Can someone tell me where to find a pet carrier at a reasonable price. Also, does it matter if the carrier is too big rather than too small. Does it have to be the wooden box with the ventilation holes in it? I have seen some iata approved carriers than look more ventilated, i.e. plastic with the grill in the front etc. Please advise? Thanks

I have a IATA approved crate, we brought our dog from UK in it and now he is going back in it too (value for money, I guess ). It's not just a wooden box, it has grills at the front and drilled holes all the way around, so there is plenty of air circulating. I think plastic ones look better, but wooden ones are more comfortable.

I've got the plastic ones with the grill at the front.

Why are you bringing your dog back? Are you just in Canada on holiday or are you leaving to return to live in the UK?

Yes, we are returning to UK. And of course, there was not even an option of leaving our gorgeous doggie, so he is flying back too.

I just wanted to add for those pet owners who worry about the trip: our dog was just fine, no side or post-effects, he was hungry but happy and well looked after. Your pets will be just fine too.

What about cats? Especially really nervous ones? I am moving out next year and trying to decide whether re-homing them or the trip would be harder on them. They are rescue cats and really really nervous. What do you think?

I don't know much about cats, I'm afraid. However, my dog is not nervous but very emotional (read: crazy). Vets do not recommend sedating your pets for a trip, but my vet suggested I'll give some calming pills to the dog before taking him to airport. This way, the medication wears off by the time the plane takes off, so there are no high altitude versus medication issues, but the pet is calmer during all the formalities. It didn't work much for me, maybe because my dog needed an elephant dosage, but he was a little calmer. It's best to talk to your vet and see what he will recommend, they do have experience with these issues. In any case, I don't think your cat would end up in a nervous breakdown. When we think of crates/cages, we think of being in restrained horrible environment, but animals see being in a crate as being safe: nobody can get to me, kind of thing.

Alexandra,

Have you been living in Canada for a long time? Are you moving back to the UK for good now? The reason I ask is that we are thinking of taking our dogs and cat over for the summer holidays but I am nervous that Immigration will think that because we have brought our pets that we may not return to the UK. This is not the case at all, we are in this for the long run and have already accepted that we may not be given PR this year. When we go to Canada we usually only go for between 1-4 weeks but if we spend all summer out there I couldn't leave my dogs in the UK for that length of time as my old dog really pines for me and would become so anxious, she stops eating when I go away and I would rather take them with us than have her mega-upset.

I think immigration officials would understand if you explain it to them. Especially if you are not bringing lots of luggage. Don't forget to arrange for proper UK Pet Passports for your pets before you go, otherwise they'd end up in six months quarantine. To answer your questions: I've been in Canada for about 16 months and yes, I am going back to UK.

All the pets have their passports so no worries about quarantine.

I hope you enjoy being back here and don't miss Canada too much.

Thank you. It's great that you have the passports done and everything. I truly doubt you'd have any issues with immigration, after all you are not taking a dozen dogs!:scared:

I will be sending my dog after 25. Not a lot of fun, but has to be done.