Tulip

The reasons that pet shops sell puppies is very simple; they want to make money. Think for a moment on how much cheaper a puppy is from a pet shop; now think about buying cheap chicken meat from a shop. Corners have been cut. Do you really want corners cut when you're making a commitment for a best friend? I know I wouldn't. Not to mention it feeding the disposable culture of instant gratification. People who buy a puppy from a shop are buying a 20 year commitment off the shelf. How serious might they take it? I realise there are exceptions, but for the most part, people buy a puppy from a shop when they haven't waited for it, haven't even had much forethought, and haven't researched the breed or breeding ethics (or they would be running away from the pet shop as fast as their legs could carry them). They buy the puppy, the puppy gets bigger, and they realise that for some reason or another they don't want to keep him. I'm a dog breeder and I'm sure many are now thinking 'Well you just don't want the competition'. I don't even advertise my litters, and my last one went in March. I had people on that waiting list for 18 months before the litter was born, and I certainly would not want anyone who would buy a puppy from a shop, to have one. Here's a simple list of pros and cons. PET SHOP puppy; No health history; and I'm not talking vaccinations. I'm talking breed health problems. You don't know if he's been eye tested, whether his parents were, his grandparents. Hip scores, PDA, cataracts, luxating patellas; all breed problems that should be tested for in almost all breeds. None of that. So you're basically buying a gamble. It might work out, but why take the chance? No temperament history; how do you know that puppy came from parents who would rather shy than bite, who were balanced, secure in themselves, with no bite history or history of severe neurological problems? You don't. No assurance of socialisation; there's several 'markers' of socialising points in a puppy's life. If they're not met, which they won't be in a pet shop, your puppy could end up with severe problems later in life. Fear periods that are not counter-conditioned could result in a dog frightened of everything, and unable to cope with the smallest of changes, and it will literally take you years to raise their stress thresholds. No assurance that his parents are taken care of; here's a tip, if the puppy is not with his parents, he's missing out on EVERYTHING. All that socialising, bite inhibition, confidence building. Also, how do you know that bitch isn't huddled in a damp kennel somewhere with nothing but dirty water to drink and a matted pelt to keep her warm? Because that is what a puppy farm is, and only a puppy farm will have so little disregard for their puppies that they sell them to a pet shop where they have no idea who will buy them. No breeder lifeline; we've all been there. 3am and the puppy is crying. If only there was a hotline you could call to ask what's wrong with him! If only there was someone you knew was incredibly experienced to ask why he's puking or whether he's doing something that's normal or a sign of a deadly infection. Ah, but you don't, because you didn't go to a breeder. If you did, you would have the knowledge of someone who has raised puppies on a obsessive scale and observed every nook and cranny of their wellbeing, not to mention oodles of experience. And you can bet they will be the first to help if it's one of their puppies that's in trouble, seeing as they've slept with them since they were born and woken up every hour on the hour to check they're all feeding. No rehoming contract; what if you do get in trouble with your puppy and can't keep it any more? It happens, but your puppy has never been to kennels and you have no idea how to rehome him yourself. If only you'd gone to a breeder, who has a rehoming contract, which states that at any point in that puppy's life you can bring him back to the breeder and they will rehome him for you, as they already have a waiting list of people waiting for an older dog. What do you get if you go to a reputable breeder? Security. Remember that when you buy a dog you buy for life, and I know that if I was buying a car, I would not just pick the one that's most readily available. Very sadly, buy cheap, buy twice.

Stacey, that's something I love about Aus, the lizards! I think they're beautiful and love to see the tiny ones on the rocks. Last year I was walking in the sunshine on a bridal path (in Norfolk) and saw a tiny lizard and it felt like I'd won the lottery!

I loved that you can pick and choose what you'd like done with PetAir. I went for Silver service, but they did the permits for me. I dropped her off at the PetAir HQ as, like you, Heathrow would be too painful for me!

Thanks, Advantix it is. That cat is stunning, glad he's back to his normal self.

Which is the best treatment to use, if you don't mind my asking on this thread? Advantix?

Lush thread! I know they're a pest but I love the Ibis! St. What's his name's Cross spider enjoying a meal. Butterfly. Not very impressive in pictures, but I love that in QLD you see them everywhere and they're huge! Like planes flying about! Another St. Andrew's Cross spider. Not even sure what this one is. Dragon! Lorikeet just chilling by the car! Another dragon, tiny one this time, who kept me very entertained whilst I was waiting for hubby to come off a rollercoaster. Last but not least, a Rosella parrot enjoying a cheesy snack he liberated from our picnic. See how he's rubbing it in, by sitting on my husband's shoulder?!

I think mine came through quite quickly, will check for you when my email starts working again. p.s. Something PetAir told me yesterday when I dropped off Maisy, was that DEFRA scare the life out of vets! If they do one thing wrong on the forms they get struck off!

I'm almost in the exact same position, did my med on the 13th of May (three months after lodged on the 4th of Feb, as requested by my CO) and I too have been referred for minor things. I haven't been bugging my CO, I did ask her recently whether my med had been cleared yet and she said she would let me know when it had, so I'm just keeping quiet now and waiting.

My brother lives in urban Sydney, right in the city. I'm afraid he sees a fair few spiders, sorry to say it. He's always posting pictures on facebook of the most impressive ones.

I love the UK and I love Aus. I love the weather in both, truly.

We missed you Hoff! So happy you're back, really missed your banter!

Never had anyone measure my suitcase, we're just using two that we know have traveled to Aus before so will be ok hopefully.

I agree with 'spiritman', I have been to QLD in high Summer and it was very humid, thick. But down in Sydney it was even hotter, almost 40, and much more comfortable.

I used hubby's mum's address and phone number, but we'll be staying there anyway.

I applied in February, my CO told me the expected waiting time is 8-9 months. If your CO tells you this, you'll have to work to it.

It's great when you do that first step. We're so happy we did hers early as it means that when hubby suggested going out two months early, it didn't affect her coming at all which was fab. Good luck with your move, hope all goes smoothly for you. xx

Woo hoo that's fantastic Nikocs!!

I live in Norfolk, so quite close really to 'popping' over to Europe, but the point is I don't want to. I love Italy but it would be a seven hour flight there and then back again and a lot of stress for me (I get very anxious when travelling). Some of us just like travelling within our own country. I will be really happy to have a much bigger country to explore. p.s. Stacey I lurrrrve Scotland haha! We went last Summer for our honeymoon, stayed in Dufftown and had a lush time walking up mountains, visiting Inverness and then Edinburgh, and lots of places inbetween.

I'm quite shocked I haven't mucked it up by now, so many things to remember to do but Pet Air have been super and lots of help. She has her last check up on Friday and then she flies on Monday!

What kind of thing do you put on it? Picture, height, breed, maybe training certificates?

I think you have a point there, HappyHeart. I do love Europe but there's no way I can afford to travel there, even on budget airlines. I can't remember the last time I holiday'd there. Much prefer being able to go somewhere in the UK like Scotland, so I will be happy to have so much of a country to explore in Aus. It's not for everyone but some of us like what we like and don't crave to pop over to Europe every other week.

Please do not be under the impression that if you don't hear back about your medical, it's fine! I didn't hear about mine for weeks and had to pester my CO, who had to email the DIAC, who informed her it had been referred. Don't assume that no news is good news, if you want to find out if you've been referred or not you have to email your CO! As for interviews, I would ask your CO if it's expected. I asked my CO if we were ok to fly out or if she needed more evidence, and she informed me that we met all the requirements and that she just needed police check and medical. Just as a reassurance, I also didn't have a lot of evidence as far as finances go (we are quite young and no financial commitments) but we didn't have to interview.

I feel for my poor hubby, he hasn't been warm since he left Australia. That said, we both love the UK, especially him, and I don't let the weather stop us. This weekend was forecast to rain, we still went to Wroxam Barns with my sister and her kids, went to the little farm there, it did chuck it down for about ten minutes but then the sun came out so no worries! Then yesterday we went to the beach, wasn't very sunny but still warm enough for an ice cream. But the weather isn't everything to me; I'm moving to Australia because of many other things. I love the weather here in the UK, how changable it is, the rain, the sun, the Winter. But like others have said, it isn't everything...so I won't let it keep me here.

I got mine in a week, some take longer, up to two weeks. If you've had the money taken from your account I would just sit tight.

I would wait until you get appointed your CO, and they will state the current waiting time from your country.