[YosarianRem]

Hello to all,

I have researching in earnest the details of relocating to New Zealand under the LTBV. I am scheduled to visit soon and was planning on bringing along my hound. If all goes well, we will be relocating permanently in a few months.

And now for the rub.

I have a thirteen year old Yellow Labrador that I adopted six years ago. He had been horribly abused by his previous owners and he took some time to come around. Now we are virtually inseparable. So much so that he becomes despondent in my absence.

I am self employed so have taken him with me everywhere for six years. We are seldom apart for more than eight hours. The only time I had to leave him due to an emergency was for six days at a very nice boarding facility. He didn't eat, whimpered constantly, chewed his paw open, etc.. The facility had to have the vet visit him and give him an IV.

Has anyone heard of any options to the thirty day facility quarantine (we're from mainland U.S. so we are not eligible for home quarantine). I wanted to test the waters before I plead my case to Biosecurity New Zealand. I was hoping for an exemption such that he could be at home quarantine with me, or perhaps there was a facility that would allow me to sleep there or have daily access.

I know I sound completely off my rocker (partly true) and partly out of my mind (completely true), but if I can't find and option such as I've mentioned, I will have to delay my plans until my partner in crime chases his last ball.

Thanks

[JandM]

That's not off your rocker. That's recognizing the needs of another family-member (who happens to be a different shape).

I haven't heard of any exceptions being made, though I believe there's something Americans can do, involving spending some time in Hawaii en route - try putting Hawaii into the Search option (on the blue bar above).

Anyway, I know there have been several US forumites who have used quarantine facilities recently - they'll be able to tell you what and where, and what they're like. I'm sure I saw forum member Dilanium (Liz) speak of making frequent visits to her cat. You might try PMing her. She may also know about Hawaii - she's in vet school, so she's well up on the regulations concerning animals.

[YosarianRem]

You are EVERYWHERE JandM!!! Moderator extraordinaire. I'll try your suggestions....I did multiple searches.....really!!!!! And once again, many thanks.

[JandM]

I've got a magpie memory - picks up bits and pieces for no special reason!

With a bit longer time, I found that our Search didn't do anything very helpful, BUT I've found these pages elsewhere - there may be something of use that you can follow up. It looks as if, if you follow the procedure, you can go straight into Hawaii without quarantine, then you can bring the dog direct from Hawaii to NZ without quarantine. What I don't see is if there's a qualifying time you have to spend in Hawaii before the onward trip - logically, I would think so.

http://www.emigratenz.org/moving-pets-to-new-zealand.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_required_to_import_an_assistance_dog_from_ the_continental_U.S._to_Hawaii (and as it tells you, it's the same for ALL dogs, regardless of the title)

[BkyMonster]

Let me see, what was the members name who was going to Hawaii...
Here we go
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=16055
iirc the time in Hawaii is 6 months... so if you can afford to live in Hawaii for 6 months then there you go.
Pethaven was really nice, though I doubt they would let you sleep there. I've also heard great things about Shado Lans and Canterbury Quarantine and if we'd known we wouldn't end up in Auckland I would have used one of those instead just so we could visit more. I'd also say if your dog is not accustomed to being crated and you aren't feeling he could manage it then you may just want to wait as they have to be crated for a good 18-20 hours at least as part of the flight and pre flight USDA inspection (where you can't really go).
I really thought my dogs would have huge issues with the move and...found out that most of the neuroses they display are for my benefit:laugh as seeing them before they saw me they were having a grand old adventure.

[dilanium]

You need to do six months in Hawaii to get around the quarantine.

The quarantine facilities (Shado-Lans) where I quarantined my cat are very nice- and you can visit as often as you like (and believe me, my cat was deliriously happy when we visited him, but then we left him with friends in the states for a few months to be able to finish up the vet work he needed before coming over).

If you look here: http://gallery.me.com/rawsoncj#100151&bgcolor=black&view=grid
you will see the pictures of one of the cat quarantine facilities. Those rooms we were in was all for our cat. The dogs had more room than the cats- though for a yellow lab it will feel cramped regardless.

You will not be able to get a home quarantine exception unless you know people really high up in biosecurity and pull some major strings. You can't even do the quarantine in the US prior to bringing the pet over.

Best of luck with everything.

[YosarianRem]

Thanks for the helpful info. Joe travels well in a crate so a day or two of craziness would be o.k., it's the separation that would crush the little (115 lb) fella. I failed to mention that we spent almost a year sleeping together on the floor right after I got him. He had one knee replaced followed by a six month recovery (TPLO) and then blew out the other one for another six month floor party.

I'm exploring the Hawaii option as I have some clients that have a vacation house there that they have kindly offered to me. My concern is hitting the ground in New Zealand site unseen. I think that a reconnaissance trip of less than a few weeks would be time poorly spent, so it looks like the hound and I may just show up and wing it.

I've completed the business plan and most of the associated paperwork for the LTBV application and was planning on submitting next week. I need to talk to them and see if it is premature considering a 6 month Hawaiian detour (I might fail to mention the reason for our delay).

Alternatively, I am exploring the option of arriving by sailboat as cruisers. It appears that it may be possible but with a quarantine inspection every 48 hours and mandatory notification if you we so much as change slips. I would rather be on the water for six months as part of our adventure than killing time in Hawaii.

It's a lot to think about with two very divergent game plans. Feel free to launch the "you're crazy" grenade or cheers of support. Although we aren't easily coerced, we are happily persuaded. Thanks for the continued support.
Cheers.

[BkyMonster]

There have been a few people arriving by boat, but I didn't get anything useful (names) to turn up in a search. I don't recall anyone with animals via boat any time in the past year or two since I've been reading the forum, but could be wrong. (There must be a way as I somehow doubt livestock are flown in and I know they occasionally get imported from places other than Australia)
Certainly something to check out with the MAF. In my experience they are helpful and generally nice people. Can't hurt to email them. (Or wade through the documentation, either way :D)

[JandM]

Likewise - I don't remember reading of anyone arriving with an animal by this route in my time here.

I know it's okay to have an animal confined on a moored yacht, notifying the authorities, etc. etc., but I'm not sure that those regulations are equivalent to quarantine that eventually lets the animal go free into NZ - I believe they're aimed at international sailors who intend to go on somewhere else, and their dog or cat never does come ashore. I can see the attraction if you can make it work, though (Except, how would you get him enough exercise on board? Wouldn't that perhaps be frustrating for both of you?). Let us know what you find out!

[dilanium]

I know horses are flown in but I think the person I knew who did it had quarantined her horse in the states before coming over.

[SarahEDH]

Just a note to say how nice it is to read a post from someone who has given so much thought to the well-being and comfort of a four-paws friend, and treats this as a life priority. Your dog is very fortunate to have come into your guardianship and care. Best wishes to you both -

[YosarianRem]

As usual....thanks for the thoughts. I spoke to a friend of mine in San Francisco that has been living on his boat with his cat for several years. He completed a circumnavigation with two cats and spent time in both Zew Zealand and Australia among many other places.

He was not helpful. He is not big on bureaucracy.

He did it without any paperwork other than the normal vet "checkup"

He suggested that I show up with the dog and ask for political asylum because we're from the US. I then reminded him that the moronic simian that has been ruining (running or ruining...my spelling isn't what it used to be) our country had been set to pasture and we now had a good guy. So much for that strategy.

We then talked about dressing him up as a service animal. I hope not to offend anyone by saying this. I think this rouse would be discovered as soon as he chased the first duck, cat, dog , leaf, fish, imaginary dragon, tail, etc. while walking in public.

I like to do things respectfully and by the book. Although I am enthusiastically exploring unorthodox alternatives of getting to New Zealand with my hound, I want to reassure everyone that I would not do so if it were unsafe or illegal.

Just trying to stay lighthearted about it all, that's all. I hope to speak with Biosecurity this week and talk about our options. Many continued thanks and I hope I haven't enraged too many people by integrating politics and service animals into a dog immigration thread.

[JandM]

:nice1

(Is that your dog in the avatar picture? What's that on his head?)

[YosarianRem]

That is my pride and joy....Tarzan Joe Roo....aka Joe. That thing on his head is his arch nemesis "Mr. Squirrel". Joe eats stuffed animals in mere seconds. There is a hard rubber chew toy called a "Kong" that is allegedly indestructible...Joe chews them in half and swallows them. Joe ate three golf balls. He ate a pheasant squeaky toy while it was still in the plastic bag it came in....it came out the next day almost as good as new. Joe ate a rock the size of a tennis ball.

Our vet has a vacation house in Switzerland because of my little bundle of joy.

He doesn't chew on furniture or eat shoes or anything like that, but if it squeaks (or is/has been part of a tree) then watch out. For some crazy reason, he won't chew on Mr. Squirrel....ever. He will bark and nuzzle and run amok trying to get to him, but then just stares at him. I enjoy tormenting him by taking the occasional picture with Mr. Squirrel on his head, in his dog dish, on his bed, "driving" the car, etc. It sounds like animal cruelty, and probably is, but he likes it and it makes for a great photo. I assure you, Joe is winning by quite a few points....but who is keeping score.

[JandM]

:)

We had a yellow labrador. He was great friends with the two cats we had at the same time, so I thought maybe that really was something live that yours had befriended!

(We moved house with those animals, into a place that had been empty for 18 months, so neighbour cats had got used to using the land as their own, and ours had to muscle in and create a territory. One spring day, the dog was lying in the open doorway, and we all heard terrific caterwauling from a distance, coming nearer. Then one of our cats appeared, going like the wind, over the bottom fence, with a stranger cat in pursuit. The dog leapt up and went to meet his friend, who, immediately he saw he had reinforcements, turned on the one who'd been after him, and the whole chase reversed itself - it was like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.:D)

[Tui2too]

I went through all the same questions and searches for a solution (I have a very sensitive standard poodle)...
-dog has to have lived in Hawaii for six months (thinking *there* is a business idea for a dog lover in Hawaii, to look after dogs bound for nz!) and they still may have to do the five day quarantine in Hawaii
-and even service dogs have to comply with the quarantine for nz


Have you started the six months in advance rabies titer blood testing?

I can commiserate it is an ordeal for a dog-owner with a sensitive dog...I too wish I could stay at the quarantine facility. I have considered re-homing my dog to a 'perfect fit' home so she wouldn't have to undergo this madness, but that is too hard emotionally for me to deal with. There doesn't seem to be any easy answers.

[YosarianRem]

Hello All....looks like bad news. It appears we have just about exhausted all of our creative options for avoiding the thirty day quarantine other than Hawaii. I'm going to take a hard look at that option tomorrow. We were hoping to come sooner than later, but better late than never. Thanks again for all your help. I'll continue to lurk and will advise when/if we head for the Big Island. Mahalo.

[MichelleD]

My two girls are currently at Pethaven in Auckland, and doing very well there. The facility there is great as it has a fence on the outside of the kennel so the dogs can see outside, and you can visit every day. They are 2 weeks into their 30 days, but its going much faster than I thought it would.

[Ness]

Just chiming in to say that Canterbury Quarantine will let you visit daily, except Sundays, but not for the whole day -they have two separate visiting hours, morning and afternoon. The facility is quite a bit of a drive from town.

Unfortunately, we couldn't take up the opportunity because our visas were delayed, and so the dogs spent almost their entire quarantine there while we were still in the US. Still, I had been wondering how they would have fared with me coming and going...

In any case, the only thing I'd do differently in retrospect is to seriously consider Bach flower essences or something similar to deal with the emotional issues that arise, to be administered by the staff during the stay. I know that their physical needs were well taken care of (Canterbury Quarantine happily accepted my request for a raw diet), and the staff do their best to interact with the animals, but it does affect them emotionally. I was like you, spending most of my day with the dogs, and we've been dealing with some escalating behavioral issues that I do believe were at least in part caused by the quarantine. Also, you may want to consider some detoxification-type stuff, especially if your dog isn't used to a heavy vaccination/anti-parasitic schedule. It's quite a whammy what they have to absorb into their bodies.

As for getting exemptions from Biosecurity NZ, I'd say forget about it. I tried on a few issues (ie why does the dog need another vaccine when his titer is already sky-high anyway), and they will not budge.

The Hawaii route sounds really nice!!!