denise6372

Hi

I have searched and read through a number of posts regarding removals but I have two questions that I haven't managed to find the answers for and am really hoping somebody can help. We will shortly be getting quotes for removals, and I wanted to know if we can cram all drawers, etc with stuff? And somebody once told me that on each box i had to put a list of exactly what was in it, is this true? I really hope it isn't because that sounds like a complete nightmare.

Just dog to sort now.

Denise
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Australia Immigration

Hi Denise

Your main issue here is anything metallic and/or looking like a weapon (ie a plastic child's toy gun, pressure hose gun, etc, etc) would need to be placed on a register to acknowledge its presence and kept in a general area of the container (together). This makes it easier for searches or inspection to be conducted.

A full container content register is taken by the removal company of the single items and boxes to be insured or for Quarantine (garden equipment & boots) to review and inspect along with Customs.

An entire 'verbatim' content of draws, I very much doubt this is required (normally generic terms such as paperwork, kitchen utensils, cutlery crockery, kids toys and so on) but to be emphatic, it will depend on the draws & boxes content.

If you chat with the likes of Pickford's who are international and a direct removalist (no advertising) they will update you on any changes and compliance.

The dog - any problems let me know, good luck, safe and enjoyable journey.

Chris

Weasy

Hi Denise

We put loads of light stuff, cuddly toys etc, into drawers and the packers took them all out again and packed them separately!!!!! I think there's a weight issue for the removal guys if you cram too much in.

Most people have the removal company do a full pack. These guys know what they are doing, do it amazingly fast and they write the inventory of what is in the boxes. Saves you loads of hassle and I don't think it saves all that much money to self pack.

Hope this helps.

Lou
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denise6372

Thanks both of you, really appreciate it. I'm starting to get a bit panicky about everything there is to do. Then reading last night that the dog had to have 1 of her injections at least 6 months before we go kind of frightened me too. We're hoping to go in July! There are companies that arrange everything for you aren't there? Any advice on dog is gladly accepted.

Thanks again
denise
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iPom

We didn't put anything in drawers, but the packers did.. .bedlinen, kids toys etc. If they could put it into a drawer, they did so.

micmay3_in_oz

Hi Denise

We've just moved over with our dog Tess, so are pretty aware of all the trials and tribulations involved in bringing over a four-legged loved one. We plummed for a shipping firm specialising in animal shipment to deal with her. No way was we going to try and sort it out ourselves, too much stress and strain for me to cope with. The only thing we really had to do was take Tess for her blood tests and pay of course! They sorted out the permit, flight and quarantine station. We did have to sort out her flight from Sydney to Rockhampton but with that all I had to do was contact a suggested company over here and they sorted it all.

The injection you refer to is the leptospirosis one. Tess was due her annual boosters in July and was set to fly out in October. The advice we had was to leave the leptospirosis until she arrived in oz. If you have it done now your dog should be okay if you are due to take her or him out in July. The best thing is to ask your vet or if you are using a shipping company they should be more than happy to assist you. If your dog is due the annual booster before you travel make sure your vet knows not to include the lepto one.

One other bit of advice if I may, the quarantine stations are extremely busy so the sooner you get the process of taking your dog over with you started the better. We flew out in September and Tess had to wait until October, which meant that we had to spend even longer away from her.

Hope this helps if you need anything else just ask.

Michele

mr mover

Any light items left in draws will not cause problems , be aware they will not be covered by insurance.
We get a lot of new furniture in {IKEA etc] that the draws have collapsed due to ,excess weight which requires dismantling to retrieve items , in my opinion ,DON,T LEAVE DRAWS PACKED........ ..... MM

denise6372

Hi Michele

Thanks for response. How did you work out which company to use, and which one did you use? I'm having trouble sorting wood for the trees at the moment.

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esperanza

I have to say I smiled when I read your first post saying "just the dog" left to sort! Picking a company to use for the dog is really tricky - they will all include different things in their prices, some use different names for the same things, and it can get really complicated. We got quotes from about six companies and they varied from about £1500 to £2500 - all excluding quarantine which you pay when you finally collect your dog and is about $800, assuming no problems. So start saving!
We also investigated doing it ourselves, as I am a great fan of cutting out the middle men - but at least one airline said they do not deal directly with people as it has caused too many problems, and we came to the conclusion that we don't know enough about it to risk sending our dog in the wrong crate or making a mistake somewhere. So we're forking out for someone else to do it!

I have got a spreadsheet somewhere with all the quotes on and what they included, would be happy to share it if I can work out how to send it. It's for a labrador, the prices would be cheaper for a smaller dog. There is also a really good thread on here with lots of info - do a search for 'dog export' or something like that and I'm sure it will come up.

Good luck!

denise6372

That would be great if you can work out how to email it to me, I would be very grateful. We have a collie x so prices would probably be about the same.

Thanks again.
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esperanza

OK I have tried uploading it.... don't know if it has worked!

esperanza

Hmmmm - looks like it might have been successful! Have just remembered that I described one of the companies as incompetent - do not wish to be sued for slander or libel or anything, so must emphasise that it is my personal opinion on my personal spreadsheet! The reason I wrote that next to their name was that we decided we would not go with them regardless of their price as they kept getting our dog's name and gender wrong. We thought if they can't get that right then we don't trust them to ship him around the world!

micmay3_in_oz

Hi we ended up using Golden Arrow and I cannot praise them enough for the service they provided us. We had already left the country by the time it came for Tess to fly out and they picked her up from my mum's house. It did cost us a little extra but it was well worth not having the worry about getting someone to take her to Shropshire. They definitely were not the cheapest company but neither were they the dearest one that we had a quote from. I particularly liked the personal service they gave, they seemed to really care about Tess and kept both us over here in Oz and my mum informed of her progress. She boarded with them for a few days before flying out. All we had to do was get the blood tests done by our own vet. GA sent us all the paperwork to take with us and it was just a case of sending back the report to them. The vets GA use did the final checks etc before her flight.

As we also needed to get Tess up to Rocky from Sydney they provided us with the names of two companies over here who were just as helpful. The only problem was with flying her up to Rocky is that Virgin Blue no longer take wooden crates so Skypets loaned us one. But eh oh, no big loss and it was worth every penny to have her with us.

Also if it helps to ease your mind, the people at Sydney quarantine, especially Jo the kennel maid who looked after Tess were wonderful. I had no problems with they way she was treated in quarantine either. Hope all this helps.

Mx