[BkyMonster]

Hi all. I'm just wondering from those that have done it before if it is possible to ship dogs without the assistance of a pet shipping company. I'll be coming from Oregon, USA.
I've contacted IPT so far to get an idea of what they offer, but I also have a schedule laid out for the next 6 or so months of all the tests and so on that my dogs need to have done.
I suppose my question (if anyone reading has done it by themselves!) is that is there more to the process than loads of vet visits at precise times, and getting the proper seal on the crate before they get on the plane?
Is it just easier to go with a pet shipper?
So far looking at the application and paperwork the dogs seem like much more of a headache than the people! :laugh

[srivett]

So far looking at the application and paperwork the dogs seem like much more of a headache than the people! :laugh

No kidding! If it were for shipping our cats, this whole thing would feel like a breeze!

I believe you can make all the arrangements yourself, up to and including booking the flight, but I'd recommend letting a shipping company take care of at least the pre-flight details. Customs is going to want to make sure the crate meets proper standards and is sealed and labelled properly, etc. and a shipping company is so much better prepared to deal with that than us regular mortals. With all the last-minute stuff you'll be taking care of for yourself in the last few days, it'll be worth it to have someone else sort out the dogs. You'll want to be careful with the vet tests as well - our local clinic has been making frustrating errors and causing delays in submitting the paperwork because they're just not experienced dealing with export requirements, esp. to a place like NZ. That's not to say your vet can't manage it, but you'll want to give them detailed instructions in advance, so you don't run into trouble when you can least afford the time.

In this case, imo, it's not just a matter of professionals taking money for something you could do just as well yourself; they're much better prepared to make sure your dogs arrive when and as they should. Since you're coming from the US, the quarantine conditions are complicated enough as it is - I'm going through them myself :p - so you might want to simplify as much as you can. The last thing you want is to have to start all over again if you make a mistake, and by then your entire moving plans will be affected.

Having gone through part of the process already, I recommend letting a pet shipping company take care of the last-minute details, and they can check over the paperwork too. Fortunately the quarantine facility in NZ will take care of the airport pick-up on the other end!

I'll be so relieved once our guys arrive safely! Their arrangements are easily the most stressful part so far.

Good luck!

[Charlesw25]

I'm planning to wrap my cat around my neck and tell the stewardesses it's a fur scarf. Should save quite a bit of money....

[jen]

Hi & welcome to the forum!

We took responsibility for getting all the vet tests done, then dropped the dogs & their crates at the shippers the day before their flight (we used JetPets - IPT was booked for the date we needed to fly the dogs). JetPets arranged the flights & did the last-minute vet tests. We checked with them throughout the 6-month process to make sure the paperwork we were getting back from the vets was exactly what they needed. Srivett had good advice about going over everything that needs to be done with your vet so they understand. Some of the tests are really unusual (drawing blood from an ear vein e.g.).

There was a thread about pet shipping with a great breakdown of everything that has to be done & when:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11297

Good luck with you plans. I love your avatar pic :)


I'm planning to wrap my cat around my neck and tell the stewardesses it's a fur scarf. Should save quite a bit of money....

:laugh :laugh

Jen

[Nathan]

If it weren't for IPT we would have used the wrong import application. That would have caused some anquiety, but I think we were far enough ahead that it wouldn't have caused a delay.

[duckdodgers]

I'm planning to wrap my cat around my neck and tell the stewardesses it's a fur scarf. Should save quite a bit of money....

Almost as good as my other half's idea......buy two return tickets for his almost blind grandmother and tell the airline that she's travelling with a guide-dog......twice.....may be cheaper?! (not sure he dogs are intelligent enough to pass!)

[Going2NZ]

Hiya

You can do the bulk of the work yourself and I recommend it - after all, who cares more about it being done right? BUT, we were not able to find any airlines that flew to NZ that would let us book the pets onboard ourselves... due to "government" regulations. Whether that is their interpretation or reality, we ended using a service for that part of the process since we didn't really have a choice and it probably did help. Plus we shipped the whole family - two cats, two dogs - so in the long run it was probably for the best. Note: we're Americans, might be different elsewhere.

Related advice #1: book the quarantine as soon as you determine the dates. They fill up quickly and you don't want to have to send your dog/cat to an alternate location for lack of space.

Related advice #2: it is worth it to bring them over even though you'll wonder if it is at some frustrating point.

Related advice #3: when in doubt, ask MAF. Our experience with the people at MAF was incredible. Very helpful, more flexible than you'd expect. They're keen to keep NZ safe from nasty things like rabies but were quite human and realistic at the same time.

And, if interested, I have an excel spreadsheet I put together to track all the tests and such for our 4. It might need some updating since we've been here 2 years but let me know if you want it and I'll send it to you or post it once I find it...

Good luck!
Susan

[BkyMonster]

Saw this popped up again.
Decided to go with IPT. So far it's working out well. I would have already made some blunders if it weren't for them (things change so fast they don't get updated everywhere you might look for info :o ).
I am doing most of it myself (I think the quote they gave me was $400 or so for their consulting services, not including picking up, dropping off and kennel time...that is extra :) ). Of course the whole quote is about as much for the two dogs (one little, one big) as it would be for 2 round trip people tickets.
What lucky lucky doggies.:roll

[CricketLover]

BKYMonster,
You are getting good advice here.

I second everything Susan said..( Hi Susan:clap )

We were lucky to have a close friend that was a vet. She helped us get all the test done up to the point we had to take the dogs to the airport. As Susan said, you are going to make sure everything is done properly so there are no screw ups down the line.

We worked with the pet transport company in LA, and they booked the flights etc. We dropped the dogs in LA a week before we flew to NZ. It was nice that by the time we arrived they only had 20 days left in quarantine.

Definitely book your quarantine as soon as you have a good idea of travel dates.

It's expensive and tedious -- haha-- your comment about the quote is exactly what my hubby said about moving our two boys. (Am. Cockers)