Pet owners furious over handling of new rules for 'furry family' members entering Australia (2024)

Distraught pet owners say the implementation of strict new rules governing how companion animals can be brought into the country have been bungled and badly managed.

Key points:

  • The new rules are designed to better protectAustralia from the rabies virus.
  • Pet ownersand breeders say the rules shouldn't be retrospective
  • The Australian government acknowledges distress has been caused and has made some concessions for applications already underway

The new rules have been brought in to boost Australia's protection from the deadly rabies virus.

Under the changes, more stringent testing, documentation and animal identification are required.

An online petition calling for a fairer process has attracted more than 12,000 signatures.

According to the petition,the retrospective application ofthe rules has left owners feeling "stressed, confused and hopeless".

Jiayi Shen is among them.

She recently moved from China to Australia for work and study, and had planned to bring her labradorHotpotwith her.

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It was already a big undertaking to import a pet from China as it's not an "approved"country.

Owners must send their pet to an approved country for a period of time first and have all rabies free verification and identity checks done there.

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Ms Shen had just sent her dog to South Korea to undertake that process when she was informed of the rule changes.

She saidHotpot hadbeen stuck in limbo in a boarding kennel in South Korea ever since.

"Every day I am so anxious," she said.

Ms Shencontacts the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) most days to try and find out what is going on with her permit application.

"Every time I call they just say you're under assessment in the system," she said.

"I send emails and they just copy and paste the reply, I can see that because other people on Facebook have the same reply."

Changes to the ruleswere flagged in January and came into effect earlier this month.

People who already had permits to bring their pets to Australiaprotested loudly and were granted exemptions to continue under the old rules.

But people who had applied for a permit or were in the process of applying for a permit say they have been blindsided by the retrospective changes.

Pet owners' plans up in the air

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Software engineers Sean and Frances Rees are planning to move from Ireland to Australia this year andboth have jobs lined up.

They undertook the immunisation and blood test requirements and applied for a permit to bring their two 17-year-old cats, Max and Alex, to Australia in November last year.

But MrRees saidmore than four months later, they still didn'thave a permit.

"The rule change was published after our application and retroactively applied, in such a way that it effectively negates sixmonths of work to be compliant in the first place," he said.

Mr Rees saidin February the department informed them the cats could come if they stayed in quarantine in Australia for 30 days, rather than 10, or they could start the application process again.

"Restarting the process also means resetting the sixmonth clock, for a repeat round of blood work," he said.

"It's cliche, but they're furry family."

The couple's plans to relocate are now up in the air.

Department acknowledges 'distress'

In a statement, a DAFF spokesperson said the department recognisedthe importance of family pets and that the policy change couldbe causing some distress.

"To facilitate imports as safely as possible, transitional arrangements have been agreed for managing applications submitted prior to 1 March 2023, providing options for people to import their cats and dogs to Australia whilst balancing the biosecurity risks with the need for fairness and equity," the statement read.

"Rabies virus is present in many countries, but Australia is free from rabies virus. Strong import controls for dogs and cats are important to maintain this freedom."

One of the concessions being madeis extending the validity of the key rabies test to two years, instead of one.

That will help some people for whom that date was critical to meeting permit conditions in time to travel.

But many affected owners saythe transitional options being offered aren't helpful or fair.

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Another option being offered to pet owners who submitted applications prior to 1 March 2023 is to provide documentation that a pet originated from Australia.

It is also possible to provide formal government identification of the animal prior to when the "pre-export preparations"started.

This must be done by an official veterinarian in the country of origin, which also needs to be an approved country.

If a pet owner can't meet any of the options offered they must agree to extend the usual 10-day quarantine to 30 days

For Sean and Frances Rees and their two elderly cats, that's a distressing prospect.

"After much reflection, no, it's not really an option," Mr Rees said.

"Were they younger and healthier, we might decide differently."

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The system is 'not in place'

Long-time Afghan hound breederPaul Hewitt saidin many cases it wassimply not possible to find the official representative required by the new regulations.

Dr Hewittsaidhe bought and tried to import two dogs from California and was unable to find anyone who could do the formal identification.

"There are no practising facilities that can do this new requirement of the Australian government – that the animal be identified by a US government vet," he said.

"You can't do it, because they don't know anything about it … the system is not in place. It may well be in place in six months time, but it's not there now."

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Dr Hewitt saidhe was unable to accept the 30-day quarantine period as it wasn't suitable for the pedigree dogs' care and grooming.

Hesaidhe had to abandon the sale and lost many thousands of dollars in the process.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry saidit was actively working with authorities in countries approved to export companion animals to Australia to put in place an ID declaration process.

A spokesperson saidmany approved countries were already providing ID declarations to the department.

They said the department hadagreed to a process with the US and was currently working the with UK to agree to a process.

None of this is any help to Jiayi Shen and her stranded labrador Hotpot.

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Similar to the the Rees, she said30 days'quarantine was unacceptable for a beloved pet that hadalready been separated from family for a long time.

"I do not want to accept 30 days because I want my dog to come here as soon as possible," she said.

Implementation has been 'botched'

National Party LeaderDavid Littleproudsaidthe whole process hadbeen botched.

He saidthe rule changes hadbeen upsetting for families wishing to come home to Australia and it hadhampered people filling critical skilled job vacancies here.

"We've actually had numerous people from overseas come to us asking us to make representations on it," he said.

"One of them was an individual wanting to come back to take up a job opportunity in Australia that in fact is passed," he said.

"So Australia has lost an Australian coming back, there's been a brain drain of our own people because of a botched biosecurity system."

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Mr Littleproud saidthe National Party supportedstrong biosecurity measures, but wascritical of how thechanges had been implemented.

He saidthere were 1,300 applications waiting to be assessed when the new policy was announced.

Pet owners are also angry about how long the application process istaking.

The ABC has been told places at Australia's only pet quarantine facility were in strong demand and getting a timely booking there wasalso a challenge.

Thousands of applicants waiting

One pet owner provided the ABC with correspondence from the department saying itwasnow working its way through more than 2,000 applications.

The department said it was working as quickly as it couldto process all outstanding applications.

The 12,000 signature-strong Change.Org petition calls on the Australian Government to scrap the retrospective pet importation rule changes altogether.

One of the petition organisers, Jasmine Yeung, is fighting to bring her poodle Ruby from Hong Kong to Australia with her.

"New pet importation rule changes are being applied retrospectively which means most of us are forced to start the costly application process again – which can take more than six months," she said.

"I'm a health professional registered in Australia and I'm ready to return but I'm stuck due to unreasonable measures.

"We're calling on the Australian government to show fairness and remove the retrospective measures on the policy."

Posted, updated

Pet owners furious over handling of new rules for 'furry family' members entering Australia (2024)

FAQs

Pet owners furious over handling of new rules for 'furry family' members entering Australia? ›

Pet owners 'stressed and confused' by implementation of new quarantine rules to protect Australia from rabies. Distraught pet owners say the implementation of strict new rules governing how companion animals can be brought into the country have been bungled and badly managed.

Can I take my dog to Australia from USA? ›

Yes. We recognise that many pets may be vaccinated for rabies before starting the preparation process for export to Australia. For your pet to be eligible for the minimum 10-day quarantine period, the competent authority identity verification must occur before the blood sample is collected for the RNAT test.

How long is the quarantine for pets in Australia? ›

▸How Long will my pet be in quarantine? The minimum quarantine period for pets entering Australia is 10 days. The ONLY countries which you can import a Pet to Australia without quarantine is New Zealand, Cocos Islands & Norfolk Island.

Can I bring my pet to Australia? ›

You must import your cat or dog directly from an approved country. The conditions your cat or dog must meet can vary depending on the approved country. Your cat or dog must also undergo veterinary preparations and certification in the approved country before you import them to Australia.

How much does it cost to take a dog to Australia? ›

The total cost of bringing a dog to Australia is around $4,000 (USD) / $5,600 (AUD). The cost is broken down into the following fees: Vet fees – microchipping, vaccinations and treatments varies on your veterinarian centre's fees and home country (average $300 (USD) / $425 (AUD))

How can i avoid pet quarantine in Australia? ›

The short answer to your question is "no, you can't avoid quarantine" -- your dog will have to follow the standard rules and fulfill a 30-day quarantine upon arrival. As a rabies-free country, Australia imposes specific procedures upon pets imported there.

Can I visit Australia with my dog? ›

Your pet dog will need to fulfil a host of veterinary requirements before flying to Australia. Dogs and cats must be treated against internal parasites twice before entering the country. The second treatment must be within five days of export.

Why does Australia quarantine pets? ›

Australia is free from a number of cat and dog diseases and has a highly favourable animal health status. In order to protect this status, cats and dogs must undertake a period of quarantine upon arrival in Australia.

What is pet quarantine like in Australia? ›

If your pet satisfies all pet import requirements, the quarantine period is generally ten days. During these ten days, quarantine officers examine your pet and assess them for any biosecurity threats. Pet parents are not allowed to visit their pets at the facility at this time.

Do dogs have to quarantine when moving to Australia? ›

If your pet is being brought from an 'approved' country, it will need to have a rabies test six months prior to importation. If you secure an entry permit, your pet must travel as manifested cargo and, upon arrival in Australia, undergo a quarantine period of at least 10 days in Sydney or Melbourne.

Can pets fly in cabin in Australia? ›

Cabin vs Cargo When Your Pet is Travelling Within Australia

A recent change in aviation safety laws means that pets are now allowed to stay with you in the cabin but currently no airlines have changed their policies. As ever, service dogs remain the exception.

Can my dog fly in the cabin with me to Australia? ›

Australia and New Zealand only allow pets to arrive as manifest cargo. This is for your pet's safety and accountability. "Manifest cargo allows for traceability of your cat or dog," states the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website.

Which airlines are pet friendly to Australia? ›

Qantas and Virgin allow pets to fly in their cargo area. REX allows pets as checked baggage on some flights. Jetstar doesn't allow pets at all. If you want to fly with your dog or other pet in the cabin with you in Australia, you're out of luck.

How easy is it to take a dog to Australia? ›

Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity laws in the world. To ensure many diseases are kept out of the country, your pet will require a long series of tests and treatments and, yes, a stay in quarantine upon arrival. Here's what you need to know before you start the process of bringing your pets to Australia…

How much does it cost to take a dog on a plane? ›

Generally, airlines charge a pet fee of $100 to $200 each way, but prices will vary depending on where you're traveling and your airline. Check the airline's pet policy before purchasing a ticket to make sure your pet meets the airline's breed and size requirements.

How much does it cost to fly a dog internationally? ›

Flying a dog in the cabin usually costs between $125 and $200, while the cargo hold is typically over $1000. There are also licensed companies that offer international pet shipping companies — they usually charge between $1000 and $6000.

Does Australia require quarantine for dogs? ›

Australia is free from a number of cat and dog diseases and has a highly favourable animal health status. In order to protect this status, cats and dogs must undertake a period of quarantine upon arrival in Australia.

How do I take my dog on a plane to Australia? ›

Travelling in Australia with your dog or cat is simple; if you are flying with your pet, you can check your pet in as excess baggage. Customers in Australia will need to enlist a pet relocation agent for domestic travel only if they are not travelling on the same flight as their pet dog or cat.

What do you need to bring a dog to Australia? ›

What Pet Travel Documents Are Needed to Travel to Australia?
  • Microchip. ...
  • Rabies Vaccination & Rabies Titer Blood Test. ...
  • Other Vaccinations. ...
  • Import Permit. ...
  • Other Required Blood Tests (Dogs Only) ...
  • Babesia Canis Treatment (Dogs Only) ...
  • Required Parasite Treatments. ...
  • Pet Travel Documents & Requirements.

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