moving abroad with pets

LUZ

does anyone have experience of moving away with a dog and cat?? ive been googling and apart from the pet passport ive read that its very expensive to go from ireland and that pets have to be shipped by cargo companies. does anyone know the cost roughly and what is involved? ive emailed a few companies but no replies yet. TIA

cormie

Where are you moving to? I've helped people relocate with pets before and you need the passport and then the confirmation from a vet that they have been certified fit for travel no more than I think 5 days before the date of travel.

LUZ

hiya, lanzarote sometime next year so just in the planning stages.

K.Flyer

Dept of Agriculture info on Pet Travel in and out of Ireland

Pet Travel
Cats, Dogs or Ferrets into or out of Ireland:
Pet Cats, Dogs or Ferrets accompanied by their owner.
Non-commercial movement Cats, Dogs or Ferrets to/from other Member states of the EU.

LUZ

thanks, ive read all that it doesnt really say much just tells you to get in touch with a cargo company (list of 30!) id like some more info from someone whos done it recently though, especially regarding who is the best company to use, the cost as ive heard its around €600 each and any pitfalls i need to know!. my dog is 12yrs old and i dont know if she would handle the move that well.

syklops

We were moving home from the Czech Republic to ireland with 2 cats.

This is what we found:

Very few shorthaul airlines take pets in the hold. Something to do with it being too cold because the hold isnt pressurised in many cases.
Even if they are allowed on your route, it is expensive. I mean expensive with a capital $$$$
One company was willing to do it, but it was going to be pickup by car in the CR, drive to frankfurt, fly to paris, fly to dublin, collection in Dublin airport, for just over 1000 euro per cat.

In the end, we tool them overland in my Dads car. Rosslare to Cherbourg overnight, drove through France, Germany, got abit lost and ended up in Austria, eventually got there, picked up herself and the two monsters, and did the same in reverse.

Driving to the Czech Republic from Athlone, is about half the distance of Dublin to Lanzarote, but I still think its doable. The only two hardhsips were getting to Rosslare(road is atrocius) and getting out of Paris. Avoid Paris!

Good luck!

LUZ

we were thinking of driving, but again, i think with the cost of petrol and ferries etc plus the fact that we would have to dump the car/van (changing registration is too difficult) when we get there it would probably be equal to flying them!....more of an adventure though!

cormie

I just requested to be added as an approved carrier for my service, thanks for letting me know about that

My friend was moving back from Norway and didn't want to put her dog in the cargo area of the plane. There was no direct Norway to Dublin flight that would allow pets in the passenger area so she flew Norway to Paris, and then took a bus from Paris to Cherbourge and got the ferry over to Rosslare.

I'm not sure is it Dublin that is the restrictive end with pets flying in the passenger area or what?

Kildarekat

A few months ago we flew our cat from the USA to Dublin. We used a company called Pets on Board. They organised all our paperwork and travel details - all we had to do was make sure her vaccinations and microchip were up to date (with proof), her vet checks were completed on time and she was delivered to the airport on time and with her documentation and crate 100pc correct. It cost about 1600 dollars. The actual lead up to the process was ALMOST pain free - a few hiccups. But we had a lot of problems with her actual flights. She didn't go on either of her scheduled flights, didn't make her stop over in NYC and landed 6 hours early. the vet did not know she had arrived early and the DOA had to contact us to ask why nobody was collecting her. They are very much treated like cargo and I will never fly her again. This may not help as it was from the USA, but ask away if you have any questions.

LUZ

thanks kildarekat, that mustve been very stressful! !! i do believe flights within europe are slightly different than to/from usa but im still worried, there doesnt seem to be many people flying their pets. my dog is quite old in good health but i dont know how shed take a flight, id hate to get her adopted or looked after, and im the only one in the family that loves my cat and shes young but only likes me, its putting me off moving away nearly. i really dont know what the best thing to do is. ill gather as much info as i can and see how we get on!

keithclancy

LUZ wrote: »

does anyone have experience of moving away with a dog and cat?? ive been googling and apart from the pet passport ive read that its very expensive to go from ireland and that pets have to be shipped by cargo companies. does anyone know the cost roughly and what is involved? ive emailed a few companies but no replies yet. TIA

Did you try Aer Lingus Cargo ?
http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/baggageinformation/specialitems/

Kali_Kalika

Does anyone have any info on the pet passport?

My dog is a registered service dog so thank dog she doesn't have to fly as cargo! But as I've never had to travel with her this is new for both of us!

She's already registered with a recognized S.D service - so that's covered, but I know she needs a passport - her microchip is installed (since adoption at 8 weeks old) and registration details etc are all correct so that's ready to go - and I'll be contacting her vet this week about rabies injections and other things needed to travel to the USA (our destination)

That's all I can really figure out online that she will need - as the US already has rabies it doesn't seem like there are a lot of rules in place and things needed - but again, I'm not getting a lot of info either.

Can anyone advise on travel into the USA with dogs - especially registered service dogs!

Also, I'm a bit confused on the passport as well - one site is advising I need to go via the vet to get the application etc - and another site advises I need to contact a government agency. Can anyone advise on this please?

9bred4

Kali_Kalika wrote: »

Does anyone have any info on the pet passport?

My dog is a registered service dog so thank dog she doesn't have to fly as cargo! But as I've never had to travel with her this is new for both of us!

She's already registered with a recognized S.D service - so that's covered, but I know she needs a passport - her microchip is installed (since adoption at 8 weeks old) and registration details etc are all correct so that's ready to go - and I'll be contacting her vet this week about rabies injections and other things needed to travel to the USA (our destination)

That's all I can really figure out online that she will need - as the US already has rabies it doesn't seem like there are a lot of rules in place and things needed - but again, I'm not getting a lot of info either.

Can anyone advise on travel into the USA with dogs - especially registered service dogs!

Also, I'm a bit confused on the passport as well - one site is advising I need to go via the vet to get the application etc - and another site advises I need to contact a government agency. Can anyone advise on this please?

Aer lingus will accept a pet onto a flight going from Ireland to USA alright. You have to give them a ring within 30 days of flight departure date and they will ring through to cargo and sort it with them while you're on hold. They will then give you a reference number to bring with you on the day of the flight.
Pets need to be vaccinated and have a vet cert saying the animal is fit and healthy and rabies free.

With regard service dogs, I think they are allowed on board but you would be put through to special assistance who would sort it out if possible.

I probably just answered nothing you needed to know!

Kali_Kalika

9bred4 wrote: »

Aer lingus will accept a pet onto a flight going from Ireland to USA alright. You have to give them a ring within 30 days of flight departure date and they will ring through to cargo and sort it with them while you're on hold. They will then give you a reference number to bring with you on the day of the flight.
Pets need to be vaccinated and have a vet cert saying the animal is fit and healthy and rabies free.

With regard service dogs, I think they are allowed on board but you would be put through to special assistance who would sort it out if possible.

I probably just answered nothing you needed to know!

All airlines must accept service animals - most require prior notice (usually 30 days) as they cannot carry more than 5 animals on board at any time - so once that regulation is kept - all service animals can fly in the cabin

I know I will need the rabies injections and the certificate which deems them fit to fly - I know my vet will assist with those no problem.

I keep reading about an actual pet passport that is needed - this I cannot figure out where to get it, get the application or ANYTHING about it!
I did find a website that you navigate to which country you are travelling TO and for 12 dollars they will send you all the neccessary forms etc - not sure if this is a scam/waste of time or if its something worth doing - I know its only 12 dollars, but if its a scam I don't really want to pay or play into it - has anyone heard of this place or know if the forms, etc they are offering are legit?

http://www.pettravelstore.com/pet-passport-united-states/

biddywiddy

Did you ask your vet about pet passports?

We got passports for our cats before we moved. We just needed to fill out forms in the vet's office and provide a photo of each cat (cue much hilarity trying to get a picture of a stationary cat looking at the camera). The vet's office made up the passports and we collected them a few days later. Can't remember how much it cost, but it wasn't expensive.

miezekatze

Some airlines accept pets in the cabin, at least cats and small dogs that can be kept in an approved carrier. I know it's possible with Lufthansa anyway - http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/ie/info_and_services/baggage?nodeid=1769643&l=en small animals can go in the cabin, larger ones in the hold. I'm sure a lot of other airlines do the same.

Kali_Kalika

Thanks for the input everyone. I have an appointment with our vet so hopefully can get this all done with them! I'm not at home at the moment so the other half is attempting to start this on his own! Eeep! Glad I'll be home shortly to take over and get this move under way!

Also - regarding her in the cabin - she will be allowed as a service dog they cannot, not allow a service dog to fly with their handler! So thank dog that's one less worry!

neeciemac87

LUZ wrote: »

does anyone have experience of moving away with a dog and cat?? ive been googling and apart from the pet passport ive read that its very expensive to go from ireland and that pets have to be shipped by cargo companies. does anyone know the cost roughly and what is involved? ive emailed a few companies but no replies yet. TIA

Hi there! i am also moving to lanzarote next january with my two dogs. got a quote from a dublin based company who basically organise everything for you.(E961.00)nothing but good reviews. airsea.ie they are also on facebook. got a quote within a half hour of enquiring.

LUZ

hi thanks for the reply! i think i contacted them before, did they say they fly dub-madrid-lanza?? (no idea why they add the extra stop when its only 4 hrs flight) i need to check but the quote for a cat and medium dog was around 1100 , it put me off tbh and i havent done anything more about it!! moving in may so i have a little time to get more organised..