Australia is known for having strict biosecurity laws for pets coming in, but what about pets going out? When I left Australia a key part of the process was figuring out how to fly our Australian Shepherd (Rose) to Europe with me.
If you want to start with the feel-good part of the story then watch to see Rose's joyful reunion! Otherwise read on to find out what was involved with the Australian pet export process and how we chose to handle it.
Organising to fly your dog out of Australia
When I first started looking into flying our dog overseas my intention was to do everything myself, but I was quickly informed that wasn't possible. This is because pets coming to and from Australia on commercial flights have to be flown as manifested cargo, and under the Australian government aviation laws individuals can't books cargo directly with an airline. Instead you need to go through an agent from a freight forwarder.
After looking at the various freight forwarder options available, we decided to find a pet transportation company who would organise the cargo and assist with the exportation process. These are a few of the pet transportation companies operating in Australia that we considered.
In the end we chose Dogtainers due to the price and reviews. They organised the transport, provided a crate and assisted with the exportation paperwork.
Getting your pet on a flight
To organise the flight I gave Dogtainers my preferred departure dates and they worked with the airlines to find the best options. The airlines have to be careful what cargo they load alongside live animals (dry ice is a big no!) so they tend to designate certain flights on the weekly schedule as allowing animals. Once Dogtainers found a suitable option they sent me an itinerary.
Looking at the itinerary, you will notice there is a long layover in Dubai. This is because Emirates SkyCargo require pets to have a 6+ hour layover, meaning the second flight needed to be bumped to the next day.
IATA approved pet transport crates
When flying in the cargo hold of a plane pets need to be inside an IATA approved crate. After considering the options I chose to get a wooden travel crate from Dogtainers. Since we were flying to Europe to move on a boat I knew I didn't want to keep a plastic one long term and the wooden one seemed spacious and sturdy.
Rose was crate trained as a puppy but we hadn't used one in a while so I was concerned with how she would cope. To get her used to spending time in the transportation crate I had it delivered to the house a month before the flight and taught her to sleep and rest in it. I also put some of our clothes in there for the scent and let her use the water bowl.
Rabies vaccinaton
As part of their service Dogtainers sent me a country profile for the European Union which listed the entry requirements. The main thing I needed to do was make sure Rose had a valid rabies vaccination. This is a relatively common requirement and most countries we've visited since leaving Australia have asked for proof of a rabies vaccination or rabies titer test.
Once I found a vet who offered rabies vaccinations it was the same process as getting any other pet vaccine. I made sure they knew it was for international travel and at the end of the appointment I received a Rabies Vaccination Certificate which became part of the export paperwork.
Australian Government pet exportation process
Here's a brief overview on the pet exportation process required by the Australian Government.
Contact a registered veterinarian who can assist with exportation.
Submit a Notice of Intention to Export Live Animal (other than Livestock) and any supporting documents to the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Prepare the animal for export including ensuring any conditions for entry at the destination have been met.
Attend a final health and welfare examination with the registered veterinarian within 72 hours of departure or whatever timeframe the importing country sets.
Attend a pre-export appointment with the regional office of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Their certifying veterinarian officer assesses the animals' documentation.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry issue an export permit and health certificate.
Within 72 hours of receiving the permit your pet must be exported.
If you choose to use a pet transport company they will take care of all of this with minimal input needed from you. Points 1-3 happened in advance. I handed Rose over to Dogtainers during Point 4 and they took care of the rest of the process before delivering her to Emirates SkyCargo for the flight.
Flying abroad
Once I gave Rose to Dogtainers I didn't see her until she arrived in Austria, but I spotted her crate on the tarmac of Perth International Airport and the agent I'd been working with at Dogtainers sent me a few emails with photos. While waiting for the flight, I discovered Rose had company for the journey in the form of a dachshund whose family were moving back to England.
During her layover in Dubai, Rose was in the care of Dubai Kennels and Cattery who are the animal handler for Emirates SkyCargo. They also provided a quick update to let me know how she went.
Touching down in Europe
Once we arrived in Europe I was able to do the Austrian part of the process with the help of a friend who spoke German. The staff at the Vienna Airport were kind enough to dispose of the wooden crate free of charge and it didn't take long for Rose to adapt to her new environment!
OFFICIAL SOURCES
For more information about exporting pets from Australia you can visit these sites.
Such a cute dog! Thanks for sharing, this has the whole thing alot clearer :)