Do it yourself or hand it off? An honest look at pet relocation agencies

What an agency actually does

An agency does not unlock anything you are legally barred from doing yourself. What it does is run the project:

• works out which rules apply to your pet, your route and your dates, from the official sources;
• puts the vet visits, blood tests, permits and certificates in the right order, with the right deadlines;
• finds a flight that accepts your pet and books it the way the airline requires;
• coordinates airport, customs and arrival steps, through local partners where available;
• tracks changes, and tells you when something affects your plan.

Our how it works page shows that process step by step.

When doing it yourself is reasonable

A DIY move tends to work when most of these are true:

• The rules are light for your route. A dog that has only been in rabies-free or low-risk countries can enter the US with a CDC Dog Import Form, at least 6 months old and microchipped (CDC).
• Your pet can fly with you on an airline and route that accept it, in the cabin or as checked baggage.
• You have time to read the official pages carefully, and to read them again close to departure.
• Your dates are flexible, so a missed step costs a few weeks rather than a job start.

When handing it off usually makes sense

• The destination has a strict sequence or waiting period. Japan, for example, requires a microchip before the rabies shots, two vaccinations, a titer from a designated lab and 180 days after the blood sample. A pet that arrives early can be detained for up to 180 days or sent back (MAFF).
• Your pet must fly as cargo. Cargo bookings can come with their own conditions. Delta, for example, requires international cargo customers to use a shipper approved by the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (Delta).
• The dates are fixed by work, school or PCS orders.
• The pet is a harder case: a large dog, a snub-nosed breed, a senior pet, or more than one animal. See our guides on brachycephalic pets and senior pets.
• You are already moving a household, a career and possibly children across an ocean.

How to think about the cost

An agency fee is one line in the budget. The others are there either way: veterinary visits and tests, government fees, the airline charge, the crate, and any quarantine. The useful comparison is not "fee versus no fee" but "fee versus the cost of a mistake": a missed window that adds months, a rebooked flight, or an extra stay at the destination. Our cost guide breaks down where the money goes.

Questions to ask any agency, including us

1. Is the quote itemized, so I can see government fees, vet costs, the airline charge and your service fee separately?
2. Who does each step: you, my veterinarian, a partner, or me?
3. Which official sources did you use for my destination, and when did you last check them?
4. What happens if the flight is canceled or a rule changes before departure?
5. Can I see reviews or case stories from real clients, with their source?

There is a middle ground

You do not have to choose all or nothing. Some families handle the vet appointments themselves and want help only with the flight. Others want a second check of their paperwork plan before they start. Our services are listed separately so you can see what each one covers.