Quarantine :(

I was just notified on friday that I will be coming to London on a 2+yr Ex-Pat assignment with my company... which is thrilling.  BUT I have a black lab mix that is my 'only child' and, since friday, I have been educated on the PETS scheme and the requirments for bringing her with me.  I am devastated at the thought of being away from her as well as the thought of her in quarantine.... but I'm not sure of my options.  As a single person, I don't have alot of people that I can leave her with here.  Can someone tell me more about what might be best for the dog... she is very attached to me, so I'm weighing whether it is better for her to be boarded at a familiar place here, or stay with friends here or to be over there in quarrantine where I can at least visit... help!  I may have to be over there as soon as May and her 6 months won't be up until October!

If it were me, I'd have her stay with friends in the US and then fly over after her 6 months are up. I think I'd always prefer my pet to be in a home of people I know, rather than in quarantine.

Good luck to you. My cat is my "only child" too, so I know how you must be feeling!

When I was investigating the route for my cats I checked out qurantine facilities but luckily the pet scheme opened up.  Quarantine if very expensive.  It can cost anywhere from £2000 to £3500 pounds for it.  On one hand you can visit your pet but the times they have set aside for visitation is limited and you will need to see whether it can fit into your schedule and if you even have transport to the facility.  In the end the best method is the Pet Sheme.  I had to leave my "boys" behind for a while but it was so much worth it in the end. They would have been so scared in the facility.   I ended up paying for a flight back just to come back and pick them up. No way was a leaving them behind. When i married my husband it was on the condition that my "boys" were coming with me (only half joking).  With the cost of the preparation for the Pet Sheme and the airfare for them and me , it ended up being way cheaper than putting them in quarantine.  But that is my opinion

I was just notified on friday that I will be coming to London on a 2+yr Ex-Pat assignment with my company... which is thrilling.  BUT I have a black lab mix that is my 'only child' and, since friday, I have been educated on the PETS scheme and the requirments for bringing her with me.  I am devastated at the thought of being away from her as well as the thought of her in quarantine.... but I'm not sure of my options.  As a single person, I don't have alot of people that I can leave her with here.  Can someone tell me more about what might be best for the dog... she is very attached to me, so I'm weighing whether it is better for her to be boarded at a familiar place here, or stay with friends here or to be over there in quarrantine where I can at least visit... help!  I may have to be over there as soon as May and her 6 months won't be up until October!

Dont put her in quarantine!  Find someone to care for her until she can fly over.  6 months is to long for any dog to be in there.  Please please try to find another option!  I understand you cant wait out the 6 months, I was able to wait until my dogs 6 months was over.  I really hope you can find someone to care for your pup!!!

My heart is breaking thinking of your doggie not being with you!  I hope friends can help you out!  Good luck!

Someone (here, I think) left their cats in a nice kennel in the US to wait out the 6 month PETS quarantine-free period.  She said it was cheaper and nicer than quarantine kennels.  Obviously leaving her with a friend/acquaintance/co-worker would be ideal.

Thanks, everyone for your advice and sympathies!  I have come to agree that having someone watch her here in the states is much better for her until the 6mos are up.  I will miss her terribly, especially in the early 'lonly' stages of being in a new place... but it will hopefully go quickly!   

It does!  Our cat was separated from us for 2 months and my kids have never been without her.  The move was hell without their baby.  But before we knew it, she was reunited with us and it was like we'd never been apart.  She stayed stateside with my brother and he brought her over.