Give Paws For Thought When Relocating With Pets

The task of relocating abroad is no small feat and the logistics of uprooting and making a fresh start can be complicated enough without then considering the pragmatics of taking your pets with you. When there is so much to consider, from shipping your furniture to tying up all the loose ends at your previous property, it's important to have the right support in place to help guide you through the process.

Sheila Robertson (57) relocated to Abu Dhabi after her recent marriage to husband Stuart (56), following his job promotion as a police traffic patrol trainer. Following closely behind were 20 paws in the form of their five rescue dogs; Demon, Nikki, Charlie, Bertie and Earl. As a strong family unit, it was never an option to leave the dogs behind so, prior to their move, detailed preparation was required to ensure they could start their Abu Dhabi adventure together.

Sheila commented: "Considering moving abroad to such a different culture was a huge decision for myself and Stuart. Our dogs are very much at the heart of our family and I could never relocate without them. When we decided to move I had no idea where to start in terms of considering the care the dogs would need prior to the move, and then of course arranging the journey itself."

John Morris at Crown Relocations explained: "Moving abroad is a huge adjustment and there are many things to consider to ensure the safety and care of your pet. Prior to the move, ask your vet what you can do to minimise your pet's anxiety and help them adjust to your new home. Furthermore, immunisation and quarantine requirements vary widely by country, so eliminate unwanted surprises by finding out well in advance what the rules are in your new location."

Sheila added: "The day my dogs were collected for transport I was naturally very anxious as they were travelling separately to me. My worries were completely put at ease, however, by Nick who was the dogs' dedicated companion partner. He talked me through every step of the way – from the type of crates the dogs would travel in to the fact that his colleague would be on the ground in Abu Dhabi ready for their arrival to take them directly to Stuart at our new villa. Nick also found us a reliable vet in Abu Dhabi and talked to them ahead of the dogs' arrival as one of the dogs had previously been ill. I had butterflies in my tummy the whole flight knowing my dogs were in transit in a separate aircraft but Nick 'held my hand' the whole way through!"

"Anybody moving with pets needs to have peace of mind that their relocation will be managed by caring, knowledgeable and compassionate handlers," John advised. "A good partner will utilise a network of pet transfer specialists and arrange special travel requirements and medical regulations. It's also important to counsel pet owners throughout the moving process so they can feel confident knowing that their pets will enjoy a safe and successful relocation."

Now in their new home, Sheila, Stuart and their four-legged friends are adapting to life in Abu Dhabi well. Sheila explained: "The gang has settled in really well thanks to their smooth journey here and seeing Stuart's familiar face on arrival. The temperature is really high here which is taking some getting used to, particularly for the dogs, but we get around it by taking them for their walk at 5am. Fortunately there is a local dog walking beach only a five minute drive from us which the dogs just love, especially the temperature of the water as it's just like a warm bath for them. Hopefully it will also provide us with an opportunity to meet other dog owners too."

Sheila concluded: "My advice for anyone moving with pets is to do as much research as possible and talk to lots of companies to find one that works best for you, don't just go with the cheapest. Finding the right service will make the whole move so much simpler and less stressful. Knowing my dogs were being taken care of by a team I trusted made all my worries disappear. We are now so excited to get stuck in to our new life in Abu Dhabi as a complete family."