Pet Move of the Month: Dottie’s Relocation to Dubai
Incredible Experiences: Dog Transport to the UAE
Recently we helped Dottie, a Papillon, travel from Atlanta to Dubai. Such a long move can be complicated to plan, so we were happy to step in and assist when Dottie's owners contacted us after a new job prompted their relocation.
Dottie did a great job with the move and her story (graciously shared by Dottie's mom Laura) reveals some excellent information and tips for other pet travelers.
Read on to find out more about pet shipping to Dubai, and congrats to Dottie for being a great traveler!
Have you ever moved a pet internationally before this?
We have lived overseas before but not with a pet, so this was our first experience. We have friends who brought pets with them so I knew it could be done but I didn't yet know how.
What were some of your initial concerns?
I wanted Dottie to be safe -- I was really worried about all the terrible experiences you read online. I also had to be able to justify the cost. We have family that Dottie could have stayed with but I really wanted her with me. I did a little shopping around to get a best guess on what it would cost and decided if we could do it safely for a reasonable price we would do it.
What surprised you about the pet travel process to Dubai?
I was really pleased that Dottie was able to take a flight that stopped over in Amsterdam with KLM and then rest at the pet hotel there. I had read how wonderful that was but I didn't have any idea how to make it happen. I was also relieved and grateful that in the process PetRelocation also got Dottie registered with the municipality. That was just one more bureaucratic process I didn't have to worry about.
How did Dottie handle the transition?
When Dottie arrived she was in her crate, alert and wagging her tail. I thought she would be a little traumatized and maybe shy but she just bounced right out and started exploring the house. She was not sick or tired at all. Now she seems totally at home.
Is Dubai a pet friendly place to be?
Pets -- especially dogs -- seem to be a rather contentious issue. Some people are militantly pro-dog -- determined to have a dog even when and where they are not welcome -- and others are firmly opposed to dogs of any kind. There are a lot of people here from other places where people don't have dogs as pets and they are actually afraid. And, unfortunately there are some people here who believe dogs are "unclean" according to their religion.
So, it is very important when finding a home here that you live somewhere that dogs are welcome. Dottie lives happily in a house with her own fenced yard and no one minds. She takes walks around the neighborhood on leash with no problems. We just don't go where we aren't supposed to go. There are excellent vets, kennels and groomers as well as specialty pet stores. Interestingly, cats are very popular.
What advice do you have for people who might be planning a pet move?
If you want your pet to move with you and you are going somewhere like Dubai where you have to clear customs and other processes, professional pet relocation is the only way to go. I read a lot of stories about people trying to do it themselves and it can be terribly stressful for you and your pet and possibly even unsuccessful in a place like Dubai.
Start planning early -- I started preparing Dottie about 6 months ahead -- figuring out everything she would need and planning her vet visits to get it all done so there are no last minute problems.
What made you decide to hire PetRelocation to assist you?
I Googled around to learn about accreditation and read a lot of reviews. I even seriously contacted two other accredited and well recommended companies. I got an email about a week after I called from one saying they were really busy and would call in three days -- they never did. The other sent me an email quote but I never heard from them again despite answering the email back.
But, as soon as I contacted PetRelocation I got a real person -- Sarah -- working on my case. She called me every couple of days, updating me and working with me on a good plan at a price I could afford. I was stressed but she really put me at ease. And all that service before I even paid a penny! I felt I had first class service for Dottie and a caring sensitive person to work it out for me.
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