Pet immigration costs

nickbraddock · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 10

We have two cats, can we take them to NZ with us? If so, How long does it take and how much does it cost??

N&S · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:17 am Post subject:

Hi

We've decided to go with Airpets Oceanic based down at Heathrow.

They have quoted £1172 for our pair.

This includes, filling out the export permit for Defra, most of the tests, some treatments and stuff to prove they have a clean bill of health and flights vis USA with a stopover for water and food.

They seem really nice and have a good website where you can probably find more info.

All we have personally had to do is :

1. Get them Pet Tagged - indentichipped
2. Have their Feline Flu and Enteritis vaccines done.
3. Have them treated for hookworm

All this has cost about £100.

If you use Airpets it takes about 4 weeks for them to do all the government export paperwork in order to obtain the permit and they can't apply for this until you provide certificates for 1-3 above.

Another good thing about airpets is that as they are based at Heathrow the cats can be booked in with them at the cattery a few days before they fly in order to have the necessary treatment and then they only have a very short journey to catch the plane.

Don't get me wrong though, they haven't flown yet so when they both wind up stiff at the other side I wont be singing their praises then.

They weren't the cheapest but they seemed to do the most for you in terms of treatment.

Hope this helps, the guy to speak to there is Eddy Martin who is just so nice over the phone.

Sadie

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:23 am Post subject:

Hi Nick - Welcome to the forum

I'm sending my cat and using Golden Arrow Shippers in Shropshire after seeing recommendations on this forum. Tel: 01588 680240. They quoted £832 for me to send my cat to Palmerston North. The first quote I got was from Air Pets based at Heathrow - £1,200 Eek

They need a minimum of 3 weeks for the whole process but prefer more notice. I've just started now and sent off my first cheque to apply for the permit from Wellington. The process is quite complicated and time sensitive due to the various tests, worming and disinfecting to be done. They take care of absolutely everything.

I'm planning for him to arrive in PN on 17th Sept. My husband is already there and will be able to collect him from the airport. Golden Arrow can also arrange for the cats to be boarded on arrival or here for that matter if you need time to find somwhere in NZ to live for example. They seem to be a really good company who actually do care abour your pets. They even have a retired cabinet maker who builds the pet's transportation to fit the individual pet.

Hope this helps - Sandra

N&S · Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:56 am Post subject:

Hi Sandra

I wonder why it was more for your one cat to travel than for both of mine?

There never does seem any rhyme nor reason does there?

I've had this discussion on UK2NZ and we never got to the bottom of it.... we also found that packers quotations varied in the same way.

I think the trick is to haggle with everyone to get the best price.

So do your cats travel to Shropshire to be dealth with... so to speak... and then travel down to heathrow to fly or do they fly from somewhere closer?

Oh and which way do they fly, via singapore or LA and do they get a stopover.

Your price seems really good, I wish i'd checked them out.

Incidentally ours are also flying to Palmerston North ... as we are!!!

Sadie

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:30 am Post subject:

Hi Sadie

Maybe it's because I'm ooop North and they charge more to collect him and take him back to Heathrow Confused

I can drop him off in Shropshire or they will collect him if that's inconvenient, then they will deliver him to Manchester airport. They must be passing where I live quite often, as I'm only half an hour away from the airport so maybe they will pick him up for me. They board him for 3 nights so they can do the last minute worming etc. and that's included in the price.

They called me today to say they've arranged for him to arrive in Palmy on 21st - which fingers crossed

is the day I fly out so it won't be long until I see him again. Hope it won't be too traumatic, he's probably forgotten who Dave is by now Laughing

I forgot to ask who he would be flying with, but it says in the quote that it will be Air New Zealand, which means he will go via the States. They use BA or ANZ and apparently BA have increased their prices. I think they have the normal stopover, as we would, until the NZ flight and they are checked by a vet during the stopover. comfort

I feel really mean putting him through this but they don't appear to suffer any ill-effects.

I was wondering if anybody could tell me how long it takes them to adjust to the time difference - their body clocks must get all out of kilter, just as ours do.

N&S · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:36 am Post subject:

Hi Sandra

We're ooop north too - sunny, happy Huddersfield to be precise. Sounds like you've chosen a decent company, and I hope we have too.

Sadie

Dave & Sandra · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:43 am Post subject:

So you are - went to Huddersfield once many years ago when my friend was applying for Uni there and I went to keep her company for the interview.

Never thought to look where you were from Embarassed

Well that's confused me even more about the prices

N&S · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 6:48 am Post subject:

Don't worry. I'm confused most of the time.

I'll look you up in PN, we're heading there to.

Sadie

mgoulet · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject:

Nick--

Where are your from? Your location does not appear near your name, so its hard to know if you need US advice, UK advice, or something else. If you need US advice on shipping your pets, let me know, as I am shipping 2 dogs and 2 cats from Los Angeles. If you are in the UK, I think Dave & Sanrda and N&S have already pretty much answered your question.

Melissa

nickbraddock · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 13 Aug 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for the replies
I am from the UK (Cumbria), My wife was over the moon with some of your replies regarding costs, she thought it would cost thousands to take them with us and was worried that we'd have to leave them over here.
Ta
Nick