Pet Travel Update: Byford Animal Quarantine will Reopen June 17 After Temporary Closure

We reported to you back in February that Byford Animal Quarantine in Perth, Australia would temporarily close due to "unacceptable bushfire risk" (translation: for safety reasons). Bushfires are no longer a serious threat, so the planned reopening has been set for June 17, 2013.

The Byford Quarantine facility houses cats and dogs, and many of our clients make use of their services when moving to Australia from their country of origin. As a rabies-free country, moving pets to Australia requires a few extra steps as well as a 30-day quarantine, and Perth is often the easiest place for pets to fulfill the quarantine (as opposed to Melbourne or Sydney).

We've managed to make arrangements to work around this temporary closure, but we, and many pet travelers hoping to go straight to Perth, will be happy to see the station reopen. The Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) says that Byford will begin taking reservations once again on Monday, June 3.

Please visit the official DAFF website for more information about the Byford Animal Quarantine Station, and contact PetRelocation with your questions about moving pets to Australia.

[UPDATE: The Post Entry Quarantine Facility in Mickleham, Victoria opened in 2015 and eventually all pets arriving to Australia will pass through this facility. Find the latest information here.]