Pet Transport NZ is considered an essential service. Up until the borders closed and the last airlines were grounded, we were working hard for our clients in our office to find viable international pet travel solutions and domestic flights.  We continue to work from home, available by phone, email and social media providing the same high level of service and quality consultation as ever before.  In the last few weeks we have seen a dynamic shift in the freight forwarding and pet air travel industry.  Fielding regular phone calls from airlines and the Ministry of Primary Industries, we shall remain a reliable, credible up to the minute, source of industry information for our clients.

These last few weeks have been a time of particularly high stress levels for essential travellers trying to return home from New Zealand with their beloved pets. It was our pleasure to be able to offer the calm reassurance of consistent care to both humans and furry friends in their homeward bound pet transport.  Nemo was fortunate to make it on the same flight as his human was as PAX onboard.  Not all were so lucky.  For those who are still intending to return home after lockdown, we encourage you to keep up with our notifications and updates so you can be ready to move as soon as pet travel embargoes are lifted.

Bear and Kaydo the Boxer dogs were bound for Brisbane with another pet travel carrier who withdrew their service when lockdown started.  We were fortunate to be able to find a viable travel route to Australia for these pups and their people.  With airlines and borders closing by the hour it was not possible for us to offer solutions to all our clients, especially to those travelling further afield.  For those intending to fly at the end of isolation we encourage you to use this time at home to prepare for your imminent travel.  Our COVID19 blog series will help detail the steps you need to follow to take advantage of the first flight routes when they become accessible.

Our littlest passenger this week was Raj the Maltese dog who flew to Perth on Thursday.  All of these furry fliers were incredibly lucky to travel aboard the last of the viable pet transport routes during COVID19 lockdown.  As things continue to evolve both here and overseas, we encourage you to stay safe in your homes and use this time to prepare for future travel opportunities.   Now is the ideal time to commence crate training and as vets are considered an essential service, you can complete your required vaccinations schedule as per usual.   Don't forget to wash your dog with soapy water regularly!

We are very fortunate to have an open line of communication with both airlines and MPI.  Please be aware we are experiencing a higher than usual call volume at this time.  Your support and understanding is appreciated.  The information we receive from the government and airline will be first filtered to our clients to enable them to make sounds transport plans and then our wider pet travel community online.  If you are intending to return home with your pets, either abroad or domestically, we would be happy to help plan your pet transport.  A quick call to our phone +6492560999 will redirect you to the pet travel consultant of your choice.  Otherwise, we continue to be available by email, via quote request form or follow our updates on social media.  We look forward to helping you and your pets return safely home, just as we have been doing for 3 generations.  Be safe, be kind, ​be ready to travel again very soon.  Best wishes, Pet Transport NZ.

The importance of planning international pet travel in advance, can not be stressed enough.  The one who suffers most from lack of adequate travel planning is your pet.  And your pocket!  Future planning any overseas adventures with pets allows you time to crate train, vaccinate your pets and budget your pets' transport into the other costs of moving overseas.  Your pet courier will break it down for you.

Whilst pet transport is often more affordable than most people think, it is an unknown quantity until you request a quote.  Unlike flying humans, where booking fees are standard regardless of how tall or heavy you are, booking flights for pets is not the same.  The volumetric weight charge is unique to each animal; how much space they occupy in the cargo hold and how much they weigh.  Once you know how much the your pet's travel tickets will cost, you can plan when and how to pay accordingly..

Planning in advance allows you time to prepare your pets and budget your travel with a nice time cushion, just in case vaccination goes curly or crate training takes a little longer than anticipated.  Most importantly, it ensures both humans and pets have a pawsitively awsome travel experience together! Contact one of our knowledgable pet transport consultants to get your pet travel plan underway!

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When you fly your pet overseas from New Zealand with us, we professionally fit your pet with the correct sized IATA compliant cage or custom-build your travel crate to spec.  If you are unable to come to our stock rooms at Auckland Airport with your cats or dogs, we can explain travel cage sizing over the phone and will send IATA measuring diagrams guide you with instructions by email.  This week on Facebook and Instagram we started sharing our top 5 tips for travel crate training success with a little help from Rosie the Border Collie.

Step 1: Park your professionally sized & fitted #IATA approved #travelcrates in your living room. You want your pets to be really comfortable with their new #crate in your home before you start introducing play inside. No drama, no stress. Just let the crate become part of the living room furniture. A little curiosity, sniffing around or pawing at the door indicates they are ready to proceed to the next step

Step 2: Start introducing play in and around the crate to get your pet comfortable with the crate. Don't be shy with the treats or praise! Use them to reward exploring behind the door and staying inside with the door open.  No need to push your pets to go in and stay in but reluctant pets maybe encouraged by placing a favourite toy or blanket inside, or some dirty clothes from your laundry basket.  Familiar comforts and rewards are key here!

Step 3: Closing the door is almost the final stage. By now, your pet's travel #crate is fun and cozy place they sit or sleep in by choice. Your #pet needs to be #calm and comfortable inside the cage when the door closes. This will be their "home away from home" whilst #travelling. If they seem distressed, open the door immediately and let them out - you do not want their #travelcrate to ever be a scary place.  If things start to come unstuck at this stage, don't hesitate to give us a call on 09 256 0999

Step 4: This final stage is really only necessary for pets flying long haul, however it never hurts to see your pet's crate training all the way through to completion.  If your pet is quite happy inside their travel cage with the door closed, start making it part of your evening routine with bedtime inside the crate with the door closed.  You can even start this early in the piece with the door open and don't hesitate to move the crate to your bedroom if that is where they usually sleep.  You want your pet to make their crate their home, their safe space and a personal retreat in the same way they will identity their pet bed or favourite chair in the house as theirs.

Smelly socks, used nighties, freshly worn gym gear and underwear are among pets favourite smells and do let them use these items to mark their crate with your smells.  You can always remove them later when they are chill with the crate.  Heaps of our clients hold onto the crate even after travel and use it as an indoor kennel or pet bed - yep, eventually cats and dogs really grow to love their lovely travel crates!  Continued use of the crate well after your international journey will only smooth the way for further adventures together in future. 

If you would like an IATA measurement guide, further information about our drug-free crate-training program or need help at any stage of the game, don't hesitate to contact us.  We want every pet to fly safe, calm and happy.  There are no stupid questions and we love helping travellers with pets - do get in touch with one of our consultants! Did we miss something?  Let us know in the comments below!