Hier is 'n paar webwerwe wat dalk van nut kan wees vir diegene wat hulle troeteldiere wil saambring Kanada toe:

• Animal Travel Services
• Global Paws
• Keringa International
• Pets en Transit
• Pet Imports - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Ons het ons Jack Russel saam gebring, ons het Global Paws gebruik. Dit het ons R2500 gekos, en ek moet sê ons was baie tevrede met die diens.

Die vereiste om honde na Kanada te bring is baie eenvoudig (weet nou nie van katte nie), jy moet wys dat hulle die 5 in 1 gehad het en dat hulle teen hondsdolheid inge-ent is minstens 30 voor hulle vertrek....maar nie langer as 1 jaar terug nie. Wat ons gedoen het, ons het vir ou Buks 2 maande voor die tyd in elk geval sy 5 in 1 laat kry en toe sommer die hondsdolheid ook laat doen. Dien res doen Glaobal Paws vir jou (Staats veearts gedoente)

Bring hulle man.....mens los so baie dinge agter....ons kon nie vir Buks ook los nie

Ons het "Air a pet" in Kempton Park gebruik. Hulle het al die korrekte informasie vir ons op skrif gegee, en seker gemaak dat al die dokumentasie afgehandel was. Ons het geen probleem gehad nie en ons kleine Benji saamgebring. My hond het my deur die lang verlang-dae gehelp. Ongelukkig is hy toe twee jaar later oorlede, maar dit was dit alles werd. Ons koste was einde 1999 R2000,00 en ons het KLM gekies omdat hulle 'n baie goeie reputasie met diere het en veeartse gebruik om na die diere in Amsterdam om te sien, voordat hulle verder vlieg. Air a pet hanteer ook katte. Moenie sonder al julle familie lede kom nie, ek treur nou nog oor my duitse herdershond wat ek moes agterlaat. Ek wonder daagliks of hy gelukkig is. Alles is moontlik. Waar daar 'n wil is is daar 'n weg.

Uh......wag maar net, ek laat kom een van die dae om 2 Weimaraners wat ons moes los. Dit is ook vir ons baie erg (Familie kyk darem na hulle) om aan hulle te dink daar ver. Ons gaan hulle een van die dae laat oorkom.

Ja, Buks het ook met KLM gevlieg!

Ons het ook Air a Pet in Kempton gebruik.

Ons het in Bloemfontein gebly, die kat (Minister) is na Air a Pet se agent kennels toe in Bloem toe ons weg is. Sy sou die kat lughawe toe vat sodat sy kan vlieg Johannesburg toe en van daar Vancouver toe.

Ongelukkig was daar n twee weke vertraging in Bloemfontein. Die eienares van die kennels, n ouerige alleen dame op n hoewe buite die dorp, was maar net nog n statistiek vir n gewapende roof. Sy is in die bors geskiet deur van ons mede landsburgers en in n ernstige toestand opgeneem in die hospitaal.

Die hele aangeleentheid het gemaak dat ons sonder enige sukses vir Minister wag op Vancouver lughawe. Na 2 weke se hok verblyf het sy toe uiteindelik hier opgedaag.

Eintlik geen fout aan Air a Pet se kant nie, maar dit sou gaaf gewees het as iemand ons in daai twee weke se tyd laat weet het wat gaan aan.

As ek reg onthou het dit ongeveer R2000 gekos. n Paar inspuitigs voor die tyd en die Kanadese hierdie kant het geen probleme gehad om haar n
"landed immigrant" te maak nie. Om die waarheid te se, ek dink sy het die maklikste van almal aangepas ook.

Ek het al gehoor dat mens nie honde kan terug vat SA toe as hulle n ruk lank hier was nie. Hoe waar dit is weet ek nie, kan maar net praat uit eie ondervinding.

Viva!

Ek soek nou hulp en raad. My twee miniatuur worshonde het 'n kwotasie gekry van drie invoer maatskappye in SA van tussen R11 000-R12 000. 5 maande gelede was dit R4000. Is ek besig om soos my ouma agter te raak met die pryse, of is hierdie 'n vrot verskoning om geld te maak op die golf van die oorlog? Iemand help asb., op die manier sal ek nooit my brakke hier kry nie?!!

Hierdie is een van die emosionele sye van 'n verhuising na 'n ander land! Ons het 'n Boston Terrier gehad in S.Afrika en besluit om vir haar 'n ander huis te vind eerder as om haar oor te bring Kanada toe. Dis geweldig duur en dis die eenkant van die storie en dan is dit ook baie traumaties vir die diere om so ver te reis. Kleiner troeteldiere, soos joune, reis egter beter en ons het vriende hier wat 'n hele huisvol troeteldiere gehad het en net een klein pom-pom saamgebring het en sy het vreeslik goed aangepas en is almal se liefling! Hierdie is 'n besluit wat net jy en jou gesin alleen sal moet maak en die finansiele aspek ingesluit! (Net terloops - ons het 3 jaar terug 'n Boston Terrier hier aangeneem. Ons wou graag weer een he en diere is ontsettend duur in Kanada - Boston Terriers gaan vir $1 500.00!! Ek het vir maande gesoek en toe op hierdie, pragtige, hondjie afgekom en die nadeel was hy is doof gebore! Hy het egter sulke fantastiese maniere - kyk vir ons vir handgebare (wat sy vorige eienaars hom geleer het) op wat ons van hom verwag en kan selfs toertjies uitvoer wat mense laat skaterlag. Hy sal inkom van buite - sit en wag dat ons eers sy pootjies skoonmaak en as hy honger of dors is, gaan le hy net eenvoudig by sy bak en wag vir ons. Saans gaan le hy voor sy hok (wat kan sluit) en bedags gaan hy ook daarin wanneer ons by die werk is. Diere het ongelooflike maniere in Kanada, want mense hier neem hulle na gehoorsaamheidsklasse!)

Die liewe dier. Ek huil nog as ek aan myne dink. Ek weet nie hoeveel navorsing jy gedoen het nie, maar in ons proses het hulle ons afgeraai om ons honde te bring. Honde hier het n baie ander lewenswyse as in SA. My storie is dat ek twee border collies gehad het wat meestal buite en in die kombuis kon kom. Hule was lief vir swem en was baie aktief. Ons het besluit dat omdat ons nie weet hoe dinge gaan uitdraai nie, dit dalk die beter ding wees om huke te los. Ek het hulle gegee ann die mense wat my huis gekoop het en sodoende was alles nie veel vreemd vir hulle nie. Ek kry nounog n pyn in my hart as ek n border collie sien, maar glo dat dit die beste vir hulle was. Ons het nou n nuwe hond, n Amerikaanse snowdog en hy leef saam met ons in die huis. "Vets" is baie duur en omdat Lucas (my nuwe hond) in die huis is saam die kinders, dan laat ek hom maar gereeld "grrom"ens, ens.

Dit is n baie harde besluit en ons moes op die ou einde n besluit neem vir ons honde en ek weet dat hulle gelukkig is. My pa gaan loer so nou in dan in.

So dit beantwoord nie jou vraag, maar hopelik gee dit vir jou n ander alternatief.

Sterkte met die besluit, <_<

I have a fair amount of knowledge about this as I researched it fully when we flew our cat out in Feb 2003.
Who are you using ? and where are you coming from and to where?
It is a big rip off as the peolple use emotional blackmail to lift the price.
Hope I can help with advise.
Colleen

Ons het 4 jaar gelede na Kanada gekom en ons GROOT sheperd sowel as 2 katte het saamgekom. Ons het alles self gereel en NIE van 'n maatskappy gebruik gemaak nie. Op daardie stadium was hulle quotes ongeveer 2 tot 3 maal duurder as die koste van alles self organiseer. Daar is ook GEEN kwarentyn tydperk nie.

Al wat ons moes doen, was die vlugte reel (ons vlug was Jhb-Frankfurt-Calgary, maar blykbaar is KLM baie goed met diere), gesondheidsertifikate kry van 'n veearts wat stel dat hulle gesond is en 'n bewys dat hulle rabies inentings gehad het in die afgelope jaar. Die koste hang absoluut af van die grootte van die hok waarin hulle reis. Ons 2 katte was saam in 'n hokkie en was spot goedkoop (R900). Die sheperd was in 'n groot hok en was relatief duur (R4500). Meeste lugdienste het goeie inligting op hulle websites (soos grootte van hok wat hulle aanbeveel en selfs kwotasies vir die vlug.

Al hierdie inligting is omtrent 4 jaar oud, so jy moet dalk van alles dubbel seker maak. Daar is geen manier hoe ons nie ons diere sou saambring nie. Die feit dat Kanada geen kwarentyn het nie was actually 1 van die oorwegings om hierheen te kom.

Die sheperd was redelik getraumatiseer deur die hele ervaring (hy is bietjie van 'n highly strung hond), maar die katte het dit geweldig goed hanteer.

Vra gerus as jy nog detail nodig het.

Hallo daar,

Ek dink hulle rip julle vreeslik af ... ek het Pet's En Transit vanuit Kloof gebruik vir my groot boerboel puppy ... hy het so net oor die 50kg geweeg toe ons hom oorbring (6 maande oud) en ek het maar +/- R5000 ($1500) in Januarie vir alles betaal ... Hulle het die vet papiere in order gekry - 'n vlug van Durban na Jhb en toe deur KLM na Amsterdam en toe Toronto.

Jy kan hulle hier kontak:

Pets En Transit
P.O. Box 94, Kloof, KZN
South Africa
3640

Telephone: +27 31 709-3917
Tel/Fax: +27 31 709-3916
Email: pets@global.co.za

Good Luck!

Colleen, I don't have your e-mail address?

Phil, hulle is geregistreer as greeffs hier op die forum. Email aan dié lid.

Ons het Julie 2002 ons Jack Russel vanaf Jhb. na Vancouver laat kom. Ons het R2500 betaal. Dit het als ingesluit.......kas, vet. ens.

Ons het van Global Paws gebruik gemaak en ons was regtig baie tevrede.

Mooi bly, hoop julle kom reg!

KLM is by verre die beste - nog net goeie nuus verneem van S.Afrikaners wat hul diere deurgebring het!

Ja, Engela ek het ook so gehoor. Moet by sê dat Global Paws ook van KLM gebruik gemaak het om ou Buksie hier te kry.

Probeer ook dat jou troeteldier nie oor 'n naweek vlieg nie, want dan las hulle nog "weekend surcharge" ook by.

We are bringing out two Jack Russels in May and have been R 4880 (excluding kennelling at R20 p/dog p/day)
We are using Animal Travel Services 021 9349556 Speak to Erica

Thelategans,

Now I ask you with tears in my navy blue eyes, why do the same company ask me R8 000 more for two dogs the same size than yours?

Vra hulle weer vir 'n kwotasie - nie almal wat deesdae werk weet altyd wat aangaan nie.
Ons het 2 herdershonde by goeie vriende in SA gelos want hulle sou nooit op hierdie klein erfies aangepas het nie en nog minder in die sneeu. Ons mis hulle net vreeslik baie. Dit is hoekom ons julle met die klein hondjies beny. Het nou 10 maande gelede vir ons 'n Yorkie hier gekoop en hy maak darem op vir die groot gemis.
Sterkte met die reelings.
Ria

Ek het opvolg kwotasies aangevra en die antwoord was deur die bank dieselfde, pryse was steeds heelwat meer as R10 000. Ek kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die "pet movers" Kanadese dollar sien as mens die kwotasie aanvra. Ek het dus my eie reelings getref en die honde laat vlieg tot in Edmonton, alles gereel deur middel van e-mail. Dit het my R1440 gekos tot in Vancouver, en C$290 tot in Edmonton, maw nie eers R3000 in totaliteit nie. Ek beveel dit enige tyd aan. Ek is nie bereid om R7000 to R9000 kommisie te betaal nie.

Phil,

I was at the pet store yesterday .....do you ANY idea how much animals cost to buy here???

The puppies there ranges from $1250 up to about $3000..yeah dollars NOT rands !! If you love those babies bring them over. I would love to get my kids a dog, but it's crazy the price of them here. Cats are cheap but dogs!!!!

Good luck

Dah_Looney,

Have you tried the Animal Humane Society or similar organizations? We got the greatest dog for about $100, shots included.

Also, you know that you've helped a dog and that it is probably not from some puppy mill. You also get a good history of the dog and can bring it back if it does not fit in with the kids, cat, etc.

Thanks Spekkies, I will go and take a look, my kids are just soooooooooo wanting an animal, but the pet stores are crazy.

Hi All,

I am trying to find out what the regulation is regarding taking our pets with us into Canada ?

I know for the USA you need a certificate stating that the animal has had all of the required shots and that is all. Is the ruking similar for Canada ?

Thanks

Hi Gary,

I have checked up on a few sites about importing pets into Canada. I will be brining my pets over from Spain, but the site which I found to have the best info is this Importing Pets into Canada

I hope this helps.

Judy

Thanks Judy

Bringing pets into Canada is very easy. We brought two dogs over. Their rabies shots had to be up to date, and also canine distemper. I suggest you contact one of the many animal travel agencies in SA. They will tell you what you need to do and give you a quote.
We used Animal travel services in the western Cape and were very happy with their service. tel 021 9349556.
Regards Stuart

Thank you for the valuable info re relocating pets from SA to Canada that I came across, while saturating my brain with info on the when, where, what and how of immigration. We have to transport 2 Main Coon Cats, and this forum has yet again, proved to be very valuable in putting ones mind to rest.

You are most welcome Wessel, and I hope we can assist in making this mammoth undertaking as easy and enjoyable for you as it can be!

nft.

We brought our 2 cats with us from S.A. They have travelled across Canada 3 times without any problems. We have friends here in Ontario that also brought 2 cats with them. We lived in apartments in B.C and Ontario for 3 years before buying our own house. I saw a posting a while ago on CCC about a couple who came to Toronto with 3 dogs. It's very comforting have your pets with you, it helps to have something familiar with you when you arrive here.
In S.A they were ''outdoor'' cats but soon adapted well to being indoor cats.

For Vancouver, I would recommend leaving dogs behind, unless you are such a keen dog lover you can't do without it. There are a reasonable amount of dog-friendly places, but you will be adding about $200-300 to your rent for this privilege. Remember dogs are severely restricted here - I left my dog behind on a farm and I know she is much happier there than she would be in Vancouver: There are only two dog beaches in Vancouver - both pretty small and always crowded with other dogs - my dog is quite territorial so I know I would have a hard time getting her used to sharing a 200 m long beach with about 50 other dogs.

The West End is not as pricey as you might think - there are a lot of older but well-maintained buildings that go from $700 to $1000 for 500 - 800 square foot. I pay $925 + $45 for parking for my view in and my 550 sq feet. The convenience of being downtown, the view and the closeness to Stanley Park make up for it in my opinion.

Morning All

Thanks for the responses. Doesnt seem so good to try and bring the pets with, but I am a dog lover, wouldnt be able to leave my dogs behind. I have attached a pic of the 2 dogs and 1 cat about 4 months ago.

Thanks for the price info though, helps me with my spreadsheet.

Simon

Simon,

if you love your dogs, you will leave them there. Digin is a master of understatement when he says dogs are severely restricted. The concept of dogs as pets is totally different here. Over here they are not the energetic, sprightly friends of all the kids...Man's best friend. Over here they have to:

1. NEVER smell anyone's crotch (you'll have to rush up and apologise to annoyed locals),
2. deposit their droppings with the finesse of a cat (otherwise you have to walk with the bag like a public idiot and pick it all up as they go)
3. NEVER bark ( otherwise you have to rush up and apologise yet again)
4. NEVER chase cats or chickens (the owners won't threaten you...they'll just sue you)
5. NEVER walk on hardwood floors (they get scratched and are VERY expensive)
...so what's left for a decent dog!!?

etc,etc,etc...

They do not have real dogs here. Over here they have some sort of denatured, euniched version of a dog. They generally have to sit around, look good, do nothing and be stroked while humans make fawning sounds. A typical SA Dog will go INSANE here from sheer psychological repression. Remember, this is the country where there is stress counseling for dogs.

Obviously I exaggerate, but you get the idea?

Now I shall shut up and defer to the local dog lovers...preferably ones that once had dogs in SA. Cats are a better bet here....their instinctive style suits Vancouver.

This does not bode well for me. I dont think I could leave them, but I think that is a bridge I shall cross when I get to it. For now I am still trying to see if it is financially viable.

Thanks for the responses again

Simon

Chubbs, I share your love of animals and especially dogs. Nice picture of your pets !

The saddest thing for me personally was to find homes for our 8 dogs when we left SA. To this day it was the most traumatic part of the whole move, giving away our beloved dogs.

We had a dog now for 2 years here in Canada and the joy and love that that animal has brought to our home, cannot be described in words. Here where you have no family and are so reliant on one another, an animal has a lot of therapeutic value, that should not be underestimated.

A statement like ' if you love your dogs, you will leave them there' is certainly not advice I will give to any pet lover who has a beloved pet and are thinking of immigrating.

We lived in Vancouver and I cannot say that the dog beach at Ambleside were ever crowded , where our dog spent many an afternoon sosializing and having fun with other 4 legged friends in and around the water.

I would suggest that you come over first and find a suitable place to live that is pet friendly and then after you settled in, let the animals fly over. Or make arrangements with people in the city where you are going to settle that the animals can stay there, till you have found a suitable place. Normally finding a rented place where small dogs can be kept is not that hard. It can be done, you just have to search and take your time in finding something suitable. Normally an animal damage deposit has to be paid upfront for any potential damage the animal could do to the property during the course of your stay there.

Our dog travels with us on holidays and many hotels/motels are pet friendly and would take smaller dogs as guests with you in the room and they are also allowed as over night accompanying guests in provincial parks, always on a leash.

I am not so sure Harry where you find your info on dogs and hardwood floors :-) We had hardwood floors in our Vancouver home and also in this home and I was never concerned about the floors. Have never heard of that and having experienced a dog on 2 different types of hardwood floors, I cannot see that it harms the floor in any way.

Dogs chasing other innocent animals like cats and chickens are nowhere in the world, to my knowledge, accepting behaviour. I remember walking our dogs back in SA and everywhere you walk the whole neighberhood's dogs are barking and many a time an unleashed dog would storm and be aggressive to one of my dogs on a leash. That type of unacceptable behaviour you will not find here.

Picking up after your dog is the right thing to do in any country. No one wants to accidentally step into some dog poo or find some other dog's droppings on your front lawn. To pick it up is no big deal.

I must say the never bark thing about dogs in Canada is a welcome relief and something I dont miss here at all. I remember so well, many a night back in SA, I had to phone up a neighbour in the wee hours of the morning to tell them that their animal is keeping me awake. It is defnetly something I dont miss in Canada, people here are responsible pet owners and are very considered towards others.
Canada is a peaceful country and there is no need to have a barking watchdog here.

I would encourage any animal lover to bring a pet over as immigration is a very stressfull experience and the love and companionship of a beloved animal can be a very rewarding experience in the long run here for your own emotional well being. Your life abroad will be very much the same as it was back in the old country eg if you loved animals and had a few of them back then, you will also have a need for a 4 legged companion over here. Dogs have a very good life here, they are much loved animals and are normally well cared for.

I am a bit concerned that some of the above statements made by other members, can be misleading as this messageboard are read by so many people who has to make life changing desisions about their future and have to rely on the experiences and personal statements of others to get a feeling of how life in the new country will be.

And there I am now knee-deep in the (doggy?) dooh-dah with Kolla.....I mos said someone who had dogs on both sides of the Earth should respond, and you did, Kolla...thanks. Welcome back.

My hardwood floor comments were born from conversations with acquaintances who complained about dog-scratched floors. For what it is worth, I am not sure why they actually put in hardwood floors over here, after mankind worked so hard to find practical alternatives for all of the last century. What North Americans call hardwood, we'd call softwood. They do not know real hard wood here. I happen to think the floor is the problem...not the dog. Nevertheless, I just report the comments.

About Ambleside doggy walk Kolla is right....but it is also tough for humans to walk there without getting sniffed, slobbered and approved. It seems to me one is under a great social obligation there to nod your head knowingly in great appreciation of some or other exceptionally rare breed that looks like a cross between a dachshund and a koringkriek.

So don't get me wrong....H-U-U-U-G-E numbers of folks have dogs here, and they are a big deal, and pampered beyond the extremes of sensible mammalian existence. However, the control is tight. My concern is that, with all the practical stresses of emigration-immigration and associated costs, you really want to think very carefully about the dog angle. Would you be bringing the dog in its own interest, or in yours, and can you afford it, and can you live with the limitations. This stuff is really already tough enough to do without an unruly and costly "family member" that WILL restrict your options and actions. I know it is painful, but you've got to think through this. After all, I'm the guy that gave up pets because it hurt too much.

Anyone here that brought their dog(s) over? If so, how did they adapt?.....and what about the folks out east who have to consider winter with a furry family member?

Ek ken n vriendin wat haar twee groot border collies laat oorkom het en aanvanklik baie spyt was. Die honde was te aggresief na die bure se sin en sy het HEELWAT besoeke van die SPCA gehad oor honde wat blaf gedurende die dag ens. Hulle posman was ook eenkeer aangeval deur die een van die honde en nodeloos om te se daar was groot probleme. Die ander ding met honde is dat jy vreeslik vas is aan die huis want jy kan nie die honde alleen los nie en mens sou dink in n nuwe land dat jy n bietjie wil naweke reis om die plek te verken. Kennels is baie duur, ongeveer $20 per dag per hond, so vir n nuwe immigrant is dit heelwat geld.

Given the discussion above about immigration to Canada with dogs, and the comments of Guest from Port Coquitlam, I thought I'd get some pictures of the "doggy"-posts down at the beach/marina here in Deep Cove. I thought the first one was the most "precious" one...note the term "Dog Guardians" ...that pretty much sums up the situation:



The bnext one is also a post at the marina. It has the doggy post at the bottom. The top sign is the typically polite and indirect Canadian way of explaining that the Canada Geese will deposit their droppings in the water if they gather there, and will thereby pollute the water for people. South Africans moving here will have to get used to this indirect way of stating facts. I made a local guy sweat until he stated the problem in clear 4-letter words, and then I said: "Thank you! Now even I can I understand the point...wow!". He seemed genuinely relieved when he had that off his chest. I'm naughty that way. Can't help it....I come from the East Cape.



The third picture appropriately depicts the situation of the North Vancouver dog owner.

No sooner had Shamin and I decided to make inquiries into the cost of bringing our two German Shepherds with us to Canada, than they bolted out the driveway gate which was left ajar by mistake and attacked a pedestrian. Fortunately, the lady wasn't injured. However, I now have grave misgivings about their suitability for the Canadian way of life. After reading the postings on this topic, I dare say I'll now make a better effort to find them a home here in SA.

Neeven, you may first want to hear Kolla on the subject....I have no dogs. Had too much pain on the subject earlier in my life. I seem to have a pet bear, raccoon, garter snake and skunk...sort of.

We had the same decisios to make when we left. We had a black lab/Staffie and a purebred staffie. Being typical SA dogs they were very much "outside" dogs. We found them new homes before we left and while it was a very tough thing to do, I still think it was best for them. We stayed in a furnished high rise apartment for the first month we were here before we moved into a house and it would have been impossible to have them there, so the poor dogs would have had all the stress of the long international flight and then a month (or more) of boarding somewhere. I really don't think that would have been fair on them.

Once we had been here a while we it dawned on us that dogs here (in general) have a totally different "role" in that in SA they are more watchdogs or for "protection", while here they are purely companions. (the same as people in SA have garden walls for "security" but here they are for privacy)

What has really surprised us is that having always been "big dog people", we eventually inherited an unwanted oxygen thief and we find this little guy is a constant source of pleasure for us. He is never a problem, evreybody loves him (well most people anyway), and being small, he is totally "portable" too.

The big dogs we always had, while we loved them dearly, would have been a millstone (especially with the benefit of hindsight)

We found a home for our border collie before leaving for Canada. I loved that dog, but she was rather old, and the long trip plus getting used to the extreme weather and being inside (she was an outside dog too), would've been so unfair for her to have to deal with in her old age. We found a home through the Humane Society who promise never to put a pet down. Luckily, Tasha was settled into her new home before we left, so I had peace of mind that she would be okay. I still miss her after all these years.

We have a little dog now, and a cat, and a cockatiel, and two budgies. We promised the kids a dog as soon as we owned our own home. But, it just didn't stop at just the dog. He fits in quite well here. Only poops in our garden, lies around the house all day, and his bark is pretty low key.

Here's a pic of Scruffy ....

How do I transfer pets from BA (British Airways) to Air Canada?

We are immigrating with a cat, a budgie and an Indian ringneck. We received our Permanent Resident Visas this morning (23/1 - after 10 months and 5 days) and are flying on Wednesday, January 28. Everything was running smoothly since October to get the flights right to accomodate the pets together with us on the same flight, as opposed to KLM, etc.

We are heading for Carberry in Manitoba.

Suddenly this morning we heard that British Airways refuses to transfer the pets to Air Canada at LB Pearson (Toronto) so that the trip to Winnipeg could be completed.

Do any of you know how bridge this difficult gap?

Heinrich,

I just phoned Air Canada on your behalf...I hope that was OK.

Here's the problem, and it is a good one for all folks with pets to take note of:

1. YOU have to clear your pets through customs at Pearson Airport. BA will not do it.
2. Air Canada does NOT have heated cargo bay flights to Winnipeg over the next few weeks
3. It is a 3 hour flight from Pearson to Winnipeg
4. The cargo bay temperature falls 2 degrees C for every hour the plane is in the air.
5. By the time you get to Winnipeg, the cargo bay temperature is going to be 6 degrees C lower than the OUTDOOR temperature in Toronto.
6. Once you have cleared the animals through customs, AIR CANADA WILL FLY THEM, PROVIDED YOU SIGN A WAIVER. They regard the risk to the lives of the animals as too great!
7. The helpful man told me people DO do this, and they pack all manner of things around the animals (including hot water bottles) to help them survive this cold.

SO...plan on a lengthy process with the animals in Toronto. I do not believe you will fly to Winnipeg the same day as when you arrive in Toronto. DON'T DO IT even if you could......you have enough trouble to handle already. You have to have enough time to do this.

I hope all this helps. The Air Canada Cargo people in Toronto were very helpful: Toll-free number: 1-800-387-4865.
I don't mind phoning them again to get you organised...preferably before this weekend is over.

You may want to think twice before subjecting your pets, or yourselves (!), to this.

Sterkte met die groot stap.

Dankie Harry.

Jy help my op 'n fantastiese manier. Ja, ek het self ook 50-50 Afrikaans en Engels grootgeword, soos jy by die profiel kan sien, in Pretoria.

Dis net 'n ding-en-'n-half om op Toronto te oornag. Ons sal met tyd raad kry.

Groete
Heinrich

I have long wondered about the possibility of importing a Bulldog puppy to Toronto from SA, purely for the reason that I think they are beautiful dogs, but the price of them here is just astronomical. It looks like the price of them in Rands is equivalent to the dollar value here (i.e. $2500 = R2500). Any thoughts on that (I realise it would be stressful on the dog, but MAYBE a puppy could handle the stress better). I need some advice

Heinrich, sterkte met julle reelings en die diere se klaring. Ons het ook toe ons die eerste keer hier voet aan wal gesit het, in 'Toroonooo' geland en daar ons immigrasie papier werk gedoen en toe diesdelfde middag verder gevlieg Winnipeg toe.

Klipgooi van Toronto lughawe is klomp redelik bekostigbare hotelle, ek stem saam met Harry, dat julle dit sterk sal moet oorweeg om oor te bly en die volgende dag diere en al verder te vlieg. Ek onthou so goed dat by die tyd dat ons geboard het vir die vlug na Winnipeg was ons behoorlik poot uit en gedaan, so om oor te slaap en als af te handel sal baie minder druk op julle sit. Kanadese hou van papierwerk en red tape so die proses kan dalk langer vat as wat mens tyd voor gaan he tussen vlugte op een dag.

Ken julle nie dalk mense in Toronto waar julle kan oornag en wat julle tydelik kan help met die diere nie? Interessant dat dit n effense van n tammeletjie is om diere in die winter hier te laat vlieg. Ander opsie sou wees om n kar te huur one way en diere en al te ry Winnipeg toe, maar ek weet uit ondervinding dat in die winter baie min van die kar verhurings maatskappye voertuie one way sal uitverhuur. Dis so n 2 - 3 dae trip met die pad langs, pragtige roete maar sekerlik bietjie tricky in die winter as mens nie gewoond is aan ry op ys en sneeu nie, maar dit kan gedoen word as daar regtig nie veel ander opsies oop is nie.

Goedgaan en ons hoop als verloop wel vir julle.

Dankie Kolla

Dit gee vir ons heelwat meer duidelikheid. Ek dink net nie ons sal kans sien vir die tog met die pad van Toronto to by Winnipeg nie, dis so 2400 km vir die eerste keer aan die regterkant van die pad in ysige toestande <_< .

Beteken dit wat jy hier sê dat ons "Port of Entry" Toronto is en nie Winnipeg nie? Dit klink logies, maar ons het dit nooit so gesien nie. Dan word die diere daar ontvang? En ons kry ons PR cards daar in Toronto.

Groete, Heinrich

Ons het einde verlede jaar hier aangekom met ons drie katte. Ons reisreelings het deurmekaar geloop en uiteindelik was die diere 4 dae op pad. Ons moes in Vancouver oorslaap en het 'n dierevriendelike hotel naby die lughawe opgespoor. Harry het ons bygestaan. Ons moes 'n agent in Vancouver huur om te help met die diere se reelings, agv ons vlugte wat deurmekaargeloop het. Alhoewel dit vir ons almal baie stresvol was en die diere erg getraumatiseer was, is ek bly ek het hulle gebring. Hulle pas goed aan en is bekende geselskap hier. Verwelkoming by die deur elke dag na werk is wonderlik!

Hier is 'n dame in Kanada wat vir ons al die reelings getref het met Air Canada. Hulle het ook eers allerande stories gehad. Sy het dit alles uitgesorteer.

Retha