Transporting Pets
 

Hi to everyone. Ive looked at this forum many times over the past year and found lots of useful info but this is my first posting. After many months of waiting I have finally recieved confirmation that I can travel to Canada on a work permit. My family are coming with me and that also includes my 3 dogs. I was wondering if anyone out there could possibly tell me who would be the cheapest company to use to transport my dogs. I have had a quote from Ladyhaye and it works out at about £1000.00 per dog from London to Calgary but we then need to get to Saskatchewan. Any info would be much appreciated.

Re: Transporting Pets
 

Welcome to posting

I am using Airpets and for 3 dogs it is costing us just under £3000 and they are boarding them for 2 days and getting vet fit for travel certificate sorted. Also they have been quick to answer emails that I have sent with any questions

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Thanks Silverdragon I'll give them a try.

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hi

i used airpets to transport my west highland terrier to kelowna. they were very helpful and prompt at answering queries etc... i would use them again with no hesitation. we paid 825 pounds but this was 2 1/2 yrs ago.

hope this helps

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Who you flying with, we're going Air Transit in June, arranged direct with them in London (cargo dept) cost £726 for 2 very large golden retreivers, we have provide crates (cost for vari kennel £132 each) both dogs have passports already, all we then need is health check prior to departure, minimal cost from our own vet. Lots, lots cheaper than anything we were quoted from agents, - thousands of pounds.

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Hello and welcome to BE and another family to beautiful Saskatchewan - the word has finally got out about here I see:rofl:
We flew our two dogs with us ten weeks ago from Manchester to Calgary and Calgary to Regina.

For the first leg of the journey we used jets4pets - contact [email protected] and then we used another excellent company boomerang in Calgary - contact - Karen Shiel [email protected] both these companies linked up with each other to make the transition as smooth as possible for the dogs and us. Altogether it cost us about 2000 GBP and that included both companies providing the travel crates and two nights accommodation at a kennel in Calgary and flying on to Regina.

Mention my name to both ladies as they will remember me I'm sure!

Where are you coming to live in SK?

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Hi all, were flying from Manchester to Calgary on the 12th April via Zoom as we got told by Air Transat that they no longer fly to Canada from the UK, go figure. :confused:
Weve got to two 24kg springer spaniels and its costing us £1045 to via Zoom Cargo who turned out to be Thompson Cargo. This again is nearly half the price of what the pet shipping companies were quoting me and so far they have been great to deal with. I guess the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, so we'll see what I think about them after the 12th.

Anyway good luck with your future plans and I hope this helps

Mike

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Is that cost for both dogs or each? If it's both then that's a really good deal! We have a little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel so Id guess it would cost much less for our wee boy :thumbup:

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Confusion with Air transit, appears to be arising form their change in rules, they will no longer accept pets as excess baggage in hold, but will absolutely allow you to book them on as cargo (contact - Mark at 01784 431 831) our 2 large dogs cost £726 for both, a huge saving on what any agent could offer.

Have to book early, as only allowed 5 animals per flight.

Also they provide all customs paperwork and advice re delivery of animal and pickup other end etc, 1 month before departure.

hope this helps

Re: Transporting Pets
 

Thanks to everyone for yur replies they've been very useful.

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We are looking to move to Pike Lake in Saskatoon as we have friends there and that's the area I shall be working in. Are you near there?

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Yes thats for both dogs each in large varikennel and it's still costing more for them than it us for us in premium class. To be honest the cash is was less of an issue than just making sure that the dogs are on the same flight as us.

Mike:thumbup:

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No Indian Head is about 3 hours drive from Saskatoon:(

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All this about air transat is doing my head in.:mad:
Ive called them on so many numbers and all have said "no dont fly pets".
Thanks for Marks number will contact him .:thumbup:

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When do you fly?

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Yes, that's what we're hoping for when our time comes. I couldn't bear to think of him not being on the same flight as us :(

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Just spoke to Mark Roblett 01784 431831, he deals with pets travelling as cargo for Air Transat from Gatwick & Heathrow, they DO ACCEPT PETS (cats/dogs)
For flights from Manchester & Glasgow call Steve Daivdson on 0161 498 9090
Just spoke to Steve to confirm roughly how much to transport a choc labrador in a size 5 vari kennel - will be roughly £640 max, may be less but would need other info before could advise exact price.
Thought you would all like to know

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I would just like to thank you all for your help. I have had a quote from Transat and they are very reasonable - half the cost to Zoom airlines. Thanks again!

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Could you share with us how much the quote is...cheers

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£2500.00 with Zoom for 3 German Shepherds ( I think this price included crates) and £1200 with Air Transat for 3 dogs & 1 cat but no crates. Quite a differnece!

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oooh thats good - from where to where if you dont mind me asking?

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Hi just got here last wk, flew into Calgary from Manchester. We flew with 2 dogs and 1 cat on Zoom we used Animal airlines and they charged us £1279 for all three, they arrived in cargo and after a short time in immigration we were off to collect them. This company is run so good I would not hehesitateo reccomend them to anyone.:thumbsup:

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Thats really good to hear as we fly out of Manchester on the 12th April with our two dogs via Zoom. Would you mind letting me know if you got charged any extra fees when you landed in Calgary and how long before you got to see your pets. I'm dreading the flight as like most people my dogs have never flown before so although I'd never leave them behind, I am worried about how they'll cope.

Hope that everything is working out for you and your family, Mike.:thumbup:

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does everyone rely on air shipping firms to transport their pets? Has anyone done all the leg work themselves?
all input appreciated as usual :)

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no - most people seem to be doing it themselves - a lot cheaper by the looks of it!

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we're doing it ourselves with Air Canada probably, seems really cheap to me. I can't justify spending over a grand when it'd cost me £400 max to do the leg work myself.

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Hi Mike
When we landed at Calgary we went into immigration to get my work permit it took about 1 hour then we were asked about goods to follow then had to go to cargo 5 min drive down road we got papers stamped to show the legal bits then we went back to customs in airport and paid $36 to have papers checked and stamped then back to cargo to see animals then pay about $56 to have them released. all in all it took about 3 hours but the animals are not left allone and they just came out a bit sheepish until they saw us then back to normal the cat did't even bother to wake up for us she just snoozed until she got in the car then all hell broke loose with her meowing so load because she is hard of hearing being 17.

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We are flying from Gatwick to Calgary. The price with Zoom airlines was through Animal Airlines but it's quite it a bit of difference to what Holbendem paid. Can only assume it's down to the size of the dogs!

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There really isn't much to do in terms of leg-work.
You need to get a rabies vaccine, (you don't have to do the antibodies screening thing) and make sure other vaccines are up-to-date. Bring the vaccine certificate together with a fit-to-fly certificate (letter) from your vet. (The vet has to have done some course to do this so not every vet can, so ask!)
note: You don't strictly need the rabies vaccine for entry but you are likely to have to have it done when you get here .....

You don't need microchips, and you don't need a pet passport unless you plan on bringing them back to UK.

You do need an adequate sized and airline approved crate. You can get details on how to measure from web-sites. eg http://www.ukdogguards.co.uk/vari-kennels.html