Moving to Australia.

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Eddie
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First Name: Graham
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

Moving to Australia.

Post by Eddie »

Although we are Australian we have lived in the UK for the last 11 years. We love it here, it is a wonderful country but for various reasons we have decided that it is time to move back.
We arrived here at the end of 2004 with two suitcases. Since then we have managed to fill a four bedroom house and a garage with "stuff". We have two cars, a caravan and three dogs. Moving back is going to be an absolute nightmare as we have to decide what to take, what to be rid of and how to live with what is left.
Anyway, the purpose of this post is the dogs. I jokingly suggested to Jude that we could leave the dogs here and buy some really good dogs with the money we saved once we got back. I won't make that mistake again.
I'll start by saying that the cost is eye watering (certainly to us) and it is at least a six month process which is followed by a 10 day quarantine in Australia. We have now started.....They have had their rabies injections a month ago (£120) and last week they had a blood test to check for rabies antibodies. This is £455 for the three of them and it can only be done by one laboratory in Essex or Surrey somewhere. We should get the results in about a month.
Assuming this is all good we then have many forms to be completed (at significant cost) and then we will have to have airline approved crates. Shipping costs (including crates) from Newcastle to Melbourne (via Emirates and Dubai) are £3000. Jude and I will be settling in Sydney where there WAS a quarantine kennel but that will be closing in November and it means that the only quarantine kennel in Australia is in Melbourne (gateway to the Antarctic). The cost for this is about $2000 (£1000) per dog and we then have to get from Sydney to Melbourne to bring them back at the end of the 10 days.
The dogs will have a 10 hour layover in Dubai. They will be fed, watered and accommodated in an air-conditioned holding area. The crates will be cleaned and they will be looked after by highly trained compassionate carers (yeah!!!).
I will update this post as we get further along but at the moment I am really worrying. I am very concerned for "Mouse". As she is blind she won't know what is happening and how do I know if people will be kind to her. We will put her and Reilly in the same crate and hopefully that will give her some comfort. Daisy will be fine, she has done it all before.
Graham, Judie, Eddie (19-03-07 to 25-07-12), Mouse, Daisy and little Reilly. Image
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Maty
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Maty »

The whole exercise sounds a nightmare! Such a big move for you all.

Just curious,, I assume it is cheaper if they can share crates - or do you need a bigger crate which does away with any saving?

Don't forget Caramomo has air freighted her dogs if you need hints and tips.
Maty

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Wookie Woo
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Wookie Woo »

Oh that sounds like a nightmare and expensive but you obviously have good reason to go back to Australia.
Good luck to the five of you when you actually go & we will look forward to hearing what you are all up to over there xx
Helen & Gary - owners of "Wookie" (since 11.6.2011)  born 1.9.2009 (Mini Schnauzer)
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Dawnspell
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Dawnspell »

I don't envy you or the dogs having the journey. Can you get special stickers to say special needs/blind dog ?
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Eddie
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Eddie »

Dawnspell wrote:I don't envy you or the dogs having the journey. Can you get special stickers to say special needs/blind dog ?
I don't know. They can't have collars or anything but I'm hoping we can stick a sign on the crate. It's on our list of things to be resolved.
Graham, Judie, Eddie (19-03-07 to 25-07-12), Mouse, Daisy and little Reilly. Image
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jacdales
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by jacdales »

Would it be cheaper to pick up a southbound cargo ship and go with them. I had a friend that frequently went on holiday to the Caribbean by booking a bed on a banana boat might be worth looking into even if you could pick it up in Dubai. might be worth looking into
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Donald
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Donald »

Sounds like a horribly expensive nightmare to me.

All the best with the move Graham.

Last time I~ had to do such a move was 1986 and never again would be about the right interval to repeat it....
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zeta1454
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by zeta1454 »

Good luck with the move and hope you can arrange something suitable for Mouse. It sounds horrendously expensive but I can understand your main concern being that the dogs are safe and cared for on the trip. I know that there are some specialist companies that organise or assist with dogs travelling overseas but no experience of this personally.

Perhaps as Kate suggested Caramomo might be able to advise from her experience.

Best wishes for the journey!
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WhitbyWoo
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by WhitbyWoo »

Oh I feel for you. I really hope that the company your using for transporting are able to offer you some reassurance. I'll be interested to know your experience with the process as we will be doing it with our chap. The move isn't for 2 more years yet and I'm already worried about it!
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Eddie
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Eddie »

We have now completed another stage in this rather drawn out process.
The rabies blood tests are back and all the dogs passed. The tests are for antibodies and anything above a titre of 0.5 iu/ml is acceptable. Reilly was 23.38, Mouse was 159.9 and Daisy was 70.15.
It is quite a wide range of readings but apparently that is normal and they are all well above the 0.5 minimum.
The results have to be entered on to an Australian Government form by our government approved vet so we can now add a consultation fee to the steadily increasing costs.
I will send the results and forms to our shipping agent who will then be in a position to apply for an import permit.
Graham, Judie, Eddie (19-03-07 to 25-07-12), Mouse, Daisy and little Reilly. Image
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Eddie
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Eddie »

We now have received the Australian import permits for the three dogs. They were £135 per dog. Seems a bit expensive but I'm starting to feel numb now so I'm not too upset.
We have got the airline approved crates arriving on Thursday. Mouse and Reilly will be in one crate with a partition between them and Daisy will have her own crate. I've no idea what they look like but I will add a picture when they arrive.
I guess it's all going as it should but I'm not very comfortable with the whole thing. Everyone at each step wants us to agree to "all care but no responsibility" clauses (which is necessary if we want to proceed).
Anyway, let's see what happens. I will update when something new occurs.
Graham, Judie, Eddie (19-03-07 to 25-07-12), Mouse, Daisy and little Reilly. Image
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Caramomo
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Caramomo »

How's the process going Graham? When is the big day?
Cara and Mo, two black mini's and Molly a black & white Heinz 57 all served by Elaine, the cook, poop picker, and chief toy thrower.
I live by the Mini Schnauzer code; when in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!
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Eddie
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Eddie »

It's frantic, frightening and expensive. We've spent over £10000 so far just on the dogs. The vets must be loving us.
A lot of the big worries are over now that the cars, caravan and motor bike are gone. The shippers come in to pack up the house on Thursday and they will load the container on Friday.
Judie flies out with the dogs on Monday week as she wants to be back for her Mum's 90th and I will do the final meter readings etc and follow on the Tuesday.
Graham, Judie, Eddie (19-03-07 to 25-07-12), Mouse, Daisy and little Reilly. Image
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Caramomo
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Caramomo »

Good luck and Bon voyage!
Cara and Mo, two black mini's and Molly a black & white Heinz 57 all served by Elaine, the cook, poop picker, and chief toy thrower.
I live by the Mini Schnauzer code; when in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!
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Champ629
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Re: Moving to Australia.

Post by Champ629 »

Have a safe trip Graham, Judie and your lovely furkids.

Many a happy time we have shared with you guys. It was through this forum that we met many years ago and became good friends.

Take care of yourselves, speak soon xxx
Miniature Schnauzers: Sophie, Freddie and Dory

RIP Cody 17/02/23
RIP Jake 29/10/21
RIP Jenny 28/01/20
RIP Dee Dee 12/02/13
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