Dogs to NZ

[NDT]

Hi all,

I am trying to get as much info as possible about taking our 3 dogs with us from SA to NZ.

Any advice?

[mbl77]

We used these guys - http://www.animal-travel.com/

Brace yourself, its expensive.

[Amber]

Hi air care pet services is a company I see often out of New Zealand. Not sure if they do the other way too.
Good luck

[Anna007]

sorry cant help much with advice about getting them here as we didn't bring our dog with as SA dogs still had the long quarantine when we came over 

your dogs will have a royal time in NZ  as there are many outdoor areas/parks/beaches in NZ that allow dogs (if you're a responsible dog owner that picks up after your dog...) 

I would definitely suggest pet insurance as vet care are quite expensive 

[Totally Kiwi]

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[Zedd]

We saw from the online documentation that the only approved quarantine stations are in Auckland and Christchurch.  Is this true?  If so, if we move to Wellington, which is the easier commute to fetch our dogs from?  Auckland or Christchurch from Wellington.

[Aaron]

Ha, interesting one.

An 8 hour Drive to Auckland and then back; or a 3-4 (Can't remember how long) Interisland Ferry to Picton and then a 3-4 hour drive to Christchurch on top of that!

The ferry would add expense compared to driving.

Aaron

[Zedd]

Cheers. I see that the Auckland kennels will fly them down.

[Totally Kiwi]

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[Zedd]

Thanks, Totally Kiwi

[Dawid S]

We are using petwings.
Keringa.co.za

[Zedd]

They are ridiculous with their quotes.  Last year, we were quoted R23k.  We requested a better quote and they came back with R18k.  The other day my wife requested an updated quote: R50k.  No breakdown, nothing.  Price gouging, much?  So Quantas told us of another company who came in with a sane figure (waaayyyyy less than R50k!).  (take that, keringa shills).
Quantas will not work with private individuals, only companies.  I can understand that.  However, petwings seems to have merged with keringa and their prices nearly tripled in the process.  If it weren't for the free market competition, that would be almost extortion: pay us or kill your dogs.

[TheJo]

Hi NDT, one other thing that I don't know if you've looked at: Google the council bylaws on dogs in the areas you intend on staying. I looked about a year ago and (in Auckland) there is a limit on how many dogs you can have for the land space you live on. It usually worked out to one dog for an average household. You also had the option to apply for permission for another dog. But the limit was definitely 2, unless you lived on a huge lifestyle property.

Now I don't know if this rule is enforced or if people ignore it but since I've been here I can't recall ever seeing someone with more than 2 dogs.

Also if you are renting you will have a really tough time. Most places say no pets and those that are negotiable are usually only going to consider cats. If you are lucky they might allow a small dog. 

Good luck to you. This is the most difficult part of the process in my opinion. I still miss my dogs every day, although I had to give them up for a different reason - not because of moving to NZ.

[NDT]

Hi all,

Yes I have looked at council bylaws, which sucks! LOL It seems that if we do bring the dogs over only 2 of them will be coming in any case. I took them all for updated rabies shots last week as they need to have them 6 months before they travel. So they will have to stay behind here for a while in any case before the 6 months is up. This has all happened so fast.

Our other problem is landlords not allowing dogs at the houses. SO we will have to bypass that one too still.

[Gypsymom]

Hi, there used to be a quarantine kennels in Levin, it is worth checking out if you going to be in Wellington. I brought my two small dogs over - very expensive, but I couldn't leave them behind.  Vets are expensive here, and if your dog is old, then insurance companies are not interested. I have since rehomed them,  I was extremely lucky to have found them loving homes.  Why?  My lifestyle change would have meant them being tied up 24/7, except when they were taken for walks.  That is the life of a lot of dogs in NZ but I didn't want that for mine.  Good luck with whatever decision you make.  It is, I think< one of the hardest things about immigration, what to do with the four legged family members.