Moving to Canada is an exciting experience, but it can also be challenging, especially when you have a beloved pet to consider. Relocating abroad with a pet involves careful planning and preparation to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times. After all, you want them to travel from the UK to Canada in comfort and with as little stress as possible.
Whether you’re moving for work, family or a fresh start, ensuring a smooth transition for your furry friend is essential. In this blog, we guide you through the steps of moving with your pet to Canada, covering everything from understanding importation regulations to preparing your pet for the big move.
How to Get Your Pet Ready for a Move to Canada
Moving to a new country can be a stressful experience, not just for you but also for your pet. Ensuring that your furry friend is prepared for the journey is key, especially when it comes to their health and wellbeing. Instead of leaving everything until the last minute, take the time to prepare your pet for a move to Canada beforehand.
Visit Your Vet
It’s important to have your pet checked over by a vet before they travel to Canada. This should include a thorough health checkup, which ensures that they are healthy enough to travel over a long distance and that they can handle the stress of moving. This is also the time to ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date, especially the rabies vaccine, which is required for entry into Canada.
Although it’s not mandatory, having a health certificate from your vet stating that your pet is fit to travel can be beneficial, especially if something should go wrong en route. This is also a good time to make sure that your pet is up to date with all of their parasite treatments, such as worming and flea treatments.
Prepare Your Pet for Travel
It’s unlikely that your pet will have travelled such a long way before, and preparing them for travel can make the entire experience less stressful for them. One of the first things that you should do is get the right pet carrier. Choose a sturdy, well ventilated carrier that is large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. Introduce your pet to the carrier well in advance of the move, giving them time to get used to it. Placing treats, toys and their bedding inside can turn it into a familiar and comfortable space.
It’s also a good idea to acclimate your pet to travel in the weeks leading up to your big move.
Gradually get your pet used to car travel by taking them on short trips. This helps reduce anxiety associated with the longer journey to Canada, and it gets them used to being in their carrier for longer periods of time.
The Day of Travel
You should avoid feeding your pet a large meal right before travel, as this can help to prevent motion sickness. Feed them a light meal a few hours before the journey, and ensure they have access to water as much as possible. They’ll need to stay hydrated throughout the journey.
Keep all necessary documentation – including the rabies vaccination certificate, EU Pet Passport and microchip information – handy during travel, and ensure that your pet is wearing a collar with an identification tag that includes your contact information.
Give them plenty of exercise before the trip to help them expend energy and remain calmer during travel. Placing familiar items, such as a favourite blanket or toy, in the carrier is a good idea, as this can provide comfort and reduce stress on their big adventure.
Understanding Canada’s Pet Import Requirements for Cats and Dogs
There are certain rules and regulations that you must follow if you want to import pet cats and dogs into Canada, and these are set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. If you don’t follow these importation regulations, you might run into a problem or two at the border.
Vaccinations and Health Certificates
To be allowed into Canada, your pet must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate. The vaccine must have been administered at least 30 days before entry if it was the first rabies vaccination, but booster vaccinations don’t require a waiting period as long as the previous vaccination was valid at the time of the booster. If you are moving to Canada from the UK, you can use an EU Pet Passport instead. As long as the passport has all of the required elements, it’s classed as being an acceptable alternative to a rabies vaccination certificate.
Whether you have a EU Pet Passport or a rabies vaccination certificate, there are some elements that your documents must meet. For example, it must be written in English or French, and it must be issued and signed by a licensed vet. It must identify the animal – including its age, breed, sex, colour and markings, weight, and microchip number if it has one – and it must confirm that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and when.
It’s also important that your chosen document states the name and serial number of the vaccine, the duration of immunity and the name of the vet who issued it. If there’s no duration of immunity listed, the rabies vaccination will be considered value for one year.
Microchipping and Identification
Your pet does not need to be microchipped to move to Canada, though it is something that’s recommended. By microchipping your pet, you are increasing the chances of being reunited with them if they get lost, either during the move or once you have arrived in Canada. It’s a way to identify them, proving who they are and that they belong to you.
Quarantine Requirements
There are a lot of countries that require pets to quarantine upon arrival, but Canada isn’t one of them. Whereas pets have to be quarantined when they arrive in Australia, Canada doesn’t impose the same quarantine requirements for pets arriving from the UK. This is only the case if all health requirements are met and the pet is healthy upon inspection.
Choosing the Right Travel Arrangements for Your Pet
When moving to Canada with your pet, choosing the right travel arrangements is essential to ensure their safety and comfort throughout the journey. If you choose air travel, try and find a direct flight. This will reduce travel time and minimise stress for your pet, as stopovers can prolong the journey and increase anxiety. There are a lot of airlines that fly from the UK to Canada, so research which airlines have pet friendly policies. For example, some airlines provide climate controlled environments for pets during transport.
You could choose to enlist the services of a professional pet relocation company, and there are some that specialise in transporting pets to Canada. They can handle the logistics of relocating your pet, ensuring a smooth and safe journey. Pet relocation services can offer customised travel plans based on your pet’s specific needs, such as breed, size and health.
What to Expect When Your Pet Arrives in Canada
There are a lot of places to move to in Canada, but your pet will need to be inspected upon arrival, regardless of where you enter. Cats and dogs over the age of eight months will need to be inspected by the Canada Border Services Agency. It’s their job to check the animal’s rabies vaccination is valid and that your pet matches the description on the documents. There is a small fee for this inspection but once your pet has been checked, and if everything is in order, you will be reunited with them.
Organising Your Move From the UK to Canada
Organising a move from the UK to Canada requires a lot of planning, and this can be overwhelming without expert help. By enlisting the services of an experienced international removals company, such as United International Removals, you can ensure a smooth transition from beginning to end. As professionals, we have the knowledge and expertise to navigate complex customs regulations, manage detailed inventories and provide efficient transportation services. With our support, you can focus on your exciting relocation, knowing that your personal belongings are in safe hands. Contact us to find out more.