Moving with pets across an ocean may seem a difficult choice to make for your family—and for your pets—but if you’ve decided to make the move, you don’t want to leave the pets behind. I asked friends online to comment on the moves they’ve made with pets.
Two of the friends who responded had moved, with pets, across an ocean.
Here are their “moving with pets” stories, including some excellent advice for anyone who might make the choice to move across an ocean and take the pets along.
Colette Kase (Mexico) I’ve moved to two different countries with pets. The first was across the Atlantic, and the second was by land to a neighbouring country. Both went well. On the flight, our dog Midas travelled underneath the plane that crossed the Atlantic and we stopped in the USA for a week to allow her to decompress and also to acclimatize. She was a little stressed when we picked her up, but she recovered within a few hours. It’s important to remember that it’s not just the length of the flight, but also the periods during check-in and the processes when you land that add to the crating time.
We had spent a long time before traveling getting her comfortable with being transported in a crate. We’re sure it wasn’t the best day she’d ever had, but as her life got considerably better moving from a small house in a big city to an island where she was able to run free and frolic in the sea daily and have a huge garden, we’re pretty sure it was worth it for her.
We took a second international flight to Belize, where she traveled below the plane again. This flight was only a few hours. Then she traveled on board with us in a Cessna to the island where she was to live most of the rest of her life. About 13 years later, she moved with us again to Mexico. She was 16 and I think this was the fifth country she’d visited. We went by van with a driver and our belongings.
She lived until she was 17 and had the most amazing life.
Photo by Colette Kase
Dawn Elberson Goehring (Hawaii) We moved 13 dogs from Tennessee to Hawaii. It was a little more of a challenge because Hawaii is a rabies-free state. It took over six months to get rabies titers, Hawaii paperwork, and then the vet visits and health certificates.
We drove the dogs cross-country and had a blast stopping at different dog parks and hotels. From California, my friend took the first group of five under the plane, and one in-cabin. My husband met them in Hawaii and drove everyone home. A day later my son and I flew with the remaining dogs, five under the plane and two in-cabin. It was a lot of paperwork and steps, as well as expensive. But they were family and not taking them wasn’t an option.
The most important thing we prepared for was comfort in the crate and in different environments. It was really fun driving cross-country and the dogs did great. The flight from California to Hawaii was a little over five hours and they all again did great. We found lots of pet-friendly hotels; however, most don’t expect 13—so we got a few crazy looks! We always brought Kongs and food-stuffed toys so hotel time was calm and quiet.
The things I feel are the most important: comfort in the crate and in new places. Well-fitting harnesses/collars for rest stops, microchips, updated ID tags, anxiety meds from the vet if they are anxious about travel, food-stuffed toys to help them feel calm … and to keep calm yourself. If you have any long flight, consider driving part of it rather than layovers. Minimize flight time as much as you can. Maybe stop and spend the night and do a different flight the next day.
Plan ahead, have backup plans, be flexible, and have fun!
Photo by Dawn Elberson Goehring
Moving With Your Pet | American Humane Society
Tips for Moving With Pets From Pro Movers | United Van Lines®
Guide to Moving With Pets (2024) | USA Today
