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Taking Your Pets to Australia
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IntroductionAustralia has very strict rules on the importation of animals, controlling the types of animals that can come in and the countries they come from. The rules are set by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). As a general guide - dogs, cats and horses may be brought in from a number of countries, subject to quarantine controls. Other household pets, such as hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, caged birds, etc are generally prohibited. Note that you can buy these animals from pet shops or breeders in Australia, it's just that you can't bring them in as pets. Some caged birds may be imported from New Zealand only - more on that at www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs/other. Other animals can only be imported for scientific or commercial purposes and as such are subject to very strict guidelines - more on that from the link above. ----- Taking Your Dog or CatIn most cases, the importation of dogs and cats is subject to strict rules and quarantine periods, set by AQIS. The procedure for dogs and cats is outlined below and the full information package can be found on the AQIS link below.
QuarantineThe time in quarantine varies according to the country of origin; eg. no quarantine from New Zealand, 30 days from UK, 210 days from South Africa.Quarantine Stations only exist in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne and there can be high demand for accommodation in these stations. You are responsible for daily accommodation fees for your pet while in quarantine, plus a number of additional fees such as airport pickup, vet inspections and so on. For more details on all of the above, check the Bringing Cats and Dogs to Australia guide on the AQIS website. The CostBe prepared - bringing a dog or cat to Aus costs much more than a standard airline ticket for anyone else in the family. The cost depends on the size of the dog (not for cats unless they are abnormally large), the length of time in quarantine and whether there are any additional, unforeseen vet bills.As a guide, expect from about £1500 GBP for a small breed (eg. Jack Russell) up to £3500 GBP for a large breed (eg. German Shepherd). Then, quarantine costs in Aus should be around $800 AUD for a 30 day quarantine. ----- Pet Relocation Guideprovided by our sponsors, Airpets HeathrowRelocating to Australia should not be the reason to give away your family pet. Pets are happy to live wherever their owners are and moving them is relatively easy. It may seem a daunting prospect, with health checks and a long haul flight but more than a million pets fly safely world-wide each year. Australia has grown to be one of the most popular destinations for people emigrating and as a consequence it is necessary to plan well ahead when considering taking your dog or cat as space in the livestock hold is limited. Australian import regulations involve an import permit, microchip, annual vaccinations (omitting leptospirosis), 3 blood tests (dogs only), spray and worm prior to departure along with a health certificate. These requirements can change periodically. Flight & Destination InformationPets travel comfortably in the livestock hold of direct passenger flights. Australia bound pets must spend 30 days in well run government quarantine kennels. Quarantine stations are situated in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Onward forwarding arrangements can be made through the kennels to other destinations in Australia. Perth and Melbourne quarantine stations have limited space so ensure you give enough notice to reserve a place for your pet’s stay.Air KennelsPets travel in IATA approved air kennels, large enough to enable the animal to stand, lie and turn around. Pets to Australia must travel as manifest cargo and the air freight is calculated on the volume of the air kennel and not the weight.TranquilisersTranquilisers should not be given to pets prior to flying in the pressurized conditions of an aircraft and could cause an adverse effect on the animal. They soon settle down to the journey and fall asleep.Feeding & Care of pets in TransitAnimals should not be fed immediately prior to a flight to avoid soiling their air kennel. All kennels have water containers which are refilled during transits. Line the kennel floor with absorbent bedding such as Vet Bed or lots of shredded newspaper.Together with your vet, employing the services of a recognised pet travel agent helps to make the whole process a seam free operation. Airpets at Heathrow are the UK’s leading pet travel agent and offer a complete export / import service to and from the UK world-wide. Being based at Heathrow, their kennels at Willowslea Farm is an ideal base for pets to rest before embarking on a long haul flight or dealing on the spot with any problems that may arise from delayed flights. Exports from the UKAirpets Services include:
Imports into the UK from AustraliaAirpets Services include:
For all enquiries Airpets recommend that you visit the export/import pages on our web site www.airpets.com and complete the online forms. This ensures that they receive all the relevant details necessary for the shipment of your pet and facilitates a quick response. Our team of experts will then be on hand to personally guide you through each stage. Airpets Heathrow ----- Pet Relocation Companies (our sponsors) ----- Discussion - Selected Threads on This TopicTo see all related threads, go to the Discussion Page and enter the appropriate search criteria.
----- Dog & Cat ResourcesMost of the following is written for Perth, but will relate fairly well to other cities. Some of the links are Perth-specific, some are Australia-wide.Dog LicensingAll dogs over the age of three months must be registered via your local council.Most councils have a limit on the number of dogs that can be kept at home. Dog Exercise AreasMost public parks allow dogs - there are usually signs to indicate if dogs are NOT allowed or must be kept on a leash.Most areas of the Swan and Canning River foreshores permit dogs, although there are some restrictions. Only certain beaches are available for dog exercise - check your local council website for a list of these beaches. In general, dog owners are very good about cleaning up after their dog - most parks have a supply of "pooch-pouches" and bins. You do not see much dog mess at all on public footpaths. Dog LinksLocal council guide to responsible dog ownershipwww.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/localgovt/dogownership "Walking the Dog", an occasional series which brings you classic walks of the Perth/Fremantle area Australia's Pure Breed Dog Community Cat Linkswww.catsofaustralia.com----- Other ResourcesBringing Pets into the UKInfo from the Dept of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA): www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htmIATA - International Air Transport Associationwww.iata.orgwww.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/pets.htm IATA info on shipping a dog or cat Transporting a horseIRT - International Racehorse Transport - specialists in international transport of all types of horses from racehorses to family pets.----- DisclaimerInformation on this website is intended to give the reader an overview of many aspects of life in Australia, such as healthcare, real estate, tax, superannuation etc. While we at Aussiemove.com have performed a large amount of research on each subject area, we do not claim to be experts in those fields and we recommend that migrants discuss their requirements with companies specialising in those fields before making purchases, investments or other decisions concerning their move. The content of this website is general in nature - no specific advice is intended. We provide links to other companies as a service to our readers. We have taken reasonable care to ensure that each linked website does not contain offensive or inappropriate material. However, we are not responsible for the accuracy of any of the material in any linked website, or the advice that may be contained therein. ----- |
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