[Wahlet]

Importing a dog is such an insanely costly and complicated process... !!!! :uhoh AAAhhhh... (tears hair out). I've got the (Giant size) crate, have done initial vet work, have done a lot of research, and am about at the point of signing my life away with a pet transport agency and the quarantine station, to the tune of over USD5000. Considering that that is only slightly less than the amount I have in savings, and we may have very little money to our name when we step off the plane onto Kiwi soil, this is a bit of a hair raising experience!

Questions:
1) We'll arrive at our new home in Wellington before the dog comes over. Can anyone comment on the idea of quarantining a dog in Auckland instead of Wellington...which is the best Auckland quarantine station, etc... The idea is to reduce costs by eliminating the flight from Auckland to Palmerston North and possibly get cheaper cost of quarantine in Auckland. I'm checking into relative costs as we speak (/write). It would be sad to be so far from our girl during quarantine that we couldn't visit weekends...but I think we could manage.
2) How much should I figure it would cost us (car rental and fuel only) to rent a car and make the round trip to Auckland to pick her up? A side benefit is that a road trip like that could be a fun introduction to the country...

Any advice or experience you can share would help still my racing mind!

[dilanium]

:confused: Why aren't you quarantining at Shado lans which is halfway between wellington and Palmy? Wouldn't it be closer and easier (and just rent a car to drive there to pick them up?)

[Wahlet]

Dilanium: The idea is to reduce costs by eliminating the flight from Auckland to Palmerston North and possibly get cheaper cost of quarantine in Auckland.

[dilanium]

errr?


oh the flight for your dog. See I was thinking of you. :laugh

Well check it out (you can also fly your animal to Wellington from what I've read about Shado-lans), but don't forget the cost of the rental cars to pick up your dog.

Sorry.

[Georgebulldog]

Don't you think your dog will just be better just getting to Wellington & then being able to go straight to your house rather than being cooped up in quarantine then a very long car journey?I've seen a couple of quarantine places in Wellington too on our travels around the place Unless of course your talking mega bucks but I always put things in form of hassle involved & for me a long car journey petrol & car hire would make me just put the dog straight into Wellington, but that's me of course :)

[dilanium]

I'm pretty sure the only gov't approved quarantine facility close to Wellington is Shado Lans which is 1-2 hours away.

Edit: Yes- it's in Levin.
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/commercial-imports/animal-imports/registered-quarantine-facilities