm totally dreading saying goodbye for 4 weeks :(

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Can anyone tell me how much they paid for the blood tests for exporting a dog with their vet??? I'm still waiting on my vet to get back to me so wanted a comparison.

Thanks

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Glad to hear Kitty's ok.

My pet transporters just got me very confused. They said the kits are flying at 0030hrs on 30th April, will arrive on 31st; I said there is no 31st, do you mean 1st May? They said yes. I pondered it for a while and thought, no, that's wrong, it's only 7 hours from here so they'll arrive on 30th. What if the quarantine station don't go for them on the 30th?
:confused:
They're English-educated but subtleties often get lost and confusion occurs so I've checked and rechecked, and hopefully they are being picked up at the airport on 30th. I shall be checking. :sneaky:

Re: Relocating with pets (freaking out)
 

I am so glad it worked out for you.

The girls are lovely at Byford, she will be so well looked after. My cat had built up quite a bond with his kennelmaid.

It is very worrying exporting a pet and I underestimated the guilt that I would feel putting Gordon in quarantine (god knows why I felt guilty) but seriously, he had the best care ever.

Kitty is going to have a ball sitting in the 'watch tower' that they have and watching the parrots.:thumbup:

Re: Relocating with pets (freaking out)
 

Great news :D

Re: Relocating with pets
 

I know exactly what you mean. We pay these people large sums of money, and the payment is mainly for peace of mind, not having to stress/worry. I swear I have an ulcer now from those hours of freaking out.

My advise to anyone - check check check and then check again, don't just rely on the info you are given. Don't make the mistake I did and just trust.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Oh yeah, found this little gem of a link - it allows you to track the flights into perth airport in real-time :)

http://www.perthairport.com/default.aspx?MenuID=11

Re: Relocating with pets
 

I am so envious of everybody who can take their pets to OZ!!!!! I cannot take my english cocker-spaniel along since OZ does not allow pets to be imported from India. He's such a sweet-heart I've raised him as a pup & it's endearing how protective he is of me & my wife. It's just killing me everyday knowing that I will have to leave him behind :(, but the relief is that I've found a good home for him. I would consider it a blessing if I was allowed to take him along.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Well, they've gone. I didn't realise just how hard it would be.

We got up and fed them yesterday morning, then had to lock them in the house - they usually go visit the neighbours after breakfast so knew something was up and my little girlcat hid under a footstool and cried. I cried too.

We put the doors on the crates (they've been happily sleeping in them for a couple of weeks) and that freaked them all.

The pet movers were supposed to come between 8.30 and 9.30, the packers at 9.30. The packers arrived about 8.45 and sat outside; at 9.20 (having rung the pet movers about 9.00) we decided to crate them ourselves. Bo wet herself as soon as she was in the crate. :( The boys just cowered. I sobbed so much that the packers were concerned. :lol:

Right about now they should be bouncing on my head to get me out of bed for breakfast. I'll ring to check on them shortly; they don't fly 'til midnight our time. How am I going to last a month without them? A house needs a cat or three. :)

Re: Relocating with pets
 

We brought our cocker spaniel with us, we thought about rehoming her but couldnt do it, so once we'd

decided she was going that was that. we used Golden arrow shippers and it cost £1766.00, her blood tests

and frontline cost £95, her stay at quarantine station for a month was $807 and a bill from AQIS cost

$120. And yes it was all worth it to see your kids faces light up to see their dog again and to see your kids

playing with the dog on the beach and in the sea. And dont worry about the month in quarantine it goes

so fast and it gives you time to sort things out. Hope this helps Lisa x:thumbsup:
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Re: Relocating with pets
 

Hi,

I know exactly how you feel. Kitty is a rescue cat, and it took her over a year to get comfortable with us, and she is scared as hell of strangers. It was hard putting her through this, but we phoned yesterday, and were told she is doing well, She is even purring when she gets her 'food-rubbies' (she likes to have some attention just before she eats, and instructions were sent along to this effect - and they are complying with it)

We miss her big time. And I now have to use an alarm clock to wake up, as that was kitty's job.

2 more day and then we go, so we will be able to see her next week.

Once the flight is over the worst is over, as we know she is safe, and doing well. That has always been our biggest concern - will she cope with it all, as scared of everything as she is.

My thoughts with you and your cats. (do I sound like a crazy cat-person?)

Lucas

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Thanks, Lucas - I think you're either a cat person or you are not. :lol:

Bo and Han were hand-raised from a couple of days old; Fu was a street cat that adopted us when he was about 15 weeks and his Mum had gone off to have another litter. They're more like dogs really although Fu is a bit speshul and nothing much fazes him so long as his considerable belly is full. Bo gets very stressed but soon recovers, whereas Han is a wussy pussy and takes days to get over a trip to the vet.

Apparently today they are "OK, a bit nervous", which I guess is a standard answer. It's 5pm here and they fly just after midnight so I'll be calling Eastern Creek (Sydney) when I get up tomorrow.

Ahh, they're not the first cats to do this, are they? I'm just neurotic. :o

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Quick update for the benefit of anybody taking pets to Sydney (and a bit of therapy for me!) -

Han, Bo and Fu have been in Eastern Creek since 30th; we arrived on Friday 2nd and today was the first day we could visit them.

We'd spoken to their carer, Sarah, a couple of times and knew that Fu arrived with a "scratch" on his face. On speaking to the Singapore pet movers we were told that he was constantly trying to get out of his cage, and it wasn't a deep scratch, didn't bleed. Well I have to say it looked pretty deep to me, runs down his cheek just below his eye and I think it must have bled. I hope they're the only untruths I was told. :sneaky:

Eastern Creek is a fair drive out of the city, especially when your GPS can't find it and you end up on the wrong end of the Lane. :lol: It's ok, I guess...functional... (sigh) At least Sarah-the-Carer seemed very nice.

Han (my older boy) is a model prisoner - will be handled, has been weighed, had his flea guard put on, etc. Fu (naughty teenager) initially hissed, he hasn't been weighed and, after our visit, I think he will be trying to escape 'cos it seemed to dawn on him that the doors do lead somewhere. Bo (my little girl and Han's littermate) won't let the handler near her at all but we had a really good cuddle and she purred for me, which was lovely to hear. Bo and Fu both have "Caution" written on their doors in big bold red lettering. :ohmy: I've told Sarah that Bo may be bought with Whiskas, which we took in case they weren't eating but, TBH, all three seemed ok, not lost too much weight.

I noticed from her chart that Bo was on poo watch - she's a fastidiously clean girl and the trays have hardly any catlit in them so I may have a word about that if it continues. Fu had barfed, but that's quite common although I doubt he's eating cockroaches in jail.

Han is just very subdued; I imagine he spends a lot of time in his igloo as he likes a little house. He feels the cold and is used to 30C+. It's very cold here at the moment. We took him to visit Fu (next door) and Bo (opposite) but I guess they've been bathed and it's all a bit too weird, as both Fu and Bo hissed at Han. We've asked them to continue doing this but to keep Bo and Fu apart as they fight.

Han and Bo have electric blankets; they ran out so Fu doesn't have one (we were assured more were coming) but he does have a lot more insulation than the other two skinny Singapore cats.

The cat next door to Bo was in a right state. You're not supposed to pay them any attention but the poor thing saw us with ours and kept jumping up at the door; I'm sure she'll do herself some damage. :(

Should we visit again? Everyone has different opinions; mates who put their cats through Eastern Creek said they were advised to go only once, as the kits get to feel so disappointed when they aren't taken home. Sarah asked if we were coming back - I think we will.

I hate myself for putting them through this. :(

Re: Relocating with pets
 

I found myself feeling super guilty for putting my Gordon through quarantine, even though I knew it was for the best and it is the law.

Byford encouraged me to visit, they had to get the vet to Gordon while he was in there as he had the squits.

I went to see him twice and the second time I saw him he was so pleased to see me, I spent ten minutes grooming him and he was so excited with the contact that he jumped down to the floor and stuffed his face with his grub. The carer said he really perked up after seeing me.

It is amazing the boost it can give them, yes they might be momentarily confused when you leave but you do leave them with your scent and it is good for them to have a five minute groom and a cuddle.

As i mentioned, Byford encouraged it.

Its bloody hard leaving them but it was worth it to know that after I had gone, Gordon was a happier cat.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Thanks, PP. I'll ring today to see how they were after our visit.

Bo had a little feed and was purring like a crazy thing and sticking her head under my arm (rather her than me but that's quite normal, she snuggles there). She's very vocal, gets separation anxiety - hand-reared and almost died - and she always shouts me if I'm in another part of the house. I could hear her shouting as we left.

I could go any time but I'm being such a puff. I haven't driven for 6 years and our hire car is an automatic, which I've never driven. The Geek is away for two days (did I think this would change? :rofl: ) and it's going to sit on the road as I haven't got the balls to give it a go. :o

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Seasider,

did i read that you just moved to Aus frm Singapore? My wife and I are doing the same and just got a quote for our three Singapore cats S$6,600! i was wondering which srvices you used.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Jeez, Clarkie, who's that with? :blink:

We used Mitchville k9 (don't let Fu's scratch put you off, we know many people that have used them happily for cats and dogs). Their charges were just over S$3k. It's well worth it; you have so much hassle going on when you move that you really don't want to be doing all the cat stuff yourself too. Way too emotional as well! :(

They came round when we first contacted them, looked at the cats and did the paperwork, they brought the crates round later so the kits could get used to them (and they all ended up sleeping in them!), kept in contact regularly until moving day, etc.

Google Mitchville and you'll get their details; we dealt mainly with Vivian.

(And a big snog for taking your Singapore cats with you; all ours were street/building site cats and we took them on for life. As you know, we're in the minority... :mad: )

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Something to think about when bringing your pets over.We brought 3 siberian huskies,that had to be in quarantine for 3 months (18 years ago) interest rates were at 18% and no housing being built,meant no work for me.My wife was working in an area she didn't want to be as her UK qualifications weren't recognised.Both of us were very miserable and wanted to return to UK but couldn't because of the dogs.When the hounds were released,we still couldn't return, because now we couldn't afford going through the process all over again.We wouldn't part with them and after 15 years of bounding around this red land,their all buried in the backyard.In hindsight and had it been possible, I would have left them in UK until we were sure of what we were doing.Best wishes to everyone and hope your dreams come true

Re: Relocating with pets
 

That's very sensible advice if one is ever sure what one is doing - I've bumbled my way through life never really knowing, and assuming nothing is permanent. :o

Clarkie - can't edit my post now but just wanted to clarify that the S$3k includes flights, boarding and vet fees in Sing, etc., but not local quarantine fees, which you pay directly to the Q station.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Thanks Seasider.

my wife had heard of Michville and is going to talk to them this weekend. It is good to hear that you had a good experience with them too.

I have to say, one of our "street cats" has definitely got used to spending all day inside and is the sizee of a medium-sized dog!!! BUt that is still no reason for double the cost.

Regardless of cost, I dont think I could look at my wife if we had to put one (or more) down. As others have said - they become part of the family..

how much was the quarantine for you btw?

Thanks again,

John

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Not sure - they've only been there a week and we haven't got the bill yet. I think it's about a tenner per cat per night, plus admission/vet fees, etc. :confused:

The AQIS site should tell you more.

Oh here it is:

http://www.daffa.gov.au/__data/asset...on_Package.pdf

Kitty not ding to well :(
 

Hi,

Been in Oz 2 weeks now, and finally got some internet time to post a message.

Went to go see Kitty at Bayford last week Monday, it was the only time we could arrange a lift with some family here (everyone works and Bayford is some 70 km+ away from where we stay)

Kitty is not looking well. her fur is looking very dull, and the look of sheer terror in her eyes caused my wife to just burst out in tears.

She would not come down from the 'watch tower', and hissed and snarled at us (obviously letting us know how upset she is with us) which in turn caused my wife to just cry more.

I managed to get a step ladder so I could reach her, and after a bit of coaxing she allowed me to rub her. She just looked very very very terrified of everything. She is by nature a scared cat, being a rescue cat.

2 more days (saturday) and we can go fetch her. Opens at 08:00, and we plan to be there as the door opens. Bought a satnav so I won't get lost, and arranged a car to drive.

As for the place, it was not bad, apart from the fact that the holding pens were accessible to anyone. When we were there, a family with some children were visiting their cat, and the kids were running from pen to pen banging on the other doors, trying to see the cats inside. I can just imagine how scared kitty must get if that happens often.

I can understand that children are excited to see all the kitties, but it is traumatic enough without that sort of intrusion. I addressed my concern about this, and the people at Bayford assured me they will look into it, as it is not allowed.

We been buying lots of cool stuff for kitty, but still trying to find a nice activity centre for her. She loved the one we had in the uk.

As for Oz itself, GREAT. love it here. Originally from South Africa, so this feels more like home to me than the UK did.

Hope everyones animals are safe, and get returned to them soon.

Re: Kitty not ding to well :(
 

Not long now and you'll have her home, then it'll all be forgotten.

We've got 2 cats and a dog and i'm dreading the flight and the 30 days in jail. I've just booked them into a cattery/kennel for when we go to Portugal in July and i wanted to cry just booking them in for a week:eek: They've never stayed anywhere other than home before, but we've decided to 'break' them in gently by letting them board while we're away for our holiday.

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Sorry to hear that, dedmeet, but I bet you'll find that she was better after your visit. Ours certainly seemed to be reassured that we hadn't totally abandoned them, from the calls we had with the carer.

We went up again today - like your place, the Sydney one is a fair drive and we've been unable to get up again before now due to The Geek's work commitments.

I had a lovely cuddle with my girl Bo, full half an hour sitting on the stone floor with her on my knee before I even saw the boys! She enjoyed her fresh chicken. :D She feels fine and looks fine, coat looks better than in Singapore - I wonder if she's getting her first winter coat? :confused: She's still mean to the carer but let her feed her some of the chicken and we left some for her to bribe her with tomorrow, so she may finally come round.

My baby boy Fu (2 years as opposed to nearly 6) has put weight on! Nothing puts him off his food. We took him to visit Han and, unlike last time, they teased each other and jumped around, didn't hiss at all.

Han has charmed the carer, as he does everyone. She was stressing because he's lost 250g but he's a typical skinny Singapore cat, and I fed him up before they travelled so he's probably just getting back to normal, at 4.5kg. I took Han to visit his sister, Bo, as they've never been separated before, but she still hissed a little when he took up residence in her igloo. Han has realised he can get out when somebody goes in his pen, and today he went for a walk up the corridor! He would be quite safe wandering round the station but I know they're not allowed to let him. He's a people cat though, he does need company.

Not long now - we're picking them up on 30th - but I still had a little cry when we left. Not least because Bo wouldn't let me take my hand out of her igloo when I said bye-bye, kept getting hold of me with her paw. :ohmy:

We've shipped a 2 of our 4 cat stands so they have something familiar to come home to (shipping being delivered next tuesday :thumbsup: ) but I found this last night, looks fun. :D

http://www.funkycat.com.au/index.htm

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Hi Karen,

I am in animal transportation and would be very happy to provide you with a quote and a step by step guide to the procedure. We also book quarantine, provide the containers, and wil provide you with the government veterinary entry details for Importing into Oz.

Please feel free to call me 0845 052 0013.

Kate

Re: Relocating with pets
 

Hi, I got a quote from Golden Arrow in Shropshire and Air Pets in Manchester for my Golden Retriever, was quoted between £2000 and £2500 plus quarantine when I get to Perth. The cat was £1000 plus quarantine but they're worth it