Pet Movers
Pet Moving Services
Dogtainers Pet Transport take pride in providing a trusted, reliable, and affordable pet moving service for you and your pet. We provide domestic road transport, domestic air transport, international air transport, to suit all needs, schedules, and budgets.
With more than 50 years of pet transportation experience, your pet is in great hands. Don’t let the name fool you; at Dogtainers, we transport dogs, cats, birds, rats, fish, guinea pigs, pedigree pets, and even exotic zoo animals and wildlife.
Dogtainers take the hassle out of travel and can arrange your domestic or international pet moving for you. We are partnered with many Australian and international airlines, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Skytrans and more. We can plan every aspect of your pet move, so you have one less thing to worry about.
Dogtainers Moving Pets Abroad
International pet transport in general and international dog and cat relocation specifically require a skilled team of consultants to ensure everything runs smoothly. Each country has their own unique laws and regulations about what kind of pets can be imported, with particular vaccine requirements, vet checks, banned breeds and more.
Come Say Hi
We understand that pets are family, so putting them in the care of others is a big deal. We want to earn that trust. Come to any of our offices to meet our friendly staff, inspect the place, ask questions, and get a better sense of what the trip will be like for your four-legged friend.
Dogtainers Domestic Office Locations
We have office locations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns, Canberra, Townsville, Hobart, Alice Springs, Albury. Although we do welcome drop-ins in most locations, we can’t promise we won’t be busy.If you’d like dedicated time with us, please schedule an appointment by calling us on 1300 13 52 52, or emailing any of our offices.
Dogtainers Pet Moving Services
Our pet moving services include:
Collecting your pet from your chosen residence
Arranging boarding for any length of time
Hiring or purchasing travel crates
Arranging the most direct flight route possible both domestically and internationally
Guidance on the protocols with a detailed veterinary schedule
Flights into Australia
Collection from quarantine and delivery to your home
First time moving your pet? Don’t worry, we have crates available for sale and for rent. All of our crates are IATA specified, which means they are approved by all domestic and international airlines. We have crates fit for the smallest chihuahua to the largest great dane, and have even made custom crates for extra big woofers in the past. Our expert staff can advise you on what crate will best fit your pet based on their measurements, and guide you on how to take custom measurements as needed.
Experienced mover and already have your own crate? Fantastic! So long as it’s airline-approved, we’re more than happy for you to use your own crate.
Why You Should Choose Dogtainers
There are four different categories recognised by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The categories are based on the rabies risks of animals coming from these countries. Cats and dogs from approved countries are allowed to enter, provided all the veterinary requirements are met.
We are Australia’s largest owner-operated pet transport network and the only pet travel company to have our own offices and staff located in every state in Australia, including the Northern Territory.
Dogtainers has been operating for 50 years, and we import thousands of pets into Australia every year.
We’re an official RSPCA partner and a member of IPATA.
Most importantly, we’re pet lovers just like you! We understand that pets are family, and they deserve to be treated like it.
Country Categories for Importing Pets into Australia
There are four different categories recognised by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The categories are based on the rabies risks of animals coming from these countries. Cats and dogs from approved countries are allowed to enter, provided all the veterinary requirements are met.
Group 2:
American Samoa, Bahrain, Barbados, Christmas Island, Cook Island, Falkland Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Mauritius, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis, and Futuna.
Group 3:
Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Canary and Balearic Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malta, Malaysia (Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak only), Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Netherlands—Antilles & Aruba, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, the Republic of South Africa, Reunion, Saipan, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States (including the district of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (but excluding Guam and Hawaii), Uruguay.
Group 4:
All countries not listed in Groups 1, 2, and 3 are non-approved countries and your pet cannot directly enter Australia from these destinations. Cats and dogs travelling from non-approved countries need to move to a country in category 2 or 3 for six months before being eligible to enter Australia.
Group 1 Countries
Importing pets from New Zealand or Norfolk Island to Australia is easier compared to other countries. Cats and dogs coming in from New Zealand and Norfolk Island are not required to have an import permit, and your pets don’t need to be quarantined. You can enter Australia with your beloved pets with a minimum of fuss and a relatively short time.
Cocos (Keeling) Island is also a Group 1 country, but cats coming to Australia from Cocos Islands must be accompanied by a valid import permit, which provides the conditions for importing the cat. There is no mandatory quarantine period for cats from Cocos Islands.
Group 2 Countries
Bringing your pet from a Group 2 country into Australia usually takes 2-3 months.
- Cats and dogs coming to Australia from Group 2 countries must be accompanied by a valid import permit
- On arrival in Australia, cats and dogs must spend a minimum of 10 days at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility.
- A government-approved veterinarian or official government veterinarian must perform all veterinary procedures listed by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture.
- All testing must be done in an approved country in a laboratory recognised by the government of the country of export.
Group 3 Countries
Bringing your pet from a Group 3 country into Australia usually takes 6 months.
- Cats and dogs coming to Australia from Group 3 countries must be accompanied by a valid import permit.
- On arrival in Australia, cats and dogs must spend a minimum of 10 days at the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility.
- A government-approved veterinarian or official government veterinarian must perform all veterinary procedures listed by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture.
- All testing must be done in an approved country in a laboratory recognised by the government of the country of export.
Non-Approved Countries
If you want to export a pet from a non-approved country, you can move your pet to a Group 2 or Group 3 country, and follow the same import process as the Group 3 procedures to import your pet into Australia. The whole process can take more than 6 months. If you want to learn more about the detailed requirements, our expert pet travel consultants are here to help.
AUSTRALIA BANNED BREEDS
American Pit Bull Terrier
Fila Brasileiro
Dogo Argentino
Japanese Tosa
Savannah cat
Chausie crossed with Jungle cat.
Bengal cat crossed with Asian Leopard cat
Safari cat crossed with Geoffroy cat
Czechoslovakian wolfdog or Czechoslovakian Vlcak
Lupo Italiano or Italian wolfdog
Kunming wolfdog or Kunming dog
Saarloos wolfdog or Saarloos wolfhound
Daily Pet Movers
With an office in every state and territory, Dogtainers is one of the best-connected pet moving service providers in Australia. With 12 offices and our own fleet of customised climate-controlled, pet-friendly vans, we make daily trips all over Australia. We can even provide a “Door-to-Door” service, where we collect your pet from your residence, and drop them off at their destination, too.
Start Your Pet Transport Journey
Australia: 1300 13 52 52 | New Zealand: 0800 13 52 52