cost of bringing pets?

[monsta]

Hey Guys,

Can anyone give me some idea of what it cost them to bring their pets across to Australia? I hear it a serious amount of money.

Thanks

[Bok]

Hi,

2 years ago it would have cost us R70 000 for two Yorkies.

[clairebear]

My cat is currently in quarantine and she was just over R20 000 and then my mom and sister are sending the 4 dogs and they are just over R100 000 for all 4 dogs

[Cramer]

My cat is currently in quarantine and she was just over R20 000 and then my mom and sister are sending the 4 dogs and they are just over R100 000 for all 4 dogs

Is that including the air flight?

[monsta]

Anyone taken cats over?

[Settled]

Its a personal choice, you need to consider the cost, the effect on the family and the particular animal's temperament / age and the quarantine duration.

I didn't think my dog would handle it as she's quite neurotic. I was lucky to unexpectedly find the PERFECT home for her. However, I suspect that that is not often the case.

Good luck with this decision.

J

[JacquesV]

My cat is currently in quarantine and she was just over R20 000 and then my mom and sister are sending the 4 dogs and they are just over R100 000 for all 4 dogs

4 dogs for R100 000?? Are you sure about this? If so that's CHEAP!!!!! We were quoted close to that amount for our 2...and that doesn't include the 1 month in Oz or any fluctuations in airfare prices.

[monsta]

4 dogs for R100 000?? Are you sure about this? If so that's CHEAP!!!!! We were quoted close to that amount for our 2...and that doesn't include the 1 month in Oz or any fluctuations in airfare prices.

I hear it depends on the kennels... some are just nicer than others and more expensive. Also it depends on the size of your dogs.

[JacquesV]

I hear it depends on the kennels... some are just nicer than others and more expensive. Also it depends on the size of your dogs.

I got quotes from all 3 'major' kennels and none of them came in at less that R65k for 6 months in SA. (Our dogs are medium sized). We'd still then need to factor in the cost of the Oz stint on top of that plus all the hidden extras.

I struggle to see how 7 months quarantine can cost R25k for even a small sized dog.

To the OP, it's best to contact the kennel's yourself and get a detailed quote from them instead of going on our posts. For all we know your dogs could be hamster sized mutts and you can get away with R5k

[SANZOZ]

We got a quote for around R200 000 for 2 large dogs and 3 cats about 2 years ago

[Garrick]

Ok... probably going to get an arm/leg bitten/scratched here...but...

As someone who was not "rich" in South Africa, but was able to plan sufficiently to have money to buy a car cash here and a small backup fund... it makes me a little ill to see that people can spend so much money on pets.

I was talking to someone yesterday, about a family member putting down their 15-year-old cat because she was quirky, and they couldn't afford to bring them over, and I explained that though I had had pets growing up, because we moved around so much, I got used to "detaching" myself from people as we moved to a new city. So saying goodbye to a pet I'd had for years, was not hard. I loved those pets, and had so much fun with them...but we just moved on - the cats went to friends/family and the dogs "went to the farm" if they were too old; one dog did go with us for a few years. It's hard to explain, but I'm just trying to give some insight as to how I find it completely bizarre that people can spend so much money to bring an animal or 2 or 3 or... with them.

Excuse me if this is rude, but are you people rolling in cash that you can easily throw 10's of thousands of Rands at things like this?

This is a topic that genuinely intrigues me, so please, I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm just trying to understand.

-G

Edited November 2, 2010 by Garrick

[Sibella]

This is a topic that genuinely intrigues me, so please, I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm just trying to understand.

-G

[SANZOZ]

It's a fair question, but it really depends on if you are an animal lover or just a person who had pets growing up. I know it would be very hard to understand if you don't see pets as a part of the family.

If we were rolling in cash we definitely would have brought them over. Our pets were everything to us, a lot easier to deal with than most of the people/family we knew and always happy to see you. Ok, I'm speaking for the dogs... not so much the cats! It was honestly one of the darkest days of my life when I had to rehome my "children". I think it really helps people to settle when things are still familiar around them. And also, when you buy a pet you are making a promise to look after them until they die so its a very hard thing to say goodbye and feel that you have broken that promise, no matter how wonderful the new home is.

Although I must say these cats I have now have awesome personalities but jislaaikit they are hard work!! Most of the cleaning I do is because of them!!! And they aren't Aussie cats, they are kiwis. I'm sure my SA cats weren't this bad!

[Jordy]

For me personally, the reason we brought our cat (R25-R30000 I cant remember) was because when we adopted him from the SPCA we signed a piece of paper that said we would look after him. The fact that we wanted to immigrate was not the cats fault and did not suddenly excuse us from the responsibilities we accepted when we signed those adoption papers. We had to factor in the cost of quarentine to see if we could afford it or not. We ended up selling my car to pay for the cat's costs. Do I regret it? Not for one second. I would swop my car anyday for a life - even a cat's life.

[zoot]

Nope not rolling in cash, not even close - but - they are my fur kids as simple as that. As much as you wouldnt leave your spouse or your kids behind for me it is the same - they ARE my family. I knew it was going to cost and started saving big time, it is waaay more expensive than I had thought but I would rather do without and scrimp and save on my own stuff than let them do without as simple as that. If I had have had someone who would have taken them in and given them a loving home I may have considered leaving them in South Africa but that option wasnt available - so they are coming to Oz. Fortunately the Au$ Rand exchange rate works in my favour. As for finding a place with my pets well that is a bridge I will cross when I come to it - but if I have to knock on the door of every estate agent until I find a pet friendly rental then so be it.

[VanessaT]

Garricke for some people their pets are indeed immediate family and its as simple as that. And so ours are coming with us too. My heart would break to leave them... and no not rolling in cash but will find a way to make it all work.

Our cat also came from the SPCA- she is a special creature often bites us if she didn't feel like a pet at that moment but we love her regardless. And even though we (adults) get bitten, our son of 2 can't do any wrong to her, she adores him.

Our doggie is a little baby in a fur body.

So we thought about what if they get new homes, they might not be good homes, then quarantine aint so bad. If they don't find new homes and would have to be put down, then quarantine aint that bad. So our furbabies are going to quarantine.

As for the cost, this is my breakdown so far:

Microchip each x 2 R600

Quarantine SA R40044 (6 months)

Flights R8000

Pre Quarantine Tests R1600

Aus Quaratine Cat R6834

Aus Quaratine Dog R8874

[Mara]

I agree, some folks just don't get it, where pets are concerned. They do become a part of your life, and let's be honest, I don't think anyone would dream of re-homing their children, would they?

[Dereko]

I agree, some folks just don't get it, where pets are concerned. They do become a part of your life, and let's be honest, I don't think anyone would dream of re-homing their children, would they?

I agree too, having my fury four legged children with me here in Aus, is priceless. I will probably never have the opportunity to have children in this lifetime, so for me having animals is the closest I will get to having children, so I might as well love them the same as children. Animal lovers will be able to relate to this.

The great thing about an animal is that after the 7 months of separation, you feed, water, walk and love them and they continue loving you in the same way. Some kids hate their parents for moving them across the world away from their family and friends, so if I had to make a choice between leaving my kids or animals behind, the animals might win. Don't take the last line seriously, I am only trying to make light of this topic.

[Chocaholic]

Our cats entered quarantine at Keringa about 2 weeks ago and while sending them off has so far been by far THE hardest thing we had to do as far as this whole emigration process is concerned the thought of leaving them behind was just too much. They truly are part of our family and a big part of our daily life and I have no doubt that they will make it so much more easy for us - especially for our children - to settle in Australia. I must say though that I am very worried how they are going to cope with such a long time in those small kennels....

Plus if we had to rehome them, we would have had to give them to total strangers, as noone we know would have been able to take them as they either had too many pets of their own, or don't like cats or were not allowed to keep pets in their complex etc. etc. Who knows what would have become of them then....

As for the question regarding the quarantine cost we were quoted the following by Keringa (for 2 cats):

6 months in Quarantine in SA R 43.214,21

Approx. flight cost to Sydney R 5.000,08

Collection from P.E. to Keringa R 1.673,20

plus there will be the cost of Quarantine in Australia - don't know yet how much that will be

I would still like to hear from someone in the know though why on earth it is necessary for pets to stay that long in quarantine - I know it is to avoid bringing rabies into Australia - however, I don't understand why one couldn't just have the animals regularly vaccinated plus have them regularly tested prior to bringing them over (surely one could supply proof of such tests) and then maybe just put them into quarantine for a much shorter time? Oh, well, to late for our pets now....at least we'll see them again soon...)

Cheers, Tanja

[Mara]

Chocoholic the incubation period for rabies can be up to six months, that is why the seven month rule exists. Once you start your life in Australia, and you realise how many dreadful diseases that exist in the world have never found their way to Australia, you may start to appreciate why they are so strict about this.

[Chocaholic]

...but.....if they have been regularly vaccinated ....?

But, I am sure, they know what's best - .......I am just still trying to get to terms with my poor darlings sitting there in their kennel wondering where their family is......sniff........however, according to the people at Keringa and the lady that goes in for me to check on them and play with them they are fine.......While the next couple of months will probably go by in a flash for us I don't quite know whether it will be the same for them.....ah, well, just have to look forward to seeing them again........ (aha - I finally found the emoticon with the tears...)

[Mara]

I do understand why you feel that way, when mine go to kennels when we go away, the site of their sad faces, breaks my heart.

Just focus on the day they get home, what a joyous occasion that is going to be!

[acmac]

Just wondering what the procedure is from getting dogs to airport and checking them in? how many hours prior to take off do they need to be checked in, etc.? and could they fly alone, or do they require an accompanying human passenger as my plan is for my folks to drop them off and I could fetch them on the other side? - although, because they need to go into quarantine on the other side - how does that work, do I need to take them to the quarantine facilities or would the company handling the quarantine pick them up directly from airport and take them to the facilities?

Edited August 26, 2014 by acmac

[Splunken]

[21yearsoutofrsa]

Just wondering what the procedure is from getting dogs to airport and checking them in? how many hours prior to take off do they need to be checked in, etc.? and could they fly alone, or do they require an accompanying human passenger as my plan is for my folks to drop them off and I could fetch them on the other side? - although, because they need to go into quarantine on the other side - how does that work, do I need to take them to the quarantine facilities or would the company handling the quarantine pick them up directly from airport and take them to the facilities?

While I don't know, I can't see the point in you collecting your pets in Australia. The whole idea is that they are isolated, entrusting that to a non customs person means that Australia's fauna and flora at risk.