[Jo Jo]

How did those of you have shipped pets to NZ choose your shipper? From the previous threads, I have narrowed it down to two shippers: Golden Arrow, and Air Pets Oceanic. Each seem to have pros and cons, and I have read previous threads religiously, but they still haven't helped me make up my mind.

So, how did other people decide? How important were price, location, and service?

Is Golden Arrow so good that it will be worth the extra travelling for my cats? I am in London, so on the upside for me, Pets Oceanic is much nearer to where I live, which is quite a major consideration as my cats hate going anywhere (I'm trying to ignore the fact I am making them endure a 24 hour plus air journey at the moment!)

Cost isn't an issue - I am willing to pay whatever it takes to get my pets to NZ as safely and as happily as possible (which, quite honestly, will be pretty unhappily for them as they don't like anyone apart from me and my boyfriend, and don't lke being in their carriers at all!)

I am completely sure that taking them to NZ is the best thing to do, but I am not at all sure about which carrier will be best to use. Please help! Please reassure me!

[Nathan]

We haven't shipped the cats yet, but have committed to a transporter based on the advise of one of the regulars here who, to us, seems pretty rational. Her recommendation was supported by the quarentine facility where we will send the cats.

(And it will cost a small fortune!! :eek: You could buy really lots of beer with the money we're spending on these little furry faced critters! :cheers )

If you search 'pet shipping' or 'pet transport' you'll find plenty of good and bad comments and can sort out which folks seem to have the same priorities you do. Then you can recheck with the quarantine facility where you're going.

[jubjub]

Nathan, from UK we dont do quarantine, so its a bit easier (and cheaper) for us to bring pets.

Jo Jo, we chose Golden arrow (for the dog), because they sorted everything for you. You got given a programme of events in the lead up to departure, you have to go to vet for blood tests and do poo samples on certain dates, and send them away in the addressed & stamped envelopes you get given. Requires little organisation on your own part.

Plus the fact I have not heard a bad word said against them.

[tick tock]

Jo Jo sorry I cannot help re shipping from the Uk as my pets came with me from Asia but I wanted to give you some moral support.

I have been taking cats around the world for a long time, my previous cats had lived on three different continents so had traveled alot.

Please be assured that on the whole they travel well. I know you hear horror stories and things do go wrong but that is for a very small amount of animals.

Do your homwork and ask lots of people. I have heard of people who make all the arrangments themselves and not use an agent. I did this from the UK to The USA but it was very straight forward and little paper work. For me ..I dont think I could have coped with the paper work needed for NZ

They will sleep most of the time and be very happy to see you at the other end. I keep saying this, and I am sure people think I am nuts but put lavander oil on their ear, it helps with stress. An old tee shirt that you have slept on helps too.

Try not too worry too much, but its normal to feel this way. I still do even after all this time.

They will be very happy you have brought them

[neilw71]

Jo Jo - without a second's hesitation - choose Golden Arrow! Our 2 came across 2 years ago next week with them and were treated so well by them. The whole process was handled very professionally. I have also helped some others pick their cats up from Akl airport - all with GA and things have always been great when they arrived.

Neil

[Pip]

Hi Jo Jo,

I went through exactly the same dilemma, choosing between Air pets and GA. Like you, cost was not a factor, as long as my cat got the best possible treatment.

Also, I lived in Bucks, so much closer to airpets, but for me personally, I went on the following thought processes and used GA:

1) everyone raves about GA on this forum and having used them, I'm now there with them. They really seem to care about the animals with them and didn't mind me phoning from Singapore at various points to check on Olive.

2) because I wanted Olive gone from the house when John Mason packed it up so she wouldn't get distressed, and we were having 48 hrs in Singapore, it wasn't just the flight bit, but she would need to spend a few days with them, so I wanted people who would really spoil her during that time and not just the actual travel bit and I got the impression that JM would go the extra mile which they did - even moving her into their house when she didn't like being in a cage and refused to eat.

There's also a whole raft of stuff about their amazing grounds (sort of in the grounds of a private house with a huge estate) and that they make everything so simple for you in terms of samples/paperwork - they really do!.

That said, I haven't heard anything bad about airpets and I'm sure whoever you choose will look after them, but I do know that Olive (nervy ex-rescue cat), arrived looking very clean, fresh and remarkably chilled out after travelling with GA. her crate was solid, a good size and spray painted with her name and destination airport, so even if her paperwork securely taped to the box went awol, she would have got to us. Two weeks in and she's more confident and bouncy than I've ever seen her and itching to get outside. I guess she figured if she can fly half way round the world, she can do anything now! :laugh I've got me a tough Kiwi cat now...

seriously, both firms have a great reputation and yes, I'm firmly in the GA camp, but I'm sure whatever you do, they will arrive safe and sound and based on most peoples experiences, remarkably unphased..! - so try not to worry too much. Feel free to PM if I can help further...

[Jo_b]

I went with Air Supply Shipping (http://www.passportforpets.co.uk/) because I wanted as much control as possible over the whole process - they just arrange the stuff with the airline and you do all the vets stuff yourself.

I wanted to understand exactly what the vets tests were for and what I was paying for. I also wanted to keep the cats with me up until the last minute rather than having them board the night before, and with Air Supply (the company behind passports for pets) I could just deliver them to the office there myself on the morning of the flight.

I found Michelle there was willing to answer all my questions with patience (I was liked a worried mother! I spent weeks deciding how big a crate to buy! They give you one free but I decided to upsize it a bit!) She was reassuring and friendly. They were very sweet with me when I blubbed in their office on the day of departure!

To be honest, despite having spent hours worrying about which agent to use I think my tip would be, think about the airline more than the agent. It is the airline which will be handling the pet for the big, scary bit of the trip. The guys I used said it had to be BA or AirNZ (I went AirNZ as they were coming to Wellington).

I did contact Golden Arrow, but the woman was very curt and rude. Add to that that they wanted TWICE as much as Air Supply (about 800 per cat over 800 for both with Air SUpply).

If you want to do most of the process yourself, I'd go with Air Supply. If you want to pay someone to take care of everything then they won't fit the bill.

Feel free to PM me if you have any Qs - I know how scary it can be!

[Jo Jo]

Thanks to everyone for all the tips and advice. I can feel another spreadsheet coming on...

I'm really glad to hear that other people's nervous cats haven't died of fright/ disowned them completely because of the experience. And I feel reassured that other people have been just as worried about this as me.

Thanks again.

[Debbie]

You may have already read my posts on using Airpets for shipping my dog. I can't recommend them highly enough for calming me down. My dog has been very sick in the past and has a special diet, has never been in kennels nd is a bred that is known to pine (sp) terribly when separated from their pack. He is also 70kg so it takes a certain level of confidence to handle and walk him.

They were great phoning me regularly and taking my calls every day whilst he was settling in. He is a character and they did spoil him, they had him out of his kennel and in the office with staff everyday so he had plenty of human contact. He had is own designated kennel girl who gave him loads of TLC and love but didn't take any of his nonscence. He arrived clean healthy and non the worst for his travels.

I looked at GA and even tried to visit them on the way back from a holiday in that part of the country but traffic, (from a motorway pile up) prevented me. It was this holiday with dog in tow that convinced me that Airpets was the better option for us. My dog travels Ok but not great in a car. The thought of having a long car journey and then being 'abandoned' at a kennel and then having another slightly shorter car journey to an airport I thought would just add unnecessarily to his stress. Also GA couldn't give me a prompt enough answer over their availability or kennel space prior to shipping.

I think both are good companies, its down to what will make you happy and comfortable.

Debbie