Pets. We entertain dogs, cats, birds, ferrets and reptiles.

Please accept our quote online. An Invoice for the Initiation fee will then be issued. Our quotes are composed to inform you of all possible costs involved to relocate your pet. You will only be invoiced for services and products delivered by Berrakaw. Other costs such as vet preparations can be done by your private vet. As soon as Berrakaw has received the non-refundable Initiation payment, a file will be opened, we will confirm the correctness of your pets’ documents and start managing the relocation process.

Your pet requires a microchip and a rabies vaccination. The vaccination could be administered during the same appointment of the chip implant or thereafter. This vaccination MUST be VALID, thus, be administered at the same time or after the microchip implant, within the past 11 months. Some countries also require vaccinations against Kennel Cough, Leptospira and DHPPi. A Rabies Neutralising Anti-body Titre Test (RNATT) is required by some countries while Australia requires a State Vet to verify your pet’s microchip PRIOR to drawing the blood sample for the RNATT.

Each country has its own pet import requirements. Berrakaw assists our VIPs to fly on or as close as possible to the preferred travel date.

We prefer our furries to spend the last few days prior to their departure at Berrakaw Pet Resort.  During this time, we confirm that the travel crates are the adequate size, get crate training done, complete the final vet checks, ensure all documentation is in place, get the final ok to transit and ok to forward from the airline and then check the pets in at the airport. This might seem not necessary but past experience has proved that clients and vets are not always up to scratch in terms of specific documentation requirements. Berrakaw Pet Resort offers a relaxing environment for that last paw-liday prior to boarding a flight to a final destination. We offer a 24/7 supervised environment where pets are properly socialised, loved and handled by the Berrakaw team. Taking your pets off your hands provide you with the opportunity to settle last minute business and commitments, resting assure of their well-being.

Berrakaw takes pride in our government approved and registered world class export facility. However, should your dog be socialised, he/she will enjoy the comfort of staying in our house as a personal family member.

The vaccination booklet, microchip certificate, Vet health certificate and any other country specific documents, such as Import Permits, RNATT certificates, ect. Berrakaw adds a puppy training pad as well as blanket in every travel crate. Some airlines do allow for a personal clothing item to be added in the crate. Most countries do allow for one meal (dry kibble) to be attached on top of the travel crate. Medication could be attached to the crate if authority has been given. Please allow at least 3 weeks to arrange this approval. Collars, leashes and harnesses could be attached to the travel crates; however, no guarantee can be given that you will receive it upon arrival of your pet as the opportunity of ‘affirmative shopping’ may lead to the loss thereof. Rather pack these accessories in your luggage for proper control.

Airlines may impose weight and height restrictions on specific aeroplanes to specific destinations. Berrakaw keeps IATA approved plastic crates in stock to curb the weight issue as these crates are much lighter in weight than wooden travel crates.

Air tags are strictly prohibited. Berrakaw will provide you with a tracking number as well as with the flight tracking details. Please note that some airlines unfortunately do not provide freight tracking details.

Pets’ general well-being is assessed when they arrive at the airport/animal reception centre in the transiting country. Depending on the lay-over time, pets could be taken to kennels and catteries where they are released from their crates, fed and their crates are cleaned prior to boarding their connection flight. Another alternative is that the first vet check could be done depending on the lay-over country and the final destination. For example, if your pet is destined to arrive in an EU country and the first point of entry is in another EU country, the vet checks will be done during the first stop and only the Customs Clearance will be done at the final destination. Should a pet travel onwards to a ‘non-related’ country such as travelling via the EU to the USA or Canada, an EU Vet Health Certificate (VHC) (if travelling via the EU) plus an additional VHC for the destination country is required. Thus, a vet check will be performed in the transiting country as well as at the final destination. Should the total flight time for pets transiting be/exceed 15 hours, they are required to stay in transit for a minimum period of 6 hours to rest and to be fed. This allows adequate time to prepare them for their onward flight.

It could take up to two hours for pets to be offloaded and taken to the warehouse/live animal reception area. Upon arrival in the dedicated area, the staff will notify the State Vet who will then examine the pet/s and scrutinise the vet health documents and vaccination records. Once the State Vet has completed the vet checks, the appointed clearance agency is notified to proceed with the Customs clearance. Once Customs formalities are completed the pet/s are released in the clearance agency care and then handed over to or transported to the pet/s human family. Depending on the country, airport, day of the week and time of arrival, this process could take 2-8 hours. Clearance cost is agent and country specific. Berrakaw will always try to indicate a clearance cost estimate on the initial quote. It is more affordable to settle this cost by using the local currency. However, Berrakaw is prepared to settle the bill on our client’s behalf and issue an Invoice in ZAR.

Berrakaw requires a non-refundable Initiation Fee to open your file and start off managing your pet’s relocation process. Depending on the preparation requirements, we have built in several payment ‘milestones’ for the more complicated countries such as New Zealand and Australia. In general, only the initiation fee is payable once the Quote has been accepted and then the total amount is payable within the last week prior to departure.