Your pet shipper will be able to advise of the steps you need to take to meet this requirement when shipping you dog to Australia.

Once you have collected your pet from the airport, there are a few things you should remember to ensure your pet is kept safe

1)    Keep cats in their travel kennels at all times until you have reached your final destination.  Do not open the kennel unless in a secure area with no open doors or windows.  Cats can be very fast and are excellent escapees.

2)    Walk your dog on a lead so he/she can relieve themselves.  Do not let them off the lead until you are home

3)    Offer your pet water, all the travel kennels will have drinking bowls.  Do not be surprised if they do not drink, especially cats

4)    Once home, offer your pet food, ideally a light meal firstly, then back to normal feeding

Once you are home, let your pet gradually adjust to their new environment.  Many cats will just want to hide for a few days, exactly the same as if you had moved house in the UK.  During the first 24hr after arrival, your pets may show signs of odd behaviour, such as hiding, not eating, sulking & ignoring you.  Keep dogs on the lead for a few days as they get used to their new surroundings.

If your pet shows any off the following symptoms, please take them to the vet straight away

1)    unable to stand

2)    very wobbly when walking

3)    vomiting or diarrhoea ( after arrival, not just inside travel kennel )

4)    difficulty breathing

It’s never been easier to purchase pet emigration insurance.  Our online system is now live so you can obtain a quote and obtain cover online.  All payments are processed using the secure SagePay payment gateway for your peace of mind.

For the past decade, St Leonards on Sea based Go Walkabout has offered niche-market personal insurance for folk migrating to Australia or planning go-about holidays there.

But what happens when the cat or dog-lover decides to move overseas and cannot bear the thought of having to say goodbye to a beloved pet?

Up to 15,000 pets a year are flown overseas to join emigrating owners, and
specialist firm, Airpets, based right next door to London Heathrow, provide the professional back-up needed to ensure safe and caring transportation for pets.

But it was while on a visit to Worldwide Veterinary Services that it dawned on Adam Taylor of Go Walkabout that one other vital factor was needed to ensure peace of mind for the pet-lover entrusting their cat or dog on a long-haul flight.

Now Adam Taylor and Go Walkabout partner Harold Lawrence have launched Pet Migration, an insurance policy tailored for owners needing to take their pets overseas.

They believe Pet Migration is the first policy in the world to offer such pet insurance.

Through underwriters URV, Pet Migration is able to offer up to £2,500 cover for veterinary fees or other unforeseen expenditure during the pet’s transit.

The policy includes up to £2,000 cover against theft of the pet; up to £1,000 in the event of the animal’s death due to natural causes and up to £1m personal liability cover.

But forget about bringing that American Pit Bull Terrier or Japanese Tosa.

There are certain breeds that are exluded from cover.

Adam and Harold have studied the market for animal transit insurance and believe Pet Migration will fulfil a heart-felt need among pet-owners.

Adam says: “I posed a question to several clients planning travel themselves – ‘Would you take your pet with you if you could get travel insurance for it?’

“They said they would jump at it.

“One told me ‘I would rather have insurance for my pet than for myself..’”

Catherine Allaway from PetAir UK said: ” I am so pleased that we finally can recommend a Pet Travel Insurance policy to give our clients complete peace of mind.

“People are so used to being able to obtain travel insurance for themselves that it always came as a great shock when we had to advise them that no such policy existed for their pets”