Angie, what inspired you and your husband to set up PetRelocation?
My husband Kevin and I moved to Austin from San Francisco back in 2000, and after starting a small pet taxiing business I saw the potential for incredible growth in the pet industry. Having relocated with my own dog and cat and realizing how stressful an experience it can be, it only made sense to explore how we could make it easier for people to get their pets from point A to point b efficiently and safely.We now have over 30 employees and handle hundreds of corporate and personal moves each year. To see this initial idea grow into a global business has been incredible, and the best part is knowing we’ve helped so many families keep their pets with them when life throws a big change into the mix.
What services does PetRelocation offer?
PetRelocation offers worldwide, door-to-door pet transportation services. Imagine being offered a new job in Shanghai or finally following your dream to move to Australia – bringing your dog, cat, or bird along is a must for most families, and we organize the details (the vet visits, the paperwork, etc.) to help make the trip as safe and smooth as possible. Our team of Pet Relocation Specialists navigates the various country requirements and they use extensive, specialized knowledge to handle everything, making life much easier for pet owners facing a move.
What are the challenges your clients typically encounter when relocating pets to Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is different than a lot of other places because pets can’t fly as excess baggage, they must arrive as manifest cargo. Basically this means it’s harder for a pet owner to manage the move themselves because they may not be authorized to make the pet’s flight reservation. Hong Kong is also rabies-free, so if you’re coming from a country that isn’t rabies-free, you’ll have to carefully follow the regulations in order to be admitted and avoid undergoing a quarantine.
This might all sound a little complicated, but it’s worth mentioning that pets move safely to Hong Kong all the time, and there are actually several pet-friendly neighborhoods to be found there. Even larger dogs can feel welcome in places like Discovery Bay and Happy Valley – residential areas farther removed from downtown.
How can you help them overcome these challenges to make sure everything goes smoothly?
It helps to do your research and also to hire a professional to help out. A Pet Relocation Specialist will be able to tell you what you need to do, when you need to do it. They are familiar with the additional steps required for pets coming from countries that aren’t rabies-free, and they also know the best routing options and will be able to book the flight. During the busy time of moving, it makes sense that many people decide they’d rather leave these arrangements to experts who have done it all before.
Are there any animals which you can't ship to Hong Kong? If so, which?
Hong Kong isn’t as strict as many other places in this respect, but some breeds of dog are not allowed. Pit Bull Terriers, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Fila Braziliero and crossbreeds of these dogs may not be imported.
What is a typical working day like?
As a quickly growing company, we have a variety of employees who all play different roles in making this ship run smoothly. Our Pet Relocation Specialists always have a busy day, as they are the ones speaking to our clients and overseeing the logistics of the pet moves. Their daily activities include planning the best travel routes, taking care of quarantine or boarding arrangements if necessary, offering advice about travel crates, and generally keeping our clients as informed and ready as possible. We know it can be overwhelming to move your family, your pets and your belongings to a completely new place, so we try to ease our clients’ minds as much as possible by being available for all their questions. We also take time to pass along stories from other pet owners who have been through similar experiences – hearing about people who have been through it all before really helps.
If you had to give one piece of advice to our members to help them when relocating pets abroad what would it be?
The best advice is “start early.” Speak with a Pet Relocation Specialist as soon as you know you’re moving in order to understand your options and start setting up a plan. People often don’t realize that it can take months to prepare a pet to move, so in order to avoid leaving them behind for any length of time it’s best to find out what you need to know right away.
PetRelocation provides safe, door-to-door pet transportation services worldwide and has received several customer service awards for their work in the relocation industry.
Main website: www.petrelocation.com
Blog: www.petrelocation.com/blog
Twitter: @PetRelocation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PetRelocation