Notice to all importing pets to Australia - NB!!!

[catherineg]

hi Stonerose

I am currently looking for a place that allows pets. Some do some dont. The dogs (dont know about cats etc) need to be registered with the local council and to rent a place you have to fill out an application form which the agency checks. On the application form you fill in the details about the pets.

As for beaches. Its quite simple. They must be on the lead but some beaches won't allow them at all. Some beaches (but mostly bays) allow the dogs off the lead. My collie saw sea for the first time and made a dash into it. Even my schnauzer who hates water went for a run in the bay. Quite amusing to see. There are dog parks here where dogs are allowed to socialise and play.

[Simpsons]

Hi there.

We have just started with the whole immigration process, So although it's still a while before we leave etc: I can't bare the thought of leaving my pet behind, can also not afford to pay a fortune for this. I have requested a quote by Keringa to immigrate my Boerbull with us, but one of my other concerns is, what if I am unable to find a rent house that allows animals and that has big enough grounds for him, again without having to pay an arm and leg?

Any advice?

[Russell]

Hi Candy,

Sorry to put a damper on things but I think one of the breed that they do not allow into Australia is the boerbull breed. Just double check me but Keringa should know.

Regards

Russell

[MCD]

Hi Melchior

This is the reply we received on enquiring about taking our African Grey to Oz:

"

The IRA of psittacine birds has been on hold for some years, for a variety of reasons, including competing priorities for other IRAs, and a shortage of resources. It has also been difficult because a number of the diseases of concern which can affect psittacine birds such as African greys are relatively newly described and poorly understood.

This has meant that the IRA has been complicated in that there was little evidence on which to base the risk analysis, especially when considering:

(A) the likely effects of introduction of those diseases to Australia's unique native bird populations, and

( any possible risk management measures.

In particular it has not been possible to recommend testing of birds proposed to be imported, since in some cases the causative agent of the disease was unknown, and the clinical symptoms may take a very long time to be expressed, requiring that birds may have had to be in quarantine for years to accurately determine whether they were free of disease or not. This was clearly not a practical solution to the problem.

In recent years there has been some progress in the understanding of some of these diseases, and as soon as resources become available we will re-activate work on this IRA. However, it is not possible to state now when this might occur, or what the possible outcomes might be.

I understand that this does not assist in resolving your desire to bring your pet with you when you come to Australia, but I trust that you can understand that we must be careful to protect our environment and in particular our native birds. May I suggest that you regularly refer to our website, as we will advise when work on the IRA has recommenced. You may also wish to register as a stakeholder, which will mean that you will be directly notified of progress on IRAs that you have an interest in. Details of how to register are available on our web site.

Please don't hesitate to contact me again if you have further queries

Sincerely

David Buckley

Manager (Avian and Quarantine Continuum)

Biosecurity Australia

PO Box 858

Canberra ACT 2601

AUSTRALIA

Tel: +61 2...

Fax: +61 2 6272 3399

E-mail: david.buckley@biosecurity.gov.au

Visit: www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au

"

This is not an easy decision - keep us posted on the NZ route, please.

Regards

[Simpsons]

Thanks Russel, Eeeck, not sure what I'll do with my baby, I will check it out though!

Candy

[Simpsons]

Russell,

I contacted Keringa, and sigh of relief, Oz does allow Boerbulls in, but NOT Pitbulls!

I am in the process of obtaining quotes from Keringa and Kookaburra.

Candy

[Melchior]

Thanks MCD.

Will keep you posted.

[Johnny & Rene]

Hi,

I have posted a request somewhere else but thought I'd do it again.

Our Jack Russel is going to Keringa on wednesday 21 May 2008. We've got 3 dogs but only taking the 1. Found 2 lovely homes for the other 2.

I am seriously concerned because now she will be all by herself untill we meet again in 7 months time.

Anybody out there near Keringa that I can ask to check up on her for me and visit her, we stay in Nelspruit which means its about 350km en 2 tollgates to get to her. We will make a plan to see her when ever possible. I am willing to pay somebody to do this for me.

Thanx guys my heart is breaking just thinking about this, she is an absolute house pet. They have a doggy door so they get in and out when ever they feel like. Sleeps on the beds with us. Most of you know what I am trying to say.

Please please anybody that can assist me I would really appreciate it tremendously.

Rene

[Este11e]

Hi Rene

I hope you find someone to visit her!

We have two Labradors at Keringa currently. They’ve been there for two months now

We visit them everyday but we can only get there at 5pm which means there is no later slot for me to visit your baby…sorry. We are also leaving end of June and we’ve asked friends and family to visit a few times a week. It breaks my heart that I am not going to see my dogs for three months…

I will ask the Keringa personnel if they know of people who visit pets for a fee…I will let you know.

We also had a pet sitter in Pretoria, she was willing to visit them for a fee…maybe you should go to some vets/pet shops in Kempton and get numbers of pet sitters. I am sure that someone would be willing to visit your girl.

Some suggestion that I can make, bring sufficient bedding (more than 1 set) – a nice basket or soft bed. Some dogs tear their bedding because of boredom. Bring plenty of blankets, toys and lots of chewy treats. Most of the dogs at Keringa are single dogs whose owners are already in Oz. They really don’t seem too affected by it – dogs are amazing adaptable creatures.

Good luck for the 21st…it will not be easy but remember the bigger picture

[SeanK]

I phoned Keringa for a quote too.I love my cat but he isnt a thoroughbred or pedigreed animal.I thought R20 000 was a bit steep to send him along.

[Johnny & Rene]

Hi Este11e,

Thanx for the mail.

I can not describe in words how my heart throbs everytime I look at the wall clock and seeing time fly by. From reading everybody's mail about Keringa I now she will be looked after but to leave her there on wednesday will surely be one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do in my life.

Have made a list of goodies that must go along with her, was wondering if I can have a leg amputated to leave for her to sleep behind because that is where she sleeps.

Wanted to bring her to work with me just to make sure I can spend all the time that I have till wednesday with her.

My biggest fear is her being lonely, she is used to having two other dogs at the house and now she is going to be alone. We can not afford to take all of them with us and the others are going to very good homes.

Thanx for all the pep talk and understanding from everybody it means and helps a lot.

Rene

[Ready2go]

Johnny and Rene

Oh the heartache.

We have two Siamese girls and the day is coming to say goodbye. Just cant afford to get them to Canberra. Wish I was a rich man

Hang in there, my thoughts are with you.

[Ruwayne Nell]

Hi there.

We have a 10 month old Corgi, and were considering putting him in Quarantine, a few questions though that I am really worried about.

Do their personalities change? Our corgi has a really gentle nature and what if he becomes agressive or anxious being around barking dogs all day. Will he be well taken care of?, I hear that if you don't visit often they forget you, Is this true?

I'm really stressing about this, and I just want to know he will be safe. We live in Grahamstown, so what is the nearest quarantine? maybe Port Elizabeth?

[ADK]

Hi Melchior,

Lyk my ons sit in dieselfde bootjie. Ons het ook ‘n African Grey kind, dit breek my hart om te weet hy mag nie saam trek nie.

Hy gaan saam met my ma agter bly, sy is van plan om ons oor so paar jaar in Aus join, hopenlik mag hy teen daai tyd saam kom.

Baie sterkte, dis nie 'n lekker besluit nie

[Johnny & Rene]

Ons het al n eerste besoek af gele en behalwe dat dit n uur en n half gevat het om my babietjie te kalmeer het sy nie n persoonlikheids verandering ondergaan nie net die skerp blaf wat sy gehad het is nou n bietjie gebreek. Nog die selfde hond het all die truuks wat ek haar geleer het onthou. En moet nie worry nie Collin is n fantastiese persoon wat net soos ek nie sonder my babietjie kan lewe nie, all die mense by Keringa is uitstekend.

[Este11e]

Ja nee kyk, dis seker vir my die slegste deel van hierdie hele affere - my arme honde...

Hulle is nou al vier maande daar, nog twee dan vlieg hulle hier na Sydney toe en die laaste maand, hulle kom 12 Oktober huis toe - dis nog so lank

Ons honde was so gelukkig by Keringa, ek begin wonder of hulle nie daar sou wou bly as hulle 'n se gehad het nie

Ons was egter gelukkig dat ons vir drie van die maande vir hulle kon gaan kuier, elke dag - ons het nou familie en vriende ingespan om die kuier werk te doen.

Ek kan nie eens indink hoe moeilik dit moet wees vir die van julle wat glad nie kan gaan kuier nie...

Onthou net, hulle is in BAIE goeie hande terwyl hulle by Keringa is. Honde pas so vinnig aan en hulle vergeet jou nie sommer nie. As hy jou dalk so bietjie vergeet het sal hy in elk geval weer binne 'n week aangaan asof niks gebeur het nie.

Gelukkig hou hulle nie grudges nie anders was 'n paar van ons dalk in die moeilikheid

Rene, ek het so baie aan jou gedink toe ons laas gepraat het. Dit was net voor julle haar Keringa toe sou vat. Wat is haar naam? Ek het haar dalk daar gesien elke dag wat ek gaan kuier het.

As enige iemand nog vrae het oor Keringa is jy welkom om my te PM...

Estelle

[Alibaba]

Ons 2 honde was 3 maande in Keringa en ons kon hulle nooit besoek nie. Hulle doen nou 4 maande in Melbourne, kom vroeg Sep uit. Ons mag hier nie meer as 2 keer per week gaan kuier nie, maar aangesien dit nogal ver is ry ek en ons dogtertjie net een keer per week.

Moenie worry nie, ons het hulle vir 3 maande nie gesien nie en met ons eerste besoek hier het ek natuurlik my oe uitgehuil van blydskap om hulle weer te sien. Hulle het ons onmiddelik herken. Hulle is ongelooflik goed versorg, word gereeld geweeg en gereeld gebad. Ek dink my Spaniel se haardos is in 'n beter toestand as toe ek na haar gekyk het, dit lyk asof haar pels gereeld geborsel word. Hulle word elke dag geoefen en word net so lief vir die mense wat na hulle kyk. Ek se net gister vir my man nadat ons daar was dat hulle nog net dieselfde ou Vicky en Josie is. Hardloop soos mal goed rond, soen nog steeds die baba in haar gesig, alles, alles is dieselfde. Hulle het 'n baie beter survivor instink as ons en nie 'n besef van tyd soos ons nie. Kan nie wag dat hulle huis toe kom nie, maar ons is amper daar.

Daar is baie diere by die kwarentynstasie wat alleen oorkom. Ek kan ongelukkig nie se of dit vir hulle baie sleg is nie. Miskien is hulle ook maar aanpasbaar net soos ons.

Ek was die heel bekommerdste oor die lang vlug, maar hulle het dit goed hanteer en saam met 3 ander "families" gevlieg hiernatoe.

Dis duur, maar nou ja, dis wat ons besluit het om te doen en gelukkig het ons van ons huis se geld gehad om dit te kon doen. Vir die wat dit nie kan doen nie, ek moes ook enetjie agterlos en al verlang ek na haar weet ek sy het die wonderlikste huis gekry. Vir die wat gladnie diere kan bring nie, hier is die pragtigste diere wat jy as babas kan koop of by die RSPCA kan aanneem wat ook liefdevolle huise soek. Ek sou dit gedoen het as ek nie myne kon bring nie. Ek vind die honde hier goed gemanierd, almal vriendelik en pragtig.

[lori]

Hi!

I wonder if any of you have put your beloved babies into Keringa Kennels for 6 months of dreaded quarantine in SA?

I am due to leave Cape Town in 5 or 6 weeks (still haven't had the courage to book my ticket!) and will be leaving Yoda & Binx, my 2 blue point Siamese boys at a lovely cattery here in Cpt, as they are only booked to start their quarantine from the 22nd of September. This wasn't what I hoped for, as I wanted to know that they were safely up in Jhb before I left, but it was the earliest date they could give me even though I made the booking in March!

Anyway, I am grateful that I can take them with me to Perth, as they are only 3 years old and I am convinced that there is no-one that could love them as much as I do! I am dreading their stay in the small pen, and even though I know they will be housed together, I wonder if they will pine, get bored or if someone will check if they are cold (as they sleep on a warm beanbag every night!) or to my horror... will they notice if my boys get sick?

So if any of you have been through this, I would love to know how both you and your kitties coped, as I will already be in Perth for the duration of their quarantine, so I can't even go visit or see how they have settled in. What can I send to Keringa to make their stay easier? I would really appreciate it if anyone who has kitties in quarantine and visits them regularly wouldn't mind visiting my boys, taking a picture of them occasionally and letting me know how they are doing. I am already in tears at the thought of all of this! I visited the Byford station in Perth and found it to be rather jail-like, open to the outside cold/heat and a bit rundown, so that's why I chose to keep them in SA for as long as possible. At least they will only be in Perth for a month before I finally get to take them home.

Please could anyone with any advise on my situation please drop me a line! I'd really appreciate all the help I can get as I've been told that this whole process is harder for me than for my animals!!!

Lori

[BoereworsBabe]

Hi there,

New to the board....

We are scheduled to leave for Oz in Dec BUT the thought of leaving my babies behind makes me sick to my stomach!! Unfortunately we don't have the funds available to take them over and our Pincher (Tammy) is an old lady so i'm worried that she won't make the flight. I too contacted Keringa and they are fully booked until March 09. FYI they do give the pets a mild sedative to make the flight a little more bearable. At least there is some light at the end of our tunnel. My sister-in-law will be moving into our townhouse and she is more than willing to keep Mishka (cat) and Tammy (dog). That is a weight off my shoulders knowing they will still be in their "home" and well looked after

[Johnny & Rene]

Lori,

Your pets will be fine.

I sent you a PM.

Regards

Rene

[Este11e]

Hi Lori

My two dogs are close to their final month at Keringa – they did their 6 months in SA for the same reasons you mentioned. The Australian quarantine stations do not even compare to the quality that Keringa offers.

I walked past the cattery everyday for three months whilst visiting my two Labradors.

The cats were always sitting outside, very relaxed, baking in the sun. There was always someone around, cleaning or just giving them some attention. Some people provided scratch poles for their cats (the ones with multiple levels). Some even had plants close by – not sure if that’s from an owner or just Keringa décor…I would suggest sending comfortable cat beds and lots of blankets and toys.

The quarantine is dreadful but only because we miss them so much.

Unfortunately I can’t comment on how cats adapt to the change, but what I can say is that your animal will be in professional hands. Keringa has a resident vet that check on the animals daily. Their eating habits and behaviours are monitored closely. They have had over 2 thousand pets through their doors and they know what problematic signs to look for and how to respond to them.

I would not lie and say that the quarantine is not difficult – it really sucks! But I would much rather go through 7 months of missing them than never seeing them again – they are such a big part of our lives. I did most of my crying before they went in, after that it was like “Just get through itâ€, there is no going back now…

Good luck…I really really know what you’re going through…

[ChrisinBris]

Hi all,

Has anyone gone the route of sending pets to a another country, one with less strict quarantines to Aus, before bringing them in?

Thanks

[Este11e]

We considered the option.

Problem is, your pet must have been continuously living in the country of export for a minimum of 6 months

We considered the U.S (with zero quarantine), but the dogs would have to stay there for 6 months before being allowed access to Oz.

Then it’s just as well having them stay in SA for 6 months, it minimizes the cost and travelling.

See http://www.daffa.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs

[ChrisinBris]

We are thinking of our cats visiting my brother in the US for six months, his kids are 12 and 9 so they will get lots of attention and the we will send them to Oz.

That way they are able to have a pleasant quarantine experience (and see more of the world than I have)

[LuJVR]

Any advice or experiences with Kookaburra kennels?

Edited August 10, 2008 by LuJVR