Pet Move of the Month: Sawyer’s Move to Hong Kong
Say hello to Sawyer, a two-year-old English Springer Spaniel and our choice for Pet Move of the Month!
Sawyer recently moved from New York to Hong Kong, and since a relocation like this can be pretty tricky (also Sawyer's parents were busy planning their wedding), they decided to let PetRelocation handle the details.
Find out more about the move in our interview with Sawyer's owner, and join us in wishing them good luck in their new home!
What were some of your concerns going into the move?
We were concerned about everything. Moving a dog to Hong Kong is no small feat, and we were particularly concerned simply because it was our first time moving a dog and we had no idea what to expect. PetRelocation made the process so easy and it was very reassuring to work with a firm that so clearly understood the process and was in control of all the many small details go into moving a pet.
Did anything surprise you about the international pet moving process?
Frankly, at the end of the day I was surprised at how easy the whole move was for Sawyer. Obviously, a move to Hong Kong is going to be hard on a dog no matter what, but I think the process was made as easy and fluid as it could be. Sawyer emerged from his travel crate 24 hours after going in it just the same happy dog that he always is. A bit thirsty, but that was really it. We noticed no behavioral changes or issues at all. He was just the same happy, loving dog.
How is Sawyer adjusting to the new location?
He has adjusted seamlessly, which is such a relief to his parents. We were worried before this move that it would somehow affect his personality or demeanor, but we have seen no evidence of that. He seems completely nonplussed about the entire experience!
What is life like in Hong Kong? Is it a pet-friendly place to be?
Life with a dog in Hong Kong is definitely more challenging than it is in US cities. Dogs are just not as common here, particularly medium or large-sized dogs (there seem to be lots of small and toy-sized dogs). However, we have found that there are great vet services, including a mobile vet service that comes to you.
We actually had to take Sawyer to the vet a couple of days after he arrived in Hong Kong as he had a small sore on his back. The vet experience was excellent and just the caliber of veterinary service that we would receive in the US. We also found a wonderful dog park in Sheung Wan that is on the waterfront near the ferry terminal. It is a large dog park (at least compared to NYC standards that we are used to) and is a very well-kept grass lawn. Sawyer has had great fun playing with all the other dogs in that dog park.
What advice do you have for people who might be planning a move?
Use a pet relocation service! There are so many small intricacies to the process that you really need a professional who is trained to handle these types of complicated international moves. You want the process to be as easy as possible for your pet, and in order to ensure that is the case, you need to use a service. We could not more highly recommend PetRelocation.