[5kings]

We are tormenting ourselves on this one, but think we may have to rehome our dog if we make the move to NZ.

It's not the expense, as we decided to take the dog instead of a container for our belongings originally, but we are thinking of his wellbeing.

He is a nervous dog, scared of strangers (vets etc he gets anxiety aggression) and we sometimes think it might be better to find him a nice new home in the UK, rather than the stress of the flight.

Also on a very boring practical note, we will be renting for a good while, and know how hard it can be to have dog friendly rentals.

I personally change my mind about this on a daily basis, so would love to hear from anyone who has rehomed pets in the uk. I think if I knew he had the right home and was happy, I would be happy too, and of all the things to think about this is really bothering me.

Helen

[Hippywench]

This is a second hand story, but I was recently speaking to a colleague about our plans to emigrate and take the pets. he told me about the Golden Retriever his parents had taken in after his original owners decided to go from UK-Oz. He (dog) was about 10 years old and his owners were concerned about the flight. The dog settled in fine in his new home and lived another 6 years or so.

[Mels]

Hi Helen,

We went through this as our pooch is over 12 years old and the vet thinks he is too old to fly that far.

I was very relieved when out of the blue a friend said she would have him. Her kids know ours and live just round the corner so we can get them used to each other over the next few weeks.

I really do sympathise though as it's a really tough decision. I know we will still be sad at leaving him but I know he will be happy. Afterall they really just need exercise, food and friends, they don't live in the past like we do, neither will he hold it against you for finding him a new home.

best wishes

Mels

[Justine+Ben]

Hi Helen,

When my mother moved abroad recently she decided not to take her two old dogs (10 and 12) with her and they were re-homed successfully with some friends. She contacted them and apparently the dogs were doing really well :)

However, I am planning on taking my two cats with me to NZ, I really cannot afford the cost of shipping them and the quarantine etc. (on top of everything else!) but for me, it is just the fact that I don't want to regret anything or leave anything behind. Also, we are living away from England right now (in Canada) and so I don't have any family here to offer to have them for me. Also, all of our friends in Canada are renting and not settled permanently. If I was residing in the UK like you and any family/friends offered to adopt them, things would be different and I might consider it. At the end of the day, it is a very personal decision to make, (and an agonizing one too) but I'm sure that you will make the right choice for you and your dog. In my experience of having both dogs and cats, animals adapt very quickly to their new surroundings.

As for finding rental properties with pets, we have rented apartments with cats in London, L.A. and Montreal, and it is possible to find places - but it just takes a bit longer! (and a bit of persuasion :D)

Good luck with your decision,

Justine :)

[river11]

We're planning to leave 1 cat, 2 dogs, loads of fish?? and 2 ponies.
But are planning to take 4 kids. Mmmmm which would be cheaper or easier?

[Croft]

My parents took the family cat through several moves, and even back to the UK in the ties of 6 months quarantine. However, by the time they had to go abroad again she was 15 and they though it would be mean to have her move again. My Grandfather (a widower) agreed to look after her 'temporarily' - he really wasn't that thrilled.

The thing was, the cat gave him a new lease of life. She practically ran the house, and seemed to sense that my Grandads hearing was not what it used to be and used to come and tell him when people were at the door. After a few months my parents were told by other relations that he said "They won't take her away will they?". Well of course not! She lived to 19 in the end.

We're going to have to make a similar decision with our own cat, who turns 15 in June, and probably 16 by the time we move. She's still in rude health, so maybe we will take her.

[Sam B]

Our dog was 16 when we decided to emigrate, deaf, quite blind and slightly demented, but otherwise well. She managed to function almost normally as long as we never removed her from the house and grounds. We decided the only possible thing for her would be to have her put down, and then we put it off, and put it off. 1 month before we left, she had a stroke and then died. It was really sad but also a relief.

[holland]

Hi we left our MUCH loved cat macey behind she is 10 and not that old,but a long journeyetc didn,t seem fair she has settled really well in her new home in uk,WE are the one's who feel bad about it all pets will settle in a new home but its a horrible decision to make go with your gut instinct and stick with it good luck G

[benandclare]

We left 4 cats and 4 chinchillas behind, all re housed with friends and family and doing well.

And we've 2 fanatstic young cats here :raebanana

[gil]

We originally planned to bring our Staffy, Macy, but a combination of her age (9/10 at the time, we never knew her precise age) and the fact it would cost £2,000 (our flights for a family of six were "only" £3,200!) made us think again. Sandi, a lovely friend/neighbour of ours wanted her, but Macy didn't like cats much, so Sandi's mum and dad had her. She is happy as larry with them, and we get updates such as a lovely piccie at Christmas of her in her smart new red harness! Turns out she gets on well with Sandi's cat, after all!

We visited the SPCA here in Auckland not long aftre arriving, just to have a look one day.....and adopted Olive, a beautiful Ridgeback/Shepherd cross. Everything seems to have worked out well.

Good luck with your decision,

Gil

[Jennispink]

We have decided to re home our two cats. Monty although not that old was a rescue cat and has a tempremental(spg?) disposition, doesn't fair well in a basket for any length of time. When we moved from Wales last year, 2 1/2 hours in the car really did for him, so long flight to auckland just not really an option:(

Ebony is older and has also had a number of different homes (us being number 3 at least). She was originally rehomed to us because SIL could no longer keep her. Again we just didn't think it would be fair to make her go all that way in a box.

So we already have a home for Monty with an old school friend of mine who now lives in Glasgow so he will have to travel for a wee while and I'm sure we'll manage to find a lovely new home for Ebs as well.

I do feel guilty but I think with all the hussle and bussle of settling in to a new life they would both be very much pushed to the bottom of the list of priorities and I will feel far happier knowing they are already settled before we even leave the runway.:)

[RamblingPaddies]

our rescue dog wouldn't be able for the trip either ! poor old dear ... i'll feel so bad ...

leaving her with family for a while but then i guess rehoming is the only option - good job i volunteer for the SPCA :yes

[mgf]

We made the tough choice for us anyway of rehoming our dogs and cat in the US because the quarantine issue and we just felt the dogs were too timid and nervous to make the long flight 18-20 hours. They were rehomed in some really nice homes and are doing quite well. We get pictures sent to us, which I am not sure if that is good or bad because we always feel guilty. They are doing fine though and enjoying life.

[Brian]

I've been debating this myself, and will likely leave my cat with my parents. She's getting old and does NOT travel well. The only way she was able to tolerate my last move (12 hours by car) was that I gave her a place to lie down where she could put her paw on my shoulder. She cannot tolerate being in a cage for any period of time.

Between the flight, the quarrantine, and the likely additional moves after I arrive I think it will be too much. My parents really like her and should give her a good home. I will probably be the worst off in the deal.

Are there a lot of pets needing homes in NZ? I'd definitely want a new cat or two after I settle in if possible.

[nippa&pippa]

We rehomed our two golden rectriever and 2 siamese cats in UK, nothing wrong with them as they were mid-ages but we didn't want to spent fortune to ship them while money should go toward buy better house with land for our children's sake and less stress for them to rehome instead ship them over too. Yes we did miss them very much and soon we brought our first kiwi house, we went and brought new golden rectriever puppy.

[gil]

Are there a lot of pets needing homes in NZ? I'd definitely want a new cat or two after I settle in if possible.

Brian,

Have a look at these:

http://www.spca.org.nz/general/home.htm

http://www.petsonthenet.co.nz/ads/index.php?request=display_sub&category_id=114&website=default&session=40c6666c0ac1bec3

I'm sure you'll find the purrfect companion!

Gil

[Croft]

We've moved a fair amount over the last few years and our cat (as I said earlier, now quite elderly) now appears used to it. Usually if she goes in the cat basket it's lots of wailing and crying, and presents left for us in the bottom of the basket (usually before I've even got her to the car). However when we're moving and everything is going into the van, she just sits in a corner watching it all go on. At the end of the day I just get the basket, open the top (we have a 'top loader' - so much easier!) and she hops straight in - quiet as a mouse until we get to the new place, sometimes many hours drive away.