PetRelocation.com Blog

Driver Spotlight: John Kernan from Pawsitively Dogs

Caitlin Moore — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Anyone who has planned a pet relocation knows that there are many moving parts to attend to. We can do a lot from our home base (make phone calls, arrange vet visits, order custom crates, etc.), but bringing pets to and from the airport, to and from boarding facilities, and ultimately home to your front door requires the services of someone trustworthy and adept at the more physical, location-specific tasks associated with moving pets.

PetRelocation.com entrusts this job to various pet transportation professionals around the world, and we thought it was about time to introduce you to a few of them.

First up is John Kernan of Pawsitively Dogs, who started out as a businessman in California. Family matters brought him back to his hometown of Rochester, NY, and he ended up staying there when he realized he'd rather run a pet-sitting business than return to the world of suits and ties.

We're glad this animal-lover made the career switch, as he's helped us with several moves in the upper New York region. John has even crossed the border into Canada to move a pet, so he can call himself an international pet mover!

To give all of us a better idea of what goes on during every part of the pet move, we recently asked John a few questions about his experiences. Here's more about moving pets from a driver's point of view...

How did you get started as a pet transporter?

I've come to the pet transportation business by way of the pet sitting business. Prior to that, I was in corporate America in the information technology sales world.

I've been involved in volunteer rescue for 10 or more years, walking dogs at shelters and ASPCA centers. I left the corporate world after my Dad passed and Mom wasn't doing so well. As the single sibling (I have seven others), it was easiest for me to take a break, leave California, and return to Rochester for what I thought would be a year or so.

While here, I indulged my passion for animals through work as a volunteer dog walker and trainer at the local ASPCA. I work with another rescue group here called Nuts for Mutts as well. As Mom improved I decided to start a pet sitting business rather than return to corporate America.

I began assisting with local ASPCA events, continued transporting on occasion as part of my pet taxi service, and more recently began transporting for PetRelocation.com in the New York and southern Ontario, Canada regions.

Is there anything else that inspired you to embrace this line of work?

I have a rescue dog named Bobby whose story I tell under the My Inspiration section of my website. He's been my best pal for over 8 years now...makes me laugh every single day.

Here's an excerpt from John's website:

I met him during my volunteer work as a dog walker at a No-Kill shelter in Nevada. He’d been deposited there by animal control after spending the first few months of his life on the street. After finding out that the poor guy never got walked and had been there almost a year (a positive example of this shelter’s commitment to its residents), I needed another volunteer to assist me in cornering Bobby so I could put a leash on him for a walk.

After several walks it became apparent that he was totally overwhelmed and confused… his head remained down, tail low, always hunching down as he slinked along beside me. I later learned that he’d been there almost a year and they were concerned that he might not be adoptable. I could hear no more and decided to take him home. He lay in the bed I bought him for over a week without once barking; only venturing out with me for potty breaks. Gradually, he improved as he learned to trust me and his new surroundings.

It took time and patience but he is now a shining example of what trust and affection can do for a wounded animal. His loyalty continues to astound me and he makes me laugh every single day!

What is the best part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is my initial meeting with the dogs at airport pick-ups. This potty break is often the first time they get out of their crates for hours, and they can be confused. It's nice to see the subtle changes as you talk to them and reassure them that everything is going to be OK. They're just dying for a reassuring voice and touch after a long flight, and will often nuzzle right up to you for comfort. Final delivery to the customer is also great as the animal first recognizes his "long-lost" owner.

What has been your longest trip, and do you have any interesting transport stories?

The longest transport to date was from Rochester, NY to Mississauga, Ontario, a distance of over 300 miles.

It was interesting crossing the border with the two pups I had in two separate cages. It was all I could do to convince the customs rep that I was NOT transporting illegal aliens but instead legal canines! He also found it difficult to understand that I did not own the dogs, but instead was transporting them on behalf of a pet transportation company.

After several rounds of questions and perusals at my paperwork, he finally waved me through. I do believe this was a first for him!

What advice do you have for pet owners that may help put their minds at ease during a relocation?

I think that it helps the owners to have a contact telephone number with the drivers. I always call the owner prior to pick-up at their location or from the airport prior to delivering their pet to them. It is certainly reassuring to know that the transport person is also another pet lover and understands what you're going through. I've found that customers really do appreciate the call.

--

We thank John for speaking with us and look forward to working with him to move many more pets!

Pet Travel Question: Importing a Dog to Canada and Transiting through Europe

Pet Travel Questions — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Name: Wendy
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog (puppy)
Pet Breed: Westie
From: London
To: Vancouver

I am trying to bring a three to four month old pup from London to Vancouver, Canada in the cabin with me. If I fly from London via Frankfurt or Paris, do I have to comply with their Pet Passport regulation? We would not be stopping, but as Air Canada will not fly London/Vancouver with a pet in the cabin we are having to take an alternate route so that we can do that. The other alternative is to come through the US. Any advice?

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for contacting us! In this situation you'll want to check out the pet import requirements for Canada and abide by those. In general it's not necessary to meet the import requirements for a country that you're just transiting through, but it's a good idea to consult the airline you end up choosing to find out about their specific policies. We also invite you to search our blog for any other topics you may be wondering about.

Good luck with your trip, and please contact us if you have any more questions!

Pet Move of the Month: Relocating Five Pets to Sri Lanka

PetRelocation.com Customer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Owning multiple pets already means living a life filled with a little more adventure than the average person, so imagine if, on top of that, you were traveling the world with a menagerie in tow.

That's the story behind February's Pet Move of the Month -- with three cats (Tom, Pom and Mobster) and two dogs (Felice and Worsie), Cindy and her husband Luigi have relocated more than once and haven't yet settled anywhere for good. Read more about their recent move to Sri Lanka, and join us in wishing them all the best as they continue their world travels!

Is this the first time you’ve ever moved your pets?
No, we’ve relocated quite a bit actually. The first time was from the Netherlands to Italy and the last time (before moving to Sri Lanka) was from Scotland to Namibia.

What were some of your concerns going into the move?
Our relocation from Scotland to Namibia did not go well at all, so we were actually concerned about everything! In particular about Felice, as the blood tests in Scotland went wrong as a result of which he could not travel with the rest and even had to make an additional stopover in Zimbabwe, as the results were not available on time.

So, all in all we were very, very concerned. But this gradually all disappeared as Christina really knew what she was doing and really seemed to have it all under control. I must admit that we were worried about the time frame -- in particular the blood samples that had to be shipped to South Africa, as the testing could not be done in Namibia. We had just seven days from drawing the blood to receiving the test results, but it all went very well and everybody involved was really great!

Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
Well, not particularly about the international pet moving process itself, as we’ve become quite familiar with it, but the approach of PetRelocation.com was definitely refreshing!

How are your pets adjusting to the new location?
Very well!! The temperatures are somewhat lower than in Namibia and the humidity is many times higher, but they don’t seem to be bothered by it. The dogs love the garden and the cats love running around the house.

At night (we live “on top of a hill” as the last house of this “street”), thousands of bats fly past our house, and this is something our cats love! They have actually already become accustomed to this and they wait for it to happen (and then Pom starts climbing the window bars hoping to catch one)!

Pom and Tom
What is life like in Sri Lanka? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
I would not describe it as pet-friendly actually. There are so many dogs living on the street, which is something I find hard to accept. It’s difficult to take the dogs for a walk, as street dogs might attack them. Fortunately we have lots of land around the house where they can run about.

We do live close to the Veterinary Medicine Faculty of the University of Peradeniya, and vet services are said to be good around here. So far I haven’t seen any pet stores yet. I do know of a specialized K-9 store in Colombo (the capital of Sri Lanka), but here in the Kandy region there's nothing so far!

Supermarkets generally sell cat and dog food (Whiskas, Pedigree, etc.), but nothing really fancy. Litter boxes and litter box sand is nowhere to be found, so we had to improvise. We now use large plastic washing bowls with wood fluff in it as litter boxes, and the cats don’t really seem to mind.

Mobster the Cat

Luigi created a scratch pole from pieces of wood and coconut rope, which they appreciate very much. We normally cook for all the guys twice a day, and they do appreciate the fresh fish that is abundantly available over here.

What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
Start early if you know you’re about to relocate! We contacted PetRelocation.com about 10 months in advance, and this might seem ridiculous, but in the end it really worked in our favor as we were able to think of a Plan B or even a Plan C if Plan A would not appear to be feasible. And it also gave Christina lots of time to organize all the people involved and find the best agents throughout the route.

--

Please contact PetRelocation.com if you have any questions about moving pets to Sri Lanka (or anywhere else). Who knows, maybe you'll be our next Pet Move of the Month!

Pet Move Customer Testimonial: Jake and Rodney's Move to the UK

PetRelocation.com Customer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:05:26 +0000

Name: Tina
Pets' Names: Rodney and Jake
From: Redding, California
To: Ramsey, Mereside, Cambs, UK

I was really scared about moving Rodney and Jake all the way to the United Kingdom. Rebecca was so kind to me and really helped calm my fears. She was with me every step of the way, including all my vet visits. Everything went so smoothly.

When Rodney and Jake arrived to me in the UK they looked so happy to see me and didn't have any ill effects from their journey. They were happy to be with me in England. I would recommend PetRelocation.com to anyone who was wanting to relocate with their pets. They made what could have been a very stressful experience into such smooth sailing!!!! Thank you sooo much.

Tina, Rodney and Jake.

Tour de Woof: Raising Awareness for Animal Rescue Shelters

Caitlin Moore — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Need a pick-me-up this afternoon? Check out this fun and uplifting tale of an Australian pup named Sahara who recently traveled around her country raising awareness -- and about $5,000 -- for the cause of animal rescue shelters.

A rescue dog herself, Sahara does a great job of highlighting the benefits and rewards of fostering and adopting rescue pets, and the money she raised will go to the shelters she visits in the video.

Take a look, and perhaps take a moment to think about what you can do to help rescue shelters and pets. Enjoy!

Pet Move Customer Testimonial: Snowy & Sheila's Dog Move to Hong Kong

PetRelocation.com Customer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Name: Linda
Company: US Department of State
Pets' Names: Snowy and Sheila
From: Arlington, Virginia
To: Hong Kong

My name is Linda and I am a traveling spouse with the US State Department. We are a traveling family and we take our senior dogs, Snowy (13) and Sheila (14), everywhere we go - no matter the country. I am fully aware of the details of shipping our pets, as I had prepared all the paperwork, vaccinations, etc. for shipping, as excess baggage, our two large dogs to Chennai, India and back.

However our next post, Hong Kong, proved to be more than I could handle alone. The regulations are much stricter and our dogs would have to be cargo shipped -- something I was not prepared to handle by myself. I had read information from other people, blogs and ex-pat communities and all of them advised using a pet shipping company.

I chose PetRelocation.com and I must say it was a great choice! I worked with Jon, who informed me every step of the way of all the details, vaccinations, paperwork and items I had to prepare. He calmed my nerves when at the last moment our chosen airline decided to cease processing pets on the weekends. He rejoiced with me when the airlines said yes to arranging a shot of insulin for my diabetic dog, Snowy, on the Frankfurt stopover. He was thorough and informative and did not seem to mind my long emails and phone calls with many many questions.

Yes, pet shipping can be expensive, but just look at all the information that must be acquired, the phone calls, agents to arrange, pet pick up, pet drop off, USDA certifications, etc... PetRelocation.com agents are pros at all of this, and it was wonderful! I highly recommend them!

We are now in Hong Kong (see picture) and Sheila loves looking out at the city, while Snowy just sleeps the day away. Thanks again, PetRelocation.com, for all your help. You made a difficult task easy!!!

Super Bowl 2012 Commercials: Pets in Advertising

Caitlin Moore — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Did you watch the Superbowl yesterday, or are you more of a Puppy Bowl kind of football (non) fan? Either way, you probably saw at least a few pets trotting across the television screen this weekend, as the entertainment value of cute dogs and cats certainly isn't lost on the advertising teams tasked with the job of stirring up interest in their brands.

From a pet travel industry perspective we couldn't help but notice all the dogs in cars that were featured, but there were several companies that put our furry friends to work. Volkswagen followed up last year's popular Vader Kid ad with barking Star Wars dogs and a spot featuring an overweight pup working to get into car-chasing shape, and Chevy also featured man's best friend in it's apocalypse-themed commercial. A French Bulldog named Mr. Quiggly reportedly replaced Kim Kardashian in its Skechers commercial, Doritos presented a non-cat-friendly vignette, and Subaru showed off a "Dog Friendly, Dog Approved" line of vehicles in its fun contribution to the lineup (check it out below, along with a few others).

How many pet-themed Super Bowl ads did you catch? Which ones were your favorites? Feel free to chime in, and in case you missed the other show, here are a few highlights from this year's Puppy Bowl, too.

Pet Travel Question: Returning Pets to the United States

Pet Travel Questions — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Name: Kevin
Number of Pets: 2
Pet Type: Cat & Dog
From: UK
To: USA

My pets were originally born in the USA and moved to the UK two years ago. We are planning on moving back to the USA. Do the requirements change at all in this situation?

Thanks,
Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for contacting us with your pet travel question! Basically you need to review the pet import requirements for the United States (which are not as complex as the rules you previously faced moving to the UK); also it's important to secure airline-approved travel crates and be sure to select a pet-friendly airline.

Please contact PetRelocation.com for a free quote or if you have any more questions about your upcoming move, and good luck!

Pet Travel Question: Importing a Dog to the United States

Pet Travel Questions — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Name: Alexis
Number of Pets: 1
Pet Type: Dog
Pet Breed: Poodle/Cocker Spaniel
From: Norway
To: California

I moved my dog from California last April and I am currently moving back to California from Norway. I wanted to know what does my dog need? She was originally from California, does that change any of the paperwork needs?

Thanks,
Alexis

Hello Alexis,

Thank you for reaching out to us with your questions. Since you've moved before (and since the pet import requirements for the United States are less strict than those for Norway), this should be a simpler move to handle for you. Check out those requirements, be sure that all paperwork and vaccines are up-to-date, and take care to book a flight with a pet-friendly airline.

Let us know if you have any more questions or if you'd like to find out more about our door-to-door pet relocation services. Good luck with everything!

Pet Travel News Links: Japan Pet Rescues, Adopting Pets & Funny Pet Behavior

Caitlin Moore — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Another week, another batch of pet news headlines to entertain and inform us. Enjoy these, and have a great weekend, everyone!

Many of us choose to adopt and rescue pets instead of buying them from a breeder, but the process of being approved can be surprisingly difficult.

Almost a year after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, these pet rescuers are working to help the animals left behind. (Don't miss the last few interactive slides - via The Atlantic).

If you care about THIS sort of thing: William and Kate have adopted a new dog.

Ummm, yeah. This bunny thinks it's a sheepdog.

Also: a surfing goat.

Have a political pal? Check out Pet Lovers for Obama.

Are you on Pinterest? Join us!

Wishing you a Happy Friday. From this box.

Pet Travel Question: Moving a Dog to Norway

Pet Travel Center Questions — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Name: Taylor
From: Kansas City, Kansas
To: Oslo, Norway
Pet: Maverick, Dog, American Eskimo, Male, 5 years old

I was wondering what your advice is for traveling with a larger dog. Maverick weighs around 40 lbs, so he cannot be in the cabin. What is the best airline to take? My sister recently moved to Norway to be with her fiance, and me and my mother are going to visit her, and she asked us to bring her dog. We cannot seem to find any information on any airline websites regarding pet travel. Can you give me a general idea of the cost?

Thanks so much,
Taylor

Hi Taylor,

Thanks for submitting a question to us. First of all, here are the pet import requirements for Norway. We definitely recommend starting the process well in advance of your date of departure, and it's very important to choose a pet-friendly airline. We often use KLM and Lufthansa for international pet travel.

Take a look at our blog for more information about cabin vs. cargo travel and common pet travel misconceptions (most people assume that cabin travel is better, but when orchestrated correctly cargo travel is actually safe and even preferable). Hopefully you find this information helpful!

Please contact us if you have any more questions, Taylor, and good luck with your trip!

Pet Move Spotlight: Dexter's Move to Shanghai (and Making New Friends)

PetRelocation.com Customer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:05:00 +0000

We (specifically Pet Relocation Specialist Sarah) recently moved Dexter, a lab/retriever mix, from Canada to Shanghai. It always takes pets a little while to adjust to their new surroundings, but Dexter encountered an extra surprise upon arrival: his owner found and adopted a new pup shortly after relocating, so Dexter found himself with a new home and a new sister, Lotte. We wish this sweet family lots of luck!

Here's what the dogs' owner had to say:

Dexter and Lotte are doing great -- after a week of little fights they are too cute together ;) My boy is not a baby anymore, he is so big now... he still thinks he is a little puppy and sits on mommy's lap.

Dexter, recharging after his big move

I did some research and hopefully I found the right Dog Park. Dexter enjoys his walks and made two friends, both Golden Retrievers (6 & 12 months) Roger and Moby. Dex is almost as big as the 6 months young pup ;)

Dexter and Lotte, nap buddies

Sarah you honestly ROCK! One thing I can tell you, I am coming back, be prepared lol ;) It is nice here and yet very different. I miss my Canada already, nothing feels like home, eh!

Lucky Lotte

Pet Move Customer Testimonial: Josh's Move to Singapore!

PetRelocation.com Customer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Name: Amanda
Pet's Name: Josh
From: Japan
To: Singapore

We chose PetRelocation.com because of their home-to-home delivery service. It was our first time moving Josh and we were very paranoid about this. We read many stories online about how dogs died on the plane so we wanted to ensure that everything would go smoothly.

Our Pet Relocation Specialist, Sarah, was a great specialist to us. She was empathetic and patient to our inquiries, and she made herself available to us at all times. Even though we were in Japan, she gave us details to ensure that Josh's export documents were in order.

On the day that Josh was supposed to move there were sudden changes, and I had to call Sarah at night. But everything went in order. It was never chaotic. We were never worried.

When Josh arrived in Singapore, he was so energetic and so curious about the whole new environment even after the exhausting flight. At the end of the whole procedure, we realized we worried too much when actually everything went perfectly well.

So to other pet owners out there, if you ever wondered like I did if this is a made-up blog, I can absolutely tell you, no, it is not. PetRelocation.com is a great pet transport service provider. Keep it up!

Pet Move Customer Testimonial: Pepper's Relocation to Seattle

PetRelocation.com Customer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Name: Pat
Pet's Name: Pepper
From: Ellicott City, MD
To: Seattle, WA

Bob was offered a job with Boeing in Washington, and we lived in Maryland. What to do with Pepper was a big concern.

Pepper is an older dog and has diabetes. We considered driving, but a cross-country move in the winter didn't seem too safe. We chose PetRelocation.com after looking at their web site and they were also recommended by our relocation service provider. After speaking with our vet and the Relocation Specialist, Rebecca, we knew that they were the ones to help get her there safe and sound.

Rebecca was there for every step of the way with information and she really calmed my concerns, which were many. Many phone calls and emails later, I am happy to say that Pepper survived the whole ordeal better than we did. She is doing fine, her spirits are high, and she's back to her old self! The temporary housing we are staying in is very pet friendly; they have a doggy patch of grass on the roof and she meets up with some of the pets that use it.

Pet Move Customer Testimonial: Scarlet and Dyna's Move to the United States

PetRelocation.com Customer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Name: Deb
Company: Copper Mining Company
Pets' Names: Scarlet and Dyna
From: Arequipa, Peru
To: Silver City, New Mexico

After having a bad experience with another company, I was very concerned about getting my pets back to the United States. I searched the net and found that PetRelocation.com received excellent reviews and that the "other guys" pretty much received reviews from others that compared with my experience.

I insisted to our HR department that I be able to use PetRelocation.com, who happily ended up having a working relationship with our corporate relocation contractor.

What a difference! How nice that PetRelocation.com got back with me immediately. E-mails and phone calls were responded to promptly; I knew the state of my pets at every juncture, and I even got photos of them at a wayside boarding facility!

Links for 2010-06-15 [Digg]

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 PDT

Two wolf hybrids get moved to a sanctuary and released
Digg if you love animals to help raise awareness for rescuing them! PetRelocation.com moved two wolf hybrids to Texas and released them in a sanctuary.