Moving to Australia with pets

[kitty]

Posted by kitty on February 15, 2003 at 02:56:41:

My husband has a chance to take a job in Australia. We live in the USA and would like to know what the regulations are for moving our 4 dogs with us. Can anyone tell me what would have to be done and how we can get them there safely?

[Andrew]

Posted by Andrew on March 07, 2003 at 01:16:11:

In Reply to: Moving to Australia with pets posted by kitty on February 15, 2003 at 02:56:41:

Kitty go to this website: http://www.austemb.org/Australia.htm

among other things, it states animals must arrive in Australia as manifested cargo (vs. riding in the cabin).

[Adelaide]

Posted by Adelaide on April 08, 2003 at 16:55:28:

In Reply to: Moving to Australia with pets posted by kitty on February 15, 2003 at 02:56:41:

This is the web address for the AQIS website - Australina Quarantine and Inspection Serice. Amongst other things, there is a minimum 30 day quarantine requirement for entry into Australia. On this page are the various forms you need to download, information about the quarantine stations and photos of accommodation.
It is worth noting that we are looking at relocating two dogs from the UK to Australia at the end of June, and are expecting to pay £2000 each for the privilege - about A$5000.
This will include flights and quarantine charges -currently A$16 a night for the first dog and A$11 after this - there is a list on the site.
It is also worth noting that we too had four dogs, and are in the process of rehoming two, not just because of the cost of relocation, but also because of Shire (local council) regulations in Victoria, our destination. Every dog must be registered with your local council, at a cost of A$24 a year for neutered or microchipped or elderly (over 10 years old) dogs. However, these regulations also state that while any household may have two dogs, for more than two Council permission must be sought, and plans submitted to the council that show the day and night accommodation of the dogs, distances from neighbouring houses, the road and other features, heights of fences etc. As a very rough guide, one house I looked at over the web had had permission for eight dogs, on about an acre of land, well away from a town on the outskirts of Melbourne - it virtually precludes living in the inner city (that is, under an hour's travelling time away from the centre of the city).
You cannot have the dogs on your property until you have this licence, so you would need to kennel two of them until it was obtained - if it was. The cost of this licence is about A$90 per year.
May I strongly suggest that you see if the Shire you wish to live in has a website - almost all the Victorian ones do - and all of them have lots of information about pets. All of this information is correct for Victoria - you would need to research th other states.
A last point - while I'm sure your dogs are very well behaved, there is also provision under the noise pollution acts to prosecute owners of persistently noisy dogs.

[Adelaide]

Posted by Adelaide on April 08, 2003 at 17:01:08:

In Reply to: Re: Moving to Australia with pets posted by Adelaide on April 08, 2003 at 16:55:28:

Of course, it helps if you actually paste the address - sorry!

AQIS web address: www.aqis.gov.au/