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The trio of adopted Singapore Specials: Beau (14 years old), Shiro (10 years old) and Pango (8 years old) relocated earlier this year to New Zealand during the autumn, grew thicker coats when winter came, smelled their way through spring and now ready to enjoy the summer! Their pawrent, Theresa Sacchi, shares more about their journey ....

Shiro and Pango at the beach. In New Zealand, dogs are allowed off leash on all beaches, as long as they do not have birds nesting, except during the busier summer months most beaches allow dogs before 9am and after 6pm. 

Beau was adopted as a young 7-year-old senior and Pango as a 2-year-old, both from OSCAS (Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter), and Shiro was found as a 3-month-old puppy in the Kallang River and a very skittish dog.

All three lived the apartment life in Singapore so moving to a house in New Zealand with a big garden was a huge change of freedom and one they had no issue adjusting to!

Sadly, Beau recently passed of cancer but he got to enjoy his last month’s roaming freely in the garden in a peaceful environment. 

Beau loved to roam freely in his own garden.

How long were you living in Singapore (including with your dogs)?  How much time did you get to plan your move to NZ?

We had lived in Singapore for twelve years, having arrived with our first dog (who we adopted in Langkawi and he had lived in 5 countries with us) before passing away in Singapore, but his ashes came with us to NZ. We didn’t expect to adopt three more dogs but when you volunteer at a dog shelter, it is very hard not to give a dog or two or three a home!

Left to right: Pango, Beau and Shiro

We had plenty of time to prepare for relocating with three dogs once we decided where that would be. During COVID we decided we would move so I got one crate to introduce to them. Once we decided in early 2023 that we would move to NZ, we got them a crate each to get used to having their own. So, we had a good year to prepare them!

Did you move your dogs on your own or through a Pet Transporter? Why did you choose to use a Pet Transporter or do on your own?

Previously, we moved our first dog on our own as he could go via excess baggage to the different countries we moved to, including Thailand, Italy, China and Singapore. But moving to New Zealand the dogs cannot be checked in as excess baggage as they have to go as cargo and into quarantine, so we had to use a pet relocator to deal with cargo handling.  

I did a lot of research to get quotes from a number of pet relocators and a friend was moving to NZ around the same time with his Singapore Special and he also had a spreadsheet of research!

In the end, we both decided to go with Sherry Heng of The Flying Fido and consequently another friend relocating to NZ with her two dogs also used Sherry.

Sherry was super easy to communicate with, very clear, flexible and the most affordable.  Being that it is her own business, she is the one you deal with the whole time (not like other bigger companies) and she is hands-on transporting the dogs to their vet checks and to the airport.  

So, she got to know the dogs well and was flexible to allow me to be there at the cargo area which other pet relocators did not allow.  This gave me a feeling of transparency and comfort knowing the whole process and being able to be with them till it was time to depart.

Day of departure, outside the AVS office in the cargo area doing the final paperwork, getting the Export Permit before going to the cargo loading area where they would need to stay in their crates till reached quarantine in Auckland.

Have you moved countries with your current dogs or any other dog before? From where to where?

This was our first time to move countries with these three dogs. But previously, we adopted a dog when we lived in Langkawi, Malaysia.  He moved with us to Koh Samui, Thailand, then to Shanghai, China, then to Milan, Italy back to Shanghai and then to Singapore and we did all the move by ourselves as he could travel as excess baggage.

Adopted Malaysian Special, Nero - global traveller. Here in Shanghai about to move to Singapore.

Can you run us through the process of moving your dogs to NZ –
a.     A list of things you purchased and if you can recommend any products.

Unlike moving to other countries, which in general are very straight forward, New Zealand has a lot more tests that are required at very specific dates prior to departure. So, it’s important to be aware of these so as to book your departure flights and quarantine at the right time.  Our pet relocator gave us the timeline for tests so I worked off this to book in their Quarantine first in Auckland and did the import permit online myself.  

There are three quarantine facilities in Auckland and one in Christchurch. I chose Auckland Quarantine facility in Manurewa as it was the closest facility to Auckland airport and I didn’t want them to have to spend more time travelling in their crates.  

NZ do not allow any dog who has tested positive for Babesia Gibsoni to enter the country, other countries do not have this requirement. If our dogs had tested positive, we would have had to change plan and move elsewhere.

Dr Gino of the Animal Infirmary drawing blood for the Babesia Gibsoni test, which requires more blood than usual for testing. Taking the blood from the jugular vein makes it alot quicker.

Crate training should be the first thing to do to prepare your dog.  Ensure to get the right size crate and of strong quality that is IATA approved. 

Crate4Pets (who are also a pet relocator) provided more solid crates than what you can find at pet stores so my pet relocator arranged these. They came with the water bowl which I kept full of water (frozen) on their crate door (left open in the apartment) so they could get into the habit of drinking from it.  

I made sure their crates had their beds inside to make for a cosy environment they could retreat into anytime they liked which they did naturally.  We also practiced travelling in the crate and to my surprise they jumped straight into their crates that were placed in the van.

Practice run to the vet for one of their many tests to be done.

Later on, I began feeding their meals in the crate and closing the door to help them get used to being enclosed. They became very comfortable with their crates seeing them as a good place to be and sleep, so this made it easy when it came time to load them onto a plane!

Live Animals are always the last to be loaded. Seen here at Changi International Airport about to depart for Auckland, New Zealand.

b.    The checklist of paperwork required.  How much time did it take? 

Ideally you need at least three months to get your head around the process and complete all the necessary paperwork. However, if you are worried about them not passing the key test (Babesia Gibsoni you could test this earlier to have peace of mind).  I did not do this as if they were positive we had a plan to move to Europe which would have been more straight forward and cheaper. The first thing to do once you know your dates is to book the quarantine facility, only once you have this booked can you apply for the import permit which you can do online (they say it takes 30 days but I received it within that time), and it is valid for 6 months. 

All the information you need to know can be found here on the official government step-by-step guide to bringing dogs and cats into NZ

On the site above under Forms and Templates … this is the main document your Vet needs - Model Vet Certificate A - to complete at specified dates which your pet relocator will inform you of too. It states all the tests they need to pass and gives you an idea of the timeline needed to get all these tests done and you can ask your vet for the costs.  

And this is a final form - Model Vet Certificate B - to be cleared and stamped by AVS which your pet relocator will take care of just prior to departure.

Which airline did you use and how was the experience with them? How long was the entire journey? Did you fly together?

Our three dogs flew from Singapore to Auckland direct with Air New Zealand (much cheaper than Singapore Airlines) in about 10 hours, however they are in their crates for at least 3 hours prior departure and about 2 hours once landed and transported to the quarantine facility. I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to all get on the same flight so contacted cargo directly myself to double check and the pet relocator kept a check too. In the end, there was also another dog in cargo so fours dogs total on the same flight. So this wasn’t an issue to be worried about in the end.

Sherry of The Flying Fido seen here attaching all the necessary paperwork, stickers, water top-up and cable tying of all crates.

You are not able to book your dog’s yourself when they have to fly as cargo which is also why we needed a Pet Relocator to arrange the bookings with the cargo handling agent.  

I flew on the same flight with them and was able to take them to the cargo area with the pet relocator, which we timed so they didn’t need to be there so early sitting in the crates (other relocators were advising they needed to be there a lot earlier). The other dog on the same flight was already at the cargo area for quite some time before we even arrived, dropped off by another pet relocator.

Once they were processed in the cargo area, and all paperwork, harnesses, collars and leashes attached in secure bags on the outside of their crates, crate doors cable tied, stickers on crates, the pet relocator then dropped me home so I could change (pick up my suitcases) then get back to the airport, check in and see them being loaded onto the plane as I waited to board.  

Fortunately, it was a very smooth flight, no turbulence and when we touched down in Auckland I was able to watch them being unloaded too. I went to the quarantine facility when I arrived to check they were all ok and also to pass on arthritis medication for my older dog. You are not allowed to see the dogs at all but they updated daily via their Facebook page with photos and you can email or call if want more information. 

Arrival at Auckland International Airport, NZ, live animals are always the first to be unloaded.

How easy was it for your dogs to adjust to their new home? 

All three dogs adjusted very easily, better than me!  It was autumn when we arrived and as winter came their coats naturally became thicker.  For the first time Pango had fur on her belly which she never had in Singapore.  As soon as they saw us when we picked them up from quarantine they were adjusted, they just need to know you are there and they slipped right into their new environment.  

Collecting all three from Auckland Quarantine after completing their 10 days!

When you lived in Singapore what were your dog’s favourite things to do? 

Living in Singapore in an apartment, daily walks were essential and always a navigation through people, construction, traffic but we were lucky to have a green space not too far that we could walk to, and they could roam freely without people around.  So that was definitely their preferred place to be especially when their neighbourhood Singapore Special friend Sophie would join, and they also enjoyed going to swim and play at Wag N Wild. Well not so much Beau but he enjoyed the van ride and meeting new dogs.

Now living in NZ, what are the main differences your dogs are experiencing and also your family living with dogs in NZ in comparison to Singapore?

The biggest change is they now have a huge garden (securely fenced) to roam as and when they wish which they love, especially Shiro the more skittish dog.  In Singapore I had to get him a stroller to jump into as he was too scared to step outside and navigate through people/construction to get to an open green space. Only when it was raining would he happily walk out as he knew that meant no people.  

Now he is at ease in his own garden kingdom and has become obsessed with looking out for and chasing wild rabbits seen running through or around the perimeter of our property or going to check on the sheep in the neighbouring section.  

In Singapore we didn’t have a car but in New Zealand one is needed so they love going in the car as know it means we are going to the beach, the river or dog-friendly woods where they have more freedom to explore safely and not have to navigate through people. Some places dogs are not allowed such in certain forested or beach areas due to the presence of Kiwi or nesting Penguins but there is always somewhere in beautiful nature you can take them. More of their life in NZ can be seen on their instagram pangoshirobeau

Walks in Singapore generally meant on concrete, so naturally their nails would get filed down.  But here in NZ they spend more time on grass and sand (more soft surfaces) so they now go to a groomer regularly just for their nail trim which is located in the countryside so a bit of an outing for them too.

How much did your move cost in total? (If can give a breakdown be good or general mention of what this covered.)  If you did the move on your own, how much do you think you saved?

The total cost to move all three dogs came to around $30,000. 

The Vet checks being the most expensive around $10,500. The Babesia Gibsoni Test being the most expensive test at $350 per dog (which needs doing twice at specific dates pre-departure), Brucella Canis test $180 per dog, Lepto blood test $200 per dog, Cani Influenza vaccine (a quarantine requirement) $110 per dog. 

The crates cost $1,430 for all three. Quarantine cost was $3,600 for all three dogs for 10 days.  The final docs being the AVS Export Permits & Health Certificates $120 for all three and Import Permits which I applied myself at the very beginning cost $210 for all three dogs. 

Our pet relocator transported the dogs each time to the vet (they had to do 5 vet visits) so costs were saved here otherwise I’d have to book a taxi which is very hard to find for three dogs.  For relocating to other countries, it is typically just one or two visits as they do not require all the testing that NZ does.

We consider pets as our family. But sometimes people get worried or realise the cost may be too much and leave their pet behind… what’s the one thing you’d like to say to such people so that they would reconsider?

Firstly, don’t even consider getting a pet if you will not take on the lifetime responsibility of which could mean if you move, your pet moves with you too.  For them you are their everything and likewise they should be yours.

Millions of pets and other live animals are transported by air every year all over the world.  Yes, it is stressful but so are many things in life and with proper planning and preparation it is just a process to follow and your life will be at peace and happier for doing the right thing and not leaving them behind.

Every time I’d visit family in New Zealand, I always dreamt that one day our dogs could enjoy life here and now finally they are!  They are family too; they are happy and safe, and that’s what matters!

RIP Beau, the gentlest soul - Adopt a Senior Dog - Beau spent 7 years of his life in a shelter without seeing the outside but it was the end that mattered! He found a loving home where he spent 7 plus years being able to enjoy the life a dog should, exploring outside everyday and living in peace and comfort.

For more insights on moving with your pets, check out our other blogs:

We hope these stories help keep more furry family members together so no one is left behind. You can read more in the series here:

SERIES ONE: MOVING BETWEEN SINGAPORE & THE UK

SERIES TWO: MOVING BETWEEN THE USA & SINGAPORE

SERIES THREE: MOVING BETWEEN AUSTRALIA & SINGAPORE

SERIES FOUR: MOVING BETWEEN SINGAPORE & GERMANY

SERIES FIVE: MOVING TO SOUTH KOREA FROM SINGAPORE

SERIES SIX: MOVING TO PORTUGAL FROM SINGAPORE

SERIES SEVEN: MOVING TO THE UK FROM HONG KONG

SERIES EIGHT: MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND FROM SINGAPORE

SERIES NINE: MOVING BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND SCOTLAND

SERIES TEN: MOVING FROM DUBAI TO SINGAPORE

SERIES ELEVEN: MOVING FROM SINGAPORE TO NEW ZEALAND

SERIES TWELVE: MOVING FROM SINGAPORE TO SHANGHAI, CHINA

Help us keep families together! If you have a moving story you would like to share please email us at: customerservice@loyald.com