Expats and Expets: Life Before and After Moving Abroad

Expats and Expets: Life Before and After Moving Abroad

What really changes when you move abroad with pets… and what does life look like on the other side? In this episode, Georgiana Strait sits down with Carole Hobbs of Expatability and Adam Melton of Starwood to unpack the realities of expat life with pets (before and after the move). Carole shares her firsthand journey of living overseas for over a decade, from moving to Tokyo as a trailing spouse with a young child and two cats, to navigating life in Berlin and Pretoria, and eventually returning to the UK with a full house of pets and a teenager. It’s a perspective that covers both sides of the expat experience, leaving and coming back. Together, the conversation explores what families don’t expect before they move, how pets factor into major life transitions, and what it actually takes to build a sense of home in a completely new country. They also dig into the emotional side of relocation, identity shifts, and how priorities evolve once you’re fully immersed in expat life. If you’re considering moving abroad with pets, already living overseas, or planning your return home, this episode offers an honest, lived-in look at the journey before and after the move.

Pet Travel to Australia: Full Step-By-Step Guide (7–8 Month Timeline Explained)

Thinking about moving your dog or cat to Australia? 🇦🇺🐾 This is one of the most complex pet relocations in the world, and in this episode of Pet Travel Insider, Adam Melton and Starwood Pet Travel Coordinator Sage Ingle break down exactly what the 7–8 month process looks like — from microchipping and identity verification to blood tests, import permits, quarantine, and flight logistics. Whether you’re planning your first international move or you’ve already begun the process, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and understand every required step. *Chapters* 00:00 – Welcome to Pet Travel Insider 00:32 – Why Australia is the hardest country for pet travel 01:30 – Meet Sage + her background in pet logistics 02:19 – Why Australia’s rules are so complex compared to the EU/UK 03:22 – Step 1: Microchip + Identity Verification (2 USDA vets) 04:25 – Step 2: Rabies Titer Blood Test + Understanding the 180-Day Wait 05:15 – Realistic timeline: Why this takes 7–8 months 05:47 – What happens during the 180-day waiting period 06:14 – RNAT Declaration + Import Permit process 07:32 – Parasite treatments, blood tests & pre-export requirements 08:36 – Flight booking timeline (21–30 days before departure) 08:58 – Final health exam + USDA-endorsed International Health Certificate 09:27 – Arrival in Melbourne & transfer to Mickleham quarantine 12:42 – What quarantine is actually like (food, welfare checks, timelines) 14:44 – 10-day vs 30-day quarantine explained 15:41 – Medication rules & overnight staffing realities 17:17 – Release day & pickup logistics (Melbourne + domestic onward travel) 18:16 – Domestic transport options to LA/Dallas for Qantas routing 19:06 – Direct Qantas flights vs. Qatar Airways routing through Doha 22:26 – Why the Qatar layover is actually a great experience 22:54 – Identity verification: Why it exists & common points of friction 24:53 – Vet appointment challenges for identity verification 26:45 – Common mistakes during paperwork & timing 28:45 – Rabies lapses & how they reset the entire timeline 29:35 – Why you shouldn’t start the rabies titer before verification 30:15 – How long import permits remain valid 31:01 – Big misconceptions about pet travel to Australia 32:07 – Why pets usually handle the process better than humans 32:34 – Final thoughts + tips for a smooth move 🌐 Useful Links Free resources + step-by-step guides: https://starwoodpet.com [https://starwoodpet.com] Request a pet travel quote: https://starwoodpet.com/quote [https://starwoodpet.com/quote]

Pet Travel to New Zealand: Complete Step-By-Step Guide (4–6 Month Timeline Explained)

Planning to move your dog or cat to New Zealand? 🇳🇿🐾 New Zealand has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world, and in this episode of Pet Travel Insider, Adam Melton and Starwood Pet Travel Coordinator Sage Ingle break down exactly how the process works from the U.S.—including microchipping, rabies titers, official veterinary declarations, quarantine bookings, final vet appointments, crate sealing, and flight logistics. If you’re preparing your pet for a relocation to New Zealand, this episode will help you avoid mistakes, understand the true timeline, and approach the process with confidence. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to Pet Travel Insider 00:32 – Why New Zealand pet travel is uniquely challenging 01:32 – Meet Sage: Background & experience 02:38 – How NZ compares to other destinations 03:20 – High-level overview of the NZ import process 03:50 – Step 1: Microchip requirements (ISO/AVID) 04:10 – Step 2: Rabies vaccine rules & timing 04:32 – Step 3: Rabies titer blood test (start of the timeline) 04:51 – Official Veterinary Declaration (OVD) explained 05:14 – How quarantine bookings work in NZ 05:29 – Overall timeline: Why most moves take 4–6 months 05:57 – How timeline changes depending on pet’s rabies history 06:17 – Differences between dogs vs. cats (vaccines & testing) 07:27 – Dog-specific blood tests (Babesia, Brucella, heartworm) 08:20 – Using Prototech & approved labs for blood testing 09:01 – USDA-accredited vets: What owners often misunderstand 10:12 – The “busy” 3 months: What happens during the waiting period 11:04 – The Pet Travel Portal: How clients stay on schedule 11:40 – Final health exam (T-2 days) & parasite treatments 12:23 – How USDA endorsement & crate sealing work 13:05 – What a crate seal actually is (and common misconceptions) 14:12 – Arrival in Auckland & 10-day quarantine 14:33 – Inside NZ quarantine: Facilities, rooms, updates & food 15:32 – Quarantine bookings, blackout dates & holiday closures 16:56 – MPI: Who they are & what they check 17:45 – Why NZ quarantine is very safe (vet checks, food, monitoring) 18:22 – Can owners visit pets in quarantine? 19:15 – Reunions: What release day looks like 20:02 – Flight logistics: Air New Zealand vs. Qatar 21:11 – Why U.S. domestic pet travel is often harder than international 21:59 – Qatar routing: Layover process & animal lounge in Doha 23:18 – Final vet work close to home (benefit of Qatar routing) 23:48 – Qatar’s pet postcard update 24:18 – Common pitfalls (rabies lapses, microchip mistakes) 25:00 – Biggest fears vs. reality: How pets actually do on flights 25:52 – South Island logistics (Christchurch) and why Auckland quarantine is usually better 27:36 – Visitation rules & why Christchurch differs 28:13 – Final thoughts & reassurance for pet owners 28:47 – Closing & how to get help with your NZ move *Helpful Links* Free pet travel guides: https://starwoodpet.com [https://starwoodpet.com] Request a quote: https://starwoodpet.com/quote [https://starwoodpet.com/quote]

Complete Europe Pet Shipping Guide

In this episode, Adam Melton talks to Starwood's Rosie Cann, an expert on EU pet travel, who walks you step-by-step through the process to get your furry friend safely from the U.S. to the European Country—from microchips, to rabies vaccinations, to health certificates, to customs clearance. She also discusses specific requirements unique to Ireland and Portugal. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:39 Meet Rosie 03:56 Overview for transporting a pet to the European Union' 07:00 Commercial vs Non-Commercial Import 09:21 Importance of Correct Travel Kennel 10:35 Health Certificate Requirements for the EU 11:23 Importance of a Microchip for EU Travel 15:19 Final Vet Visit 16:54 USDA Endorsement Process (VEHCS) 20:04 Rabies Vaccination Certificates for the EU 23:37 Pet Travel is not like Human Travel 24:43 Ireland Import Requirements 30:19 Portugal Import Requirements 32:03 Other EU Countries Special Requirements 34:28 Are Pet Passports Required for the EU? 35:35 Is Quarantine Required for the EU? 36:51 Import Custom Clearance Process in the EU 38:05 Direct Flights to the EU vs Layovers 41:25 Wrap Up & Next Steps 🔗 Free Resources & Quote: https://www.starwoodpet.com/locations/ [https://www.starwoodpet.com/locations/]

How to Ship Your Dog or Cat from US → UK

The Pet Travel Insider podcast provides insights into the process of transporting pets from the US to the UK. It covers the background of the hosts, the high-level overview of pet travel to the UK, the arrival and import process in the UK, the health certificate and USDA endorsement, and common misconceptions and concerns related to pet travel. Takeaways * Pet travel to the UK requires careful planning and adherence to specific requirements. * Misconceptions about pet travel, such as the use of sedatives and the pet's adjustment post-travel, need to be addressed with accurate information. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:34 Meet Ryan 04:59 Overview for transporting a pet to the UK 09:13 Common paperwork mistakes 11:09 Is quarantine required in the UK? 12:58 UK import process & how long does it take? 15:20 Is a pet passport required? 17:35 How the final health certificate works 20:19 USDA endorsement & having staffing cuts impacted pet travel? 24:00 Commons misconceptions about pet travel 26:30 Wrap-Up & Next Steps