Pet Move of the Month: Bear’s Move to Kenya
Incredible Experiences: Dog Travel to Nairobi
Moving from New York City to Nairobi, Kenya isn't a life event that very many of us will encounter, but when you work for the United Nations, it's not unheard of.
Luckily, our soon-to-be client Kat reached out to PetRelocation with plenty of time to spare when she decided she'd like some assistance with moving her dog Bear along on their big adventure.
Ever since early last summer we've been working to make sure this relocation would go smoothly, and now that the family is settling in it's time to share their story! Read on to find out more about moving pets to Kenya, and help us to wish everyone the best of luck.
Is this the first time you’ve ever moved a pet?
Yes, although Bear was born on a farm in Missouri and when Patrick (my husband) bought him, he was flown to New York when he was six months old. (Which he did NOT like at all.)
What were some of your concerns going into the move?
Primarily safety and comfort. It's a long trip to Nairobi from New York and is taxing on us humans (even in business/first) so really, our main concern with the trip for Bear was making sure that he was safe, well cared for, monitored, and as comfortable as possible. You read such terrible stories in the news about people losing pets due to careless airlines or whatever, so I would say that safety was a paramount concern.
Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
What surprised me the most is how far in advance we had to start planning. I contacted Marissa in August when I found out that we were moving to Nairobi. Since none of my paperwork with my job was finalized until a month before the move, we would have been in a tight spot if we had had to start a month prior.
How is Bear adjusting to the new location?
Bear is doing great! He is adjusting really really well. We have just moved into our new house where he has the run of the place (and the yard) so he is pretty happy. It is a bit of an adjustment for him to get used to have full time security people and household staff around, but he is working on it. I think he is mostly just happy to be outside in the Kenyan sunshine and with us. He was really confused before we left and not sure what was happening.
What is life like in Kenya? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
Kenya is an amazing place, though obviously not without the frustrations that us yanks encounter when grappling with an international move (for instance I found a lizard in my closet this morning!). It is hard for me to say yet if it is pet-friendly or not. I do know that a lot of people find Bear unusual and interesting (not too many black tri-Aussies running around Nairobi), and there are the obvious cultural differences when it comes to pets.
We have been super busy settling in but are planning on going for a hike with him soon! Dog owners should keep an eye out for some of the wildlife (especially monkeys) and their dogs - apparently the monkeys here can become very aggressive and hostile to dogs sometimes and attack.
I have also gotten recommendations for two vets here in Nairobi, both who are highly recommended: Dr Sura and the Cocker Veterinary Clinic. I do wish there was a dog run or something similar that we could bring him to so he could socialize with other dogs.
What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
Start planning your pet's move pretty much immediately after you find out that you are moving internationally. For instance, we went and took Bear to the vet in August for his Rabies Titer test (mandatory for Kenya) and that takes nearly a month of processing from the lab to be ready.
