[Perksy]

Can anyone advise me on the process and cost of pet shipping.

I have a medium sized black labrador/rottweiler cross and have read somewhere that shipment costs about £1700. Is that right?

Is there a whole host of vets processes and costs to go through too?

All I can say is he better start behaving himself if he wants us to fork out that much on him!!!!

[holland]

Perksy,

I was going to do some links but there are looadddssss on this topic, so it was hard to choose. If you go to the top of the page, click on 'search' and put in 'shipping dogs' it will bring up lots!!

hope this helps

J xx

[lockstock]

We're going to go with Golden Arrow (Shropshire) for a number of reasons - mainly recommendation on here and also, a really friendly caring attitude. You really feel like your dog is the only one they care about. We just received our quote last week (individual based on height, length and width because they build the crates specially for each dog) - with them sorting out the tests during the three day stay with them prior to flight. There are a few bits and pieces you have to do during the run up but all that is expained by them. Total quoted for two Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla's (24"x36"x8")?? £4172.

Pause whilst Perksy falls on floor.

I have to admit I was looking in the £1000-£1500 per dog area and the quote was a heck of a blow. Lots of airlines have apparently increased their shipping charges (and unfortunately, dogs are cargo) but now Air New Zealand yet.

I can't bear the thought of leaving them behind and, since Duke already has a booking to pass on his genes in NZ, he'll be able to pay his way. Lucky Duke. Would like to have similar offer for OH but fear for the NZ gene pool.

[Perksy]

Ouch - good job I was sitting down, not quite so far to fall!!!

My husband insists he won't go if the dog doesn't go too. In reality I am in agreement but he is under strict instructions not to say that in front of my mother. I can just hear her now "it's OK to leave your family and move to the other side of the world but you wouldn't leave your dog!!!"

Thanks for the update Lockstock, at least I can go in to it with my eyes open.

[nickydwuk]

Do your homework and get a few quotes. We are not leaving until next September but did a preliminary fact finding mission with a number of companies. I compared like with like and recommendation. For 4 dogs (3 rotties and a border terrier) the costs varied from £6500 to £10,000. Some doing some of the medical stuff and others doing nothing. When we go we will likely go with Golden Arrow. Not the cheapest but what they offer was good and they come very highly recommended.:nice1

[Alison&Stephen]

Hi there,

We are going to use a firm up here in Scotland - ease of getting pets to them and recommendations. We have 2 dogs (medium chocolate lab and black cocker spaniel) and 3 cats. Quote for shipping was £5,100. On top of this there will be about £1,000 in vets fees. Dogs do need more tests than the fur balls and our vets have been very helpful in planning these tests (time wise in relation to flight out), obtaining animal health certs from DEFRA etc etc. We know what we have to do :yes we just need a positive result re our PR before we can make a start.

Best wishes

Alison.

[incredible hulse]

Golden Arrow charged 2300 for everything for a boxer in early 2006 (in the end it was actually free but that's another story ...)

[Gemini]

We just recently used Airpets, they couldn't be faulted and our two cats arrived safely and settled in well. It cost us £1,550. It was a hassle at Auckland airport doing the run around to get the paperwork but other than that no problems at all. :nice1

[flowerlady]

oh my god ,just had a quote for my 17 month old newfoundland puppy
all of 9 stone plus to be shipped £3500 TO £4500. from 2 different companys.
Does it go on weight or size , by the looks of it, both.I couldnt even think of leaving him here, so we best start saving......

[keeweescot]

We are going to use a firm up here in Scotland - ease of getting pets to them and recommendations.

Can I ask who you're using? We're in Scotland, too - Glasgow.

Thanks
Sal

[Mels]

oh my god ,just had a quote for my 17 month old newfoundland puppy
all of 9 stone plus to be shipped £3500 TO £4500. from 2 different companys.
Does it go on weight or size , by the looks of it, both.I couldnt even think of leaving him here, so we best start saving......

ouch! I understand that breed are very good swimmers?? :exit

sorry, I love my dog and I'd have him on the seat next to me given the chance, come to think of it he's probably better behaved than some human passengers!!!!

[flowerlady]

yes my boy could swim for england but nz is a bit far bless him , i have heard allot about golden arrow, did a google search for there number but came up with a blank..... i think i have seen it on hear somewhere but a search has come up with just there name.So if anyone has the number could they let me have it thanks.

[IanW99]

Search on forum came up with this:-

Give them a ring, they are so helpful and professional - 01588 680240 - they are in Shropshire somewhere near to Whitchurch, not much of a drive for you.

Ian

[flowerlady]

Search on forum came up with this:-



Ian

thanks for that

[stejude]

Shipping our German Shepherd with Golden Arrow. £2740 all in. pricey but she is a one of us. We went with them because of location to us in Lancashire and the fact that the explained verything really well. We fly out on the 12th Nov and she follows a week later.

[lockstock]

Good old Golden Arrow. They've been nothing but super efficient from the moment we first contacted them. They know exactly what they are doing and have let us have a detailed list of what we have to do (and when) and what they will be doing. There is no website or e-mail. They don't even take credit cards. Just pure, old-fashioned courtesy and caring. I swear their letters are typed out on a real type-writer too!

Our two fly out a few days after us. Fortunately, we will probably still be jet-lagged so meeting the dogs in Auckland at 5.45am won't seem so bad!

[Graham Cross]

I am hoping to take my two Chinchilla Persian cats with us and would like now to start asking for quotes etc. I would like them to go a few days before we go and also do you know if any of them keep them for any length of time and if it will be cheaper to keep them over here or to put them in a cattery over there as we won't have a house for them to come with us when we first get there and don't really know what to do and yet I can't bear the thought of leaving them here. Has anyone any advice and phone numbers to ring also .Janet

[Lara Croft]

I've been told by Jets4Pets, that all animals can only leave the UK via Heathrow. Is this true of all the animal shippers? It means adding another journey to my cats total travelling time if that is the case (all the way down from Cheshire)... I was hoping they could fly out from Manchester.

Jane

[Perksy]

Thanks for all the info everyone. Since starting this thread friends of ours used Par Air (I think that's the name, it's written down somewhere in my endless paperwork). They are based in Stanway near Colchester so convenient for me as an Essex girl. They came up cheaper that Air Pets and they were really pleased with the service so may give that a look too nearer the time. The prices are definitely scary.

[M&J]

Good old Golden Arrow. They've been nothing but super efficient from the moment we first contacted them. They know exactly what they are doing and have let us have a detailed list of what we have to do (and when) and what they will be doing. There is no website or e-mail. They don't even take credit cards. Just pure, old-fashioned courtesy and caring. I swear their letters are typed out on a real type-writer too!

Our two fly out a few days after us. Fortunately, we will probably still be jet-lagged so meeting the dogs in Auckland at 5.45am won't seem so bad!

I think you right about the type-writer!!!

We used them and they were great, even after I completely mucked up the cheque I sent them!!! They cooly rang me up and asked for another, must have been the stress of packing, they were more interested in my family history as we are form Herefordhsire/Shropshire area thean the money.

[Cat Woman]

We used Airpets Oceanic and they picked up our 2 moggies from Sunderland, drove them all the way to Heathrow, put them up for 3 days and did all the paperwork and shipping etc. on our behalf.
We also had a bit of a runaround at Auckland airport for paperwork clearance but other than that, both were safe and well.
That was in Jan 06 and we paid £1980 for both of them. They also travelled together in the one box.

[mic'n'sj]

Did Airpets do all the paperwork, I mean including all the vet stuff? or would we still do that?

[Gemini]

Airpets did everything to do with our two cats. We already had vaccinations up to date and the cats were chipped. Airpets were absolutely brilliant only sending us the pots and paperwork for sending off the faeces samples (which of course they couldn't do), they sent a checklist so that we could see that they did everything else, including internal parasite treatment before they can leave UK . It was all so straightforward and the cats arrived safely.

[macuser]

OMG!! Just received a quote from Airpets for our dog from UK to NZ ..................... £5032.

I had guessed at around £3800 - £4000. Looks like I guessed wrong eh?

Helen

[Hippywench]

OMG!! Just received a quote from Airpets for our dog from UK to NZ ..................... £5032.

I had guessed at around £3800 - £4000. Looks like I guessed wrong eh?

Helen


:uhoh How big is your dog?!

[macuser]

quite big, she's a st bernard but even so.

i'm gonna get some more quotes. We know it'll be expensive and i want to use someone that's got a good reputation and will take good care of her but i didn't expect it would be over £5000.

Helen

[Hippywench]

quite big, she's a st bernard but even so.

i'm gonna get some more quotes. We know it'll be expensive and i want to use someone that's got a good reputation and will take good care of her but i didn't expect it would be over £5000.

Helen

I haven't got any firm quotes for ours yet but we're expecting a bill of about £6000 for the the 5 of them. I will be asking Golden Arrow for a quote as they have a good reputation. Is that the only quote you've had?

[Lara Croft]

Hi!
I paid just under £4k for 7 cats (in 4 boxes), and that was with Golden Arrow. They are based in Shropshire, and I can't recommend them highly enough :)

Jane

[nickydwuk]

I haven't got any firm quotes for ours yet but we're expecting a bill of about £6000 for the the 5 of them. I will be asking Golden Arrow for a quote as they have a good reputation. Is that the only quote you've had?

We had a numerous quotes last year for our 4 dogs ranging from £6500 to £10000. Some did more vet work than others. Now we have been selected I contacted Golden Arrow - they seem to have a fantstic reputation and whenever I have spoken to them they have bent over backwards to help. They quoted about £8500 last year - I have asked for them to kennel my 4 for about 4 weeks extra plus all the vet work. The vet work for all 4 will be about £200 and the kennels willbe about £25 per day. I think that is a really good deal and will definitely be going with them. For one dog the quote should be a lot less than £5000 :yes

[macuser]

I have contacted 3 other companies and will ring Golden Arrow today too.

Thanks for all the info, your quotes all seem much more reasonable than the £5000 i was quoted.

Thanks again

Helen

[Hippywench]

We had a numerous quotes last year for our 4 dogs ranging from £6500 to £10000. Some did more vet work than others. Now we have been selected I contacted Golden Arrow - they seem to have a fantstic reputation and whenever I have spoken to them they have bent over backwards to help. They quoted about £8500 last year - I have asked for them to kennel my 4 for about 4 weeks extra plus all the vet work. The vet work for all 4 will be about £200 and the kennels willbe about £25 per day. I think that is a really good deal and will definitely be going with them. For one dog the quote should be a lot less than £5000 :yes

I'm assuming the £25 per day kennel fee is per dog? We will probably want to keep ours here for at least a week while we get over there.

This pet business is causing me the most anxiety. Not just the shipping but finding a place to rent that will accept them all!

[missy+mrmagoo]

We used Airsupply who are based in staines I think (somewhere near heathrow anyway) for a lab, a king charles and a cat. We paid less than £3700. This included the flights, the made to measure flight kennels, 25 days cattery and full export health certificate and tests for the cat, 4 days kennelling and part 2 export health certificate (we had to pay about £600 for the other tests at our vets) for the dogs. They were very helpful and didn't mind when the lab got nervous and gave them an indoor water feature on the carpet.
Oh yes and running round auckland airport at 6 in the morning trying to get all the papers sorted was a nightmare but well worth it!!

[missy+mrmagoo]

Oh and they threw in a free kennel! But not the smallest one as you might expect. We got the labrador's kennel free! It was about 4 times the size of the others. We were impressed.

[nickydwuk]

I'm assuming the £25 per day kennel fee is per dog?


No - that was for all 4. They usually charge £7 per dog per day but as we have 4 dogs they gave us a discount and only charged us £25 instead of £28 per day. :yes

[alan999]

I have contacted 3 other companies and will ring Golden Arrow today too.

Thanks for all the info, your quotes all seem much more reasonable than the £5000 i was quoted.

Thanks again

Helen

We used Golden Arrow for our cat and couldn't have been more impressed, even down to their wonky old typewriter--or is it a very sophisticated font? Don't hold your breath though, our quote for Shane (our Wolfhound) is around the £5000 mark.

[Hippywench]

No - that was for all 4. They usually charge £7 per dog per day but as we have 4 dogs they gave us a discount and only charged us £25 instead of £28 per day. :yes

:clap I'm quite sure we'll end up using them. I heard airpets are good too.

[lockstock]

I can't recommend Golden Arrow highly enough. I'm sure the dogs miss them! The service is so efficient yet friendly - and they want to know as much about your pet as you can tell them.

Incidentally, the custom made crate the pets come over in are yours to keep once you collect them. We didn't know this and our two wouldn't fit in the car so we had to leave them behind but there's a Trade Me market for them because they're so well built. They're worth a bob or two.

[Hippywench]

I'll have to make sure we get a car big enough to carry the crates. It will save us buying kennels :laugh

[catt]

Would be grateful if someone could pm me the phone number so i can get a quote for my dog paddy please........would be impossible to leave behind:cheers

[macuser]

I got this number from a previous post for Golden Arrow

01588 680240

[dilanium]

A new wrench thrown into the saga of bringing my cat from the US. The vets you use need to be USDA certified. (Luckily mine were, but not all vets are).

You can call your local USDA dept (if you know the number) or get the number off the internet at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/ and click on your state. Have the name of your vet ready and ask.

I also spoke with IPT today and found them very professional and full of great information for me. So far I highly recommend them.

[jenny]

i have just had a quote from golden arrow shippers for £2985 - 2 jack russells and 1 cat- i am really pleased with this quote as i was expecting alot more

[Moorf Junior]

Just received a quote from AirPets for our 10kg Beagle/Whippet - £1600. Pretty much what we were expecting.

[CJ22]

Quote from Golden Arrow for 2 small cats, £1400. Includes everything bar one vet check, I think. Chipping is extra also.

It will cost more as we'll have to leave the cats with them for a while, at £10 per day (for both cats).

[Hongi Hicker]

Got to say the people at Golden Arrow made me feel they were looking after their own dog.....just hope they now how much she will eat ( Golden Lab ) good job she isn't shipped on weight alone:o

[Den]

Hi we used/using Golden Arrow they have been brill and I agree they have kept us updated since they collected her last Tuesday. She is somewhere between LA & Auckland as I type, due to land early tomorrow morning, OH’s brother is collecting her – I’ll feel better when I know she is home with them though. I think I've been on the journey with her mentally. Time for another coffee! before I fall asleep.

[lockstock]

Great news Den. Glad you are happy with GA. We were totally impressed and the dogs were so well taken care of.

[Den]

Hi - well we got a phone call in the wee hours this morning to say that our dog had arrived safely. :raebanana :raebanana
She was collected by OH's brother everything went smoothly, she was pleased to get out of the crate. She went the whole way without going to the toilet. (I wish I could do 100 miles without going)
So far so good she seems ok is eating and drinking - oh and going to the toilet. I was so relieved to get the phone call I slept better last night.
There was only one thing that was mucked up, when they stopped on the way back to the farm they checked the paperwork and they had the dog breed as a staffy and a different name - I remember GA telling me that a staffie was going on the same flight but going on to Wellington.
It would seem right dog but incorrect paperwork as far as the breed and dog name is concerned.
I thought I'd give Golden Arrow a ring tomorrow in case it causes any problems in the future. Has anyone else had this happen?
Does any one know if you still have to register dogs in NZ?

[JandM]

Really pleased for you - you must've been on pins till this moment.

[IanW99]

...
Does any one know if you still have to register dogs in NZ?

Yes, you must register (and pay for) your dog in NZ.

Ian

[Eve & Paul]

Just got quotes for shipping my 3 cats to Auckland and thought I'd post them here in case it might be of help to anyone:

Airpets - £1823
Golden Arrow - £1982
Par Air - £1986
Jets4Pets - £1689 (Has anyone out there used Jets4Pets and if so, how were they?)

Eve

[dusk]

everyone (and I mean everyone) we have spoken to has had nothing but the highest praise for golden arrow, you might be able to negotiate your rate down if you phone them with your other quotes - worth a try ;)

[lockstock]

everyone (and I mean everyone) we have spoken to has had nothing but the highest praise for golden arrow, you might be able to negotiate your rate down if you phone them with your other quotes - worth a try ;)

And even if you can't, the peace of mind is priceless. Golden Arrow every time (although I'm not sure we'll need them!)