Moving from the UK to the US with a dog - panic sets in...

Hi everyone,

Having decided after 14 years of living in the UK that it's time to move back to the US, I'm now faced with how I'm going to get my 11 year old dog over with me.  I'd hoped to sail her back on the QM2, but they have no large kennel availability until April 2012 and I don't want to pin my hopes on their waitlist. 

I've had a read of some of the threads here and they've been helpful, but I feel a bit overwhelmed (and, frankly, panic-stricken) with the whole process of flying her back.  I'm going to be getting a dog behaviourist to work with my dog to help make her more confident in loud, different situations; buy a kennel to get her used to it; do some research into airlines and pet travel agents; discuss it with the vet, etc.  But where do I start?!? 

All suggestions welcome!

I haven't done it, but I think it's a lot simpler going UK->US than the other way around. The US doesn't have the same requirements for vet documentation (most states just require rabies info/up-to-date vaccines, I think), and you're not restricted about how to transport the animals, either. (So in theory you could get an airline to book your dog in as "excess baggage", which is significantly cheaper than going as cargo.)

Does your dog ride in the car at all? Perhaps taking her on road trips on the highway would get her used to being in a crate and dealing with noise/confusion. Not sure what else to recommend, as my dog is the "people are around who might pet me? ok, life is cool" type.

Good luck!

I totally sympathize!!!  Moving our doggy from the UK to Canada was uber stressful and quite possibly the most stressful part of the move.  Fortunately, the Live animal section of Air Canada was fantastic and they took really, really good care of both my cat and dog.  They are used to dealing with animals and did a great job.   

Fortunately, our dog was used to a kennel as he sleeps in one every night.  I agree about getting the kennel as early as possible (go to the IATA website for the right measurements  http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/Pages/pets.aspx) and get her used to being in there for extended periods of time.  My guys were locked in their kennels for 17 hours total. 

You can read more about my experience here:  http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=63822.msg898015#msg898015

Thank you both.

MrsPink, I'd read your account of your move to Canada and found it comforting.  I wish Air Canada flew direct to Boston.

The link to the IATA crate requirements was very helpful as well.  I'm in the States at the moment for the holidays, but getting her a crate to get used to is my first priority when I get back. 

Thanks again!

Contact the airline that you're going to be flying with. I know they have brought in new restrictions on flying pets into the US, so you'll want to contact them as soon as you know when you want to fly. There was a thread on the Britishexpats website about this (sorry I tried to find it, but couldn't). I know some airlines are now requiring you use an agent to ship the pet.

I've been looking at using an agent and have had a couple of quotes.  So far Petair looks the most promising (and I'm sure I'm not at all swayed by the fact that the Beckhams used them earlier this year to send their dog to LA!). 

I know it will cost me more money, but I like the idea of having someone else do some of the 'worrying' as well, particularly when it comes to the paperwork of it all.  And I'm not sure I want to take her to the airport - I don't want my stress and worry rubbing off on her, if possible. 

if you have any questions about the QM2 ill be happy to answer them for you

if you have any questions about the QM2 ill be happy to answer them for you

I just got this response from the kennel keeper of the QM2...I'm quite shocked:

"The only availability I have in 2012 for an Eastbound crossing is on November 27.  Your cat would need 2 kennels, one for the litterbox.  The cost for that would be $1000.00 USD."

I wrote back that had to be a mistake, that all my research led to a small cat would cost $300.....

"Yes, that is out of date.  The cats have always required 2 kennels but until recently we were not charging for the litterbox.  The price has recently gone up and the upper kennels are now $500 each, and we are charging for the litterbox now.  The lower kennels are $700."

So it costs more to ship a litterbox than 500lbs of luggage you can stuff in your stateroom!....there go my plans!   

That's messed up. They said my cat would need one kennel but my dog would need 2, so cost-wise it didn't make sense (especially when including the cost to have me on the ship as well). But an entire kennel for a litterbox?! Either the kennels are way too small or they assume you'll do anything for your pet and go with their crazy requirements.

But an entire kennel for a litterbox?! Either the kennels are way too small or they assume you'll do anything for your pet and go with their crazy requirements.

I vote for the latter.  This really sucks, I was really looking forward to doing the pet route this way. And again ridiculous, on Expedia.com I can get per person deals on the QM2 for $599---it costs almost as much as human (with 20 meals) to ship as friggin' LITTER BOX???

Not to say I won't do the QM2 voyage, but my only other option is to fly Icelandair from JFK to LHR, where they charge for pets the same fee as excess baggage, not the outrageous $700-$1000 I hear for most airlines.

the kennels upper level are average size kennels......i think the reason they are requiring two kennels is because the dogs can be let out on visits.......they have an outside deck area for playing and an inside room for playing......cats unfortunately cant be let loose with the dogs because of course they can jump up and escape......to be fair here to the QM2 and to the cats i would say yes two kennels are needed so that the cats can have some space for movement......otherwise there is very little room.......of course you can take the cat out and hold but its not the same as the cat walking around.....ive seen cats on leashes before very few.......everyones animal companions are different with their stress levels.....i was very pleased with the QM2 and relieved that i could spend quality time with my dogs and offer them their usual stress techniques.....my dogs would have never survived a plane trip over......not that this makes any difference but something else that we received was two free 8x10 photos of doggies and me, free dog food if you didnt bring their own, two free cunard doggie dishes, and two free cunard dog coats.....plus a whole group of new friends.....if i had to do it again my choice would be the QM2 no matter what the cost.....after all its expensive no matter what way you choose.

after all its expensive no matter what way you choose.

...now it is. From $300 to $1,000 is quite the price increase.

I'm wondering how much care the litter box will get for $500, it better be exquisite.

This is price gouging, no way around it.


(P.S. --- Icelandair allows pets to be checked in an excess baggage prices--which is about $150 plus the cost of the IATA crate you much purchase  yourself. MUCH cheaper than any other airline approved route I could find, where costs approach $1,000).

i understand that it is alot of money.....rex does take care of the litter box for you.....theres nothing you have to do really unless you want to......150.00 is a very reasonable price to fly your cat over.....not wanting to get in a battle here with you over the QM2......those of us that have taken the ship over with our pets have been very pleased and would probably pay the price increase happily.....some of us have animals with special needs and flying just wasnt an option.....500.00 per kennel is a small price to pay for the health and safety of ones pet companion.....especially when they are treated with such good care.....sometimes things just cant be about the cheapest bargain one can get

i understand that it is alot of money.....rex does take care of the litter box for you.....theres nothing you have to do really unless you want to......150.00 is a very reasonable price to fly your cat over.....not wanting to get in a battle here with you over the QM2......those of us that have taken the ship over with our pets have been very pleased and would probably pay the price increase happily.....some of us have animals with special needs and flying just wasnt an option.....500.00 per kennel is a small price to pay for the health and safety of ones pet companion.....especially when they are treated with such good care.....sometimes things just cant be about the cheapest bargain one can get

I understand that, my point is the logistics of doing so and the sheer cost of reserving a cabin the QM2 a year in advance (it's based on double occupancy a year in advance) make the price prohibitive to a single person--about $4,000 total for a one way trip.

For the largest passenger ship in the world it's shame they can't have more than a dozen kennels. What were they thinking?

As for the litter box comment, I was being sarcastic. If I could knock some money off the cost I'd clean it myself.

yep it is pricey......mostly very wealthy retired folks on there.....guess they dont much care about a budget.........there are other costs to consider also as in transportation and hotel to brooklyn to catch the ship......maybe they are wanting to eliminate the kennels hence make it so expensive no one would want to book one.