Get a Quote

How to Choose a Reliable Pet Relocation Company

Choosing someone to move your pet internationally is a big decision. There are a lot of companies out there, a lot of different prices, and honestly, a lot of confusing information too.

Pet relocation is not just about booking a flight. Depending on the route, there can be permits, veterinary requirements, blood tests, travel kennels, airline restrictions, customs, quarantine, local agents and sometimes several different people involved in one journey.

So if you are comparing companies, I would look at much more than just the final price.

Here are the things I think really matter.

They should ask you a lot of questions

If someone gives you a quote after only asking your pet’s breed and destination, I would be careful.

To properly assess a relocation, they should normally ask things like:

All of this matters.

A 4 kg cat and a 35 kg Labrador travelling on exactly the same route may have completely different airline options, kennel requirements and costs.

The more information they ask for at the beginning, the better they can actually plan the journey.

They should explain your options, not just sell you one

There is not only one way for pets to travel internationally.

Depending on the airline and destination, your pet may be able to travel:

Sometimes there may also be another route that makes more sense.

A good example is the UK. If you fly directly into Great Britain, ordinary pets arriving by air normally have to travel as manifested cargo. But in some cases, you can fly into the EU first and then continue to the UK by road, ferry or LeShuttle.

A good relocation company should explain what options actually exist for your pet instead of automatically pushing the one they normally sell.

They should understand the government side, not only the airline

Having an airline booking does not mean your pet is ready to travel.

Depending on the country, you may also need:

This is where a lot of problems happen.

A pet can have a perfectly valid airline booking and still be refused entry because one document is wrong.

The regulatory side should be checked before the transport is finalised.

Be careful with anyone promising “100% safe”

No one can honestly guarantee that any international journey is completely risk free.

There are too many things outside anyone’s control: weather, aircraft changes, delays, airport operations, government inspections and, of course, the health of the animal.

What a good relocation company can do is reduce avoidable risks by planning properly.

That means choosing the right route, preparing the documents correctly, using a suitable kennel, checking the airline, looking at the weather and making sure the arrival is properly organised.

But I would personally be suspicious of phrases like:

Those are not realistic promises.

They should know how to size a kennel properly

This is another one I see all the time.

You cannot choose a travel kennel only based on the weight or breed of the dog.

The pet needs to be measured properly.

The kennel should allow them to:

The company should also check things like ventilation, door construction, water bowls, fasteners and whether the breed needs additional reinforcement.

And one important thing: be careful with anyone advertising an “IATA-certified kennel”.

IATA does not certify individual pet kennels like that.

A more accurate term is IATA-compliant, and the airline always makes the final decision on whether the kennel is accepted.

The quote should be clear

Pet relocation can be expensive, and the cheapest quote is not always the cheapest in the end.

A quote may include things like:

You should be able to understand exactly what is included and what is not.

I would ask:

Sometimes a quote looks much cheaper simply because half of the destination costs are missing.

Ask what happens after the flight lands

This is very important, especially with cargo relocations.

The journey does not necessarily finish when the aircraft lands.

Your pet may still need:

Ask who is actually doing this.

A good company should know exactly who is receiving the pet and what happens from touchdown until final release.

Using local partners is normal

International pet relocation usually involves local partners.

No company has its own staff physically sitting at every airport in the world.

A relocation may involve:

That is completely normal.

What matters is whether someone is actually coordinating everyone.

You should not feel like your case has been handed from one random company to another and nobody really knows what is happening.

Know who is managing your case

This is probably one of the things I personally value the most.

Ask the company:

Who will actually manage my relocation?

Some companies have one person for sales, another for documents, another for flights and another for arrival.

That can work, but I think you should always know who has the full picture.

When one person knows your pet, your route, your documents and your timeline, communication is much easier.

A good company should sometimes tell you not to travel

This might sound strange, but for me it is a very good sign.

Sometimes the route simply does not make sense.

Maybe:

I would rather have someone tell me, “I don’t recommend doing this route,” than someone accept the booking just because they can make money from it.

Not every journey should go ahead exactly as the owner originally planned.

Sedation should not be the default answer

I would also be careful if someone casually tells you to sedate your pet for the flight.

Routine sedation is generally discouraged because it can affect breathing, blood pressure, balance and temperature regulation.

Airlines may also refuse a visibly sedated pet.

If your pet is anxious, preparation should normally involve crate training, veterinary advice and proper planning.

Medication should only be given under veterinary guidance.

Complex pets need more planning

Some pets are simply more difficult to move than others.

For example:

If your case is unusual, ask whether the company has experience with similar relocations.

That does not mean they should promise they can move absolutely anything.

Actually, I think it is better when a company is honest about what is and is not possible.

Communication matters more than people realise

International relocations can take weeks or even months.

During that time, you may be waiting for:

You should not have to constantly chase someone to find out what is happening.

Good communication does not mean sending messages every day. It means you know what stage you are at, what is happening next and whether anything has changed.

Do not look only at reviews

Reviews are useful, of course.

But I would also look at whether the company actually seems to understand the technical side of the job.

Read their website.

Do they explain things properly?

Do they talk about documentation, airline restrictions, rabies testing, kennel sizing and quarantine?

Or is everything just “we love pets” and happy arrival photos?

Loving animals is obviously important, but pet relocation is also a very technical logistics job.

You need both.

Questions I would ask before choosing a company

If I were moving my own pets, I would ask:

  1. Who will personally manage my case?
  2. What travel options do I have?
  3. Why are you recommending this route?
  4. What documents will I need?
  5. Does my pet need a rabies titre test?
  6. Is quarantine required?
  7. Who handles arrival clearance?
  8. What exactly is included in the quote?
  9. Which costs could still change?
  10. Who decides whether the kennel is accepted?
  11. What happens if the flight changes?
  12. Who can I contact on travel day?

If the answers are vague, that would worry me.

Price is important, but it should not be the only factor

I completely understand why people compare prices. Pet relocation can be expensive.

But when I compare companies, I would also look at:

The goal is not just to get your pet onto a plane.

The goal is to make sure the whole journey works.

At Fly Your Tail, I personally manage each relocation from the initial assessment through to arrival. We handle both straightforward family moves and the cases that need a little more thinking: difficult routes, large dogs, restricted breeds, unusual species and more complex documentation.

Sometimes that means finding an alternative route. Sometimes it means telling a client they need to wait. And sometimes it means saying that I would not be comfortable arranging a particular journey.

For me, that is part of doing the job properly.

Planning an international move with your pet?

Send us your pet’s details, route and preferred travel date and I can assess the available options.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *