Best pet transportation services in Auckland: find options near you

As pet owners, ensuring the safe and comfortable travel of our furry companions is a top priority. Auckland boasts a variety of transportation options for pets that cater to the unique needs of animals and their owners. With a focus on safety, reliability, and care, these services offer peace of mind for those looking to relocate or travel with their beloved pets.

The selection of pet relocation services in the region showcases a range of providers, each offering specialized solutions tailored to different types of animals and travel requirements. From local trips to international journeys, these experts are dedicated to providing a seamless experience, ensuring that pets are treated with the utmost respect and comfort throughout their journey. Choosing the right service can make all the difference, transforming a potentially stressful experience into a smooth and enjoyable one for both pets and their owners.

Discover 3 outstanding options for pet transportation services in Auckland

Here are 3 outstanding options for pet transportation services in Auckland based on value for money:

1. AirCare Pet Services Ltd

Address

AirCare Pet Services Ltd 30 Glasgow Avenue, Manukau, Auckland 2104, New Zealand

Phone

+64 9 277 6043

Business Hours

Monday: 08:00–16:30
Tuesday: 08:00–16:30
Wednesday: 08:00–16:30
Thursday: 08:00–16:30
Friday: 08:00–16:30
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Website

aircarepets.co.nz

Rating

8.3 (+ 52 reviews)

AirCare Pet Services Ltd. offers an outstanding experience for pet relocation. Their team is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of your furry friends during the journey. With excellent communication and a compassionate approach, they make the entire process seamless and stress-free for both pets and their owners.

I was truly impressed by their commitment to providing top-notch service. The staff is not only knowledgeable but also genuinely cares about the comfort of your pets. I highly recommend AirCare for anyone looking to transport their pets internationally with peace of mind.

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Accessibility

• Wheelchair-accessible car park
• Wheelchair-accessible entrance

Customer Reviews

Thank you to Abby & Garry for getting Peggy to us with a week’s notice from New Zealand to Australia. The whole process was a breeze they were so helpful and kind. Peggy’s finally with us happy as! Highly recommend would use aircare pets again for sure!

Brooke Henderson (☆ 5/5)

I would not recommend this company due to a lack of clear communication, accountability and reliable support.

Based on my experience, the lack of follow-through was deeply concerning and I cannot recommend this company.

Despite selecting the comprehensive package, my inquiry about the more independent “No Frills” option was incorrectly processed as a final decision.

This mistake resulted in additional costs for vet checks, and by the time I was made aware, the flight was already booked, leaving no room for correction. I thought it was strange why the agent would go ahead and book a flight before receiving confirmation from us.

The agent does not communicate, does not take accountability and refused to provide proactive support and guidance. When I asked the agent (Abby) what documentation or treatment my dog will require, her only response was that the vets should know once I informed them of the destination.

I effectively paid $3000 for this company to drive my dog from Manukau to handover to Air NZ whilst doing all the leg work myself.

There should definitely be better training in communication for the staff.

Joshua Biddle (☆ 1/5)

Booked flights for a 10 week old puppy to Queenstown and instead of going South bound through Chch or Wellington they said there was no flights available that way so I had to accept the Auckland bound flight from Napier to Queenstown. The puppy got to Auckland and was put on a different flight to the one that was confirmed. That flight arrived in Queenstown 3 hours later than the original booked flight and the person picking the puppy up wasn’t notified of this change neither was I. So he was left waiting at the airport for hours longer due to lack of communication from this company. No reply to my emails so I called them and they said they would find out what happened. A 6 hour trip turned into a 9 hour trip. The puppy arrived to Queenstown extremely distressed and exhausted. Have received written confirmation the puppy was held up in Auckland due to a dirty carrier which was acceptable however they were unable to get in contact with aircare pet services to inform them of this change so left a message which is why we weren’t informed.

Te Manawanui fitzgerald (☆ 3/5)

I am pleased to share that my Golden Retriever arrived safely in Melbourne from Auckland. I chose Air New Zealand for the journey and am confident in that decision due to their strong animal welfare standards.

However, my experience with AirCare Pets, the pet relocation agency, was far from satisfactory and fell well short of expectations for a premium service. Shipping a pet internationally is inherently stressful, and sadly, the service provided by AirCare Pets only amplified that stress.

Communication Issues
Communication was the most significant shortcoming. While my assigned agent, Abby Reynolds, was friendly and empathetic, there was no direct line to reach her. Each time I called, I was routed through a general line and asked to call back or email, which was particularly frustrating given the company’s call centre hours matched my own work schedule. Critical details such as flight conditions, crate requirements, and documentation were not proactively shared. Flights were booked without prior confirmation or provision of essential information, and I only received clarification after raising concerns myself. If there is no communication, there should be a manual sent out to customers explaining what to expect.

I was frequently told to contact the airline directly for answers. If the agency acts as an intermediary, it should provide clear guidance and FAQs upfront.

Crate Miscommunication
A major source of stress was the travel crate. Despite sending the agent photos, dimensions, and details weeks in advance, receiving confirmation that everything was in order, I was told on the day of departure that the crate was unsuitable. I had to purchase a new one on the spot for $510 to avoid a last-minute change. As a professional relocation company, AirCare Pets should have identified this issue well before departure, not hours before the flight.

Arrival and Post-Arrival Issues
Before my flight, I made sure to provide both a New Zealand and Australian contact number, and I confirmed with my agent that someone would call me upon arrival to guide me through the collection process. I was flying on the same plane as my dog, and was told I would be contacted after landing. Only a few days before the flight, the agent then informed me that I will not receive a call and will have to navigate the pickup myself by using an airport map to locate the cargo terminal, which is roughly 10 minutes away from the passenger terminal.
I was surprised to learn that no one from the agency or airline would meet me, and that the animal reception centre would be closed by the time I landed (around 8:10 PM NZT / 6:10 PM AEST). I found this deeply confusing. If the entire service is supposed to be end-to-end, what happens if something goes wrong? What if my dog was unwell or worse, how would I even be informed?

To add to the confusion, one person from the agency had previously told me to expect a 2–5 hour wait, while my agent later said it would likely be 30–90 minutes. The inconsistency wasn’t a huge concern to me, but it highlights the general lack of clear, standardised communication.

Thankfully, I had pre-arranged a rental car, and after landing, I drove to the freight terminal, waited a couple hours, and was finally reunited with my lovely dog.

What was most disappointing, though, was that no one from the agency ever followed up to confirm that she had arrived safely or to check in afterwards. For a pet relocation service claiming full oversight, that level of detachment is unacceptable.

If your pet is family, as mine is, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. At the airport, I met another pet owner whose agent had managed the entire process seamlessly from start to finish, for the same price of (around $3000). It was a reminder that there are reputable and caring providers out there; this, unfortunately, was not one of them.

Shams Ghani (☆ 1/5)

From the moment we started dealing with Aircare Pet Services, after being let down by another well known pet export company, we were provided with top notch service. We were supplied with real life scenarios on what the journey would look like so we could understand when and where we would be collecting/dropping off our old girls ( a cat (17) and a dog (11)). From Abby ( who is an absolute asset to the team), to Garry, Michelle, Angela and Shelly, we were so well looked after. Our first domestic flight was cancelled and the team stepped in to ensure our girls would be on the international flight – to the point where one of their team was going to drive to Tauranga to collect the animals! Absolutely incredible. The team also stayed very late after hours to accommodate us and collect the animals for an overnight stay due to the cancelled Air NZ flight! Everything from their end went perfectly and while we were so nervous because it was the first time our older girls were travelling so far, we needn’t have been. We cannot recommend Aircare Pet Services enough to look after your fur babies on your international travels. Thanks again team – you’re awesome!

Candice Joiner (☆ 5/5)

I worked briefly with Abby while requesting a simple quote. I responded to her email on the same day it was sent. Almost two weeks went by without hearing back, so I called to ask if she planned to follow up. She didn’t acknowledge that she had forgotten to reply. Instead she said the reason is they needed additional info. Maybe request the additional info you need via an email reply?

Transporting your beloved pet by airplane to another country is a complicated and potentially costly endeavor. While it may seem harsh to leave a one-star review for the lack of follow-up, this situation indicates to me that the business isn’t very detail-oriented and does not acknowledge it’s mistakes.

Duran Sealee (☆ 1/5)

Thank you for handling our little boy with such care, getting him safe and sound to Rarotonga. Michelle helped with such professionalism and made the move hassle free for us.

We can’t recommend AirCare Pet Services enough.

Raul and Olivia Baradat Valero (☆ 5/5)

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2. Dogtainers Auckland

Address

Dogtainers Auckland 610 Burtt Road, Runciman 2578, New Zealand

Phone

+64 800 135 252

Business Hours

Monday: 09:00–17:00
Tuesday: 09:00–17:00
Wednesday: 09:00–17:00
Thursday: 09:00–17:00
Friday: 09:00–17:00
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Website

dogtainers.co.nz

Rating

8.0 (+ 31 reviews)

I recently discovered Dogtainers Auckland, and I was thoroughly impressed with their exceptional pet relocation services. Their staff demonstrated remarkable professionalism and genuine care for our beloved pets, ensuring a smooth transition during the process. The communication was top-notch, with regular updates that eased my mind throughout the journey.

Moreover, their competitive pricing made the experience even better. I appreciated how they handled every detail with care, from boarding to transportation, which left my furry friends feeling comfortable and safe. I would highly recommend Dogtainers to anyone in need of reliable pet transportation services.

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Accessibility

• Wheelchair-accessible car park

Crowd

• LGBTQ+ friendly
• Transgender safe space

Customer Reviews

Fantastic company to deal with! Alison answered all my questions, in a timely manner. She was professional and friendly! Our beautiful fur babies arrived safely in Australia and to top it off, the cost was very reasonable (we got multiple quotes!) Would definitely recommend. Thank you!

Keri Sainty (☆ 5/5)

Poor communication was the main issue. Sent invoices that were dramatically different from quoted price with less than 24 hours to pay. When things went awry they couldn’t even be bothered to try and seek alternatives (another pet relocation company were able to step in). Generally just difficult to get information from and made our intercontinental move way more stressful than it needed to be. Our advice would be to steer clear if you value communication, honesty and clarity.

Kate Waghorn (☆ 1/5)

Honestly I can’t thank dogtainers enough. Was easy and they made me feel at ease sending my dogs to Austrailia. Their boarding kennels are amazing and the process was so simple. Their price was an added bonus and considering my dogs had never really even in kennels, they were not stressed when they arrived in Australia. Thank you Dana and Alan. If you love your pet, dogtainers is the one.

Bronwyn Slight (☆ 5/5)

We are slightly delayed in writing this, but I kept meaning to come back to it as the memory of Dogtainers shipping our precious cargo was such a positive one.
I was fairly fraught with angst and fear over sending the pugs from Brisbane to Auckland. But the team at both the Australia and New Zealand sides of Dogtainers were excellent.
Very flexible with our requests, the team in the Brisbane office seemed like real animal lovers and this put our minds at ease when we had to drop them off.
On the New Zealand side, just as helpful, even going above and beyond for us, as we were a bit frazzled having just made the move to our new country.
Can’t recommend them enough.
The attached picture are the pugs out in the forests of Queenstown enjoying their new active lifestyle. 🙂

Oliver Ellice (☆ 5/5)

Very organised company. Communication was amazing. Kept in contact with my sister while I was in Australia about the whereabouts of my fur baby. Everything was smooth from application to sending my fur baby to me. Thank you Dogtainers, now our family is complete and ready to live the big life in Australia with Cindy

Marei (☆ 5/5)

I used Dogtainers to send our family cat from New Zealand to Australia. The service was excellent. Allan and Dianne were so lovely to deal with. They showed such care and empathy towards us as it was a difficult time transporting our cat while the North Island was being hit by a cyclone. They kept us up to date with everything and reassured us every step of the way that Indie was safe and comfortable.

I would highly recommend Dogtainers to anyone needing to transport their much loved pets. The process was very easy arrange and they accommodated us even though we gave very short notice.

Well done Allan and team and thank you

Kirsty Beacham (☆ 5/5)

We used Dogtainers to move our 2 dogs from New Plymouth NZ to Perth. From the initial quote to the final email when our dogs arrived in WA the communication was spot on. They were way cheaper than some of the other pet transport companies in NZ. Our dogs spent 13 nights with the before flying to WA, during this time i had updates and photos. What i also liked about them was that they supplied the crates which was awesome, another couple of dollars saved. I would most definately recommend them to other people.

Corrie Du Plooy (☆ 5/5)

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3. Aero Pets NZ Ltd

Address

Aero Pets NZ Ltd Ogilvie Crescent, Auckland Airport, Auckland 6001, New Zealand

Phone

+64 800 423 767

Website

aeropets.co.nz

Rating

7.5 (+ 3 reviews)

Aero Pets NZ Ltd offers an exceptional service for pet travel, ensuring that your furry companions are treated with the utmost care and respect. Their team is dedicated to providing a seamless experience, making the transportation process as stress-free as possible for both pets and owners. The attention to detail and commitment to animal welfare is truly commendable.

Their knowledgeable staff is always ready to assist with any inquiries, providing clear and concise information about the various travel options available. The emphasis on pet safety and comfort during transit is evident, making Aero Pets NZ Ltd a reliable choice for anyone looking to transport their beloved animals with peace of mind.

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Accessibility

• Wheelchair-accessible car park

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How to find your ideal pet transportation service at the best price in Auckland?

Catalog of services offered by pet transportation services in Auckland

Door-to-Door Pet Transportation

Many pet transportation services in Auckland offer door-to-door pet transportation. This service ensures that pets are picked up from their homes and delivered directly to their destination, providing a seamless and stress-free experience for both pets and their owners.

International Pet Travel

For those planning to move or travel abroad, international pet travel services are essential. These services handle all necessary documentation, customs clearance, and logistics to ensure that pets can travel safely and legally across borders.

Airline Coordination

Pet transportation services often include airline coordination, assisting pet owners in booking flights that accommodate their pets. This includes selecting the appropriate airline, understanding breed restrictions, and ensuring that pets are transported in compliance with airline regulations.

Ground Transportation

For local moves or trips to the vet, ground transportation services ensure that pets are transported in safe and comfortable vehicles. These services may include specialized crates and climate control to keep pets secure and at ease during transit.

Pet Boarding Facilities

While traveling, pet owners may require pet boarding facilities. Many pet transportation services in Auckland partner with reputable boarding facilities, ensuring that pets are cared for in a safe environment before or after travel.

Pet Health and Vaccination Checks

Before any travel, ensuring that pets are healthy and up-to-date on vaccinations is vital. Some transportation services offer pet health and vaccination checks, helping pet owners comply with health regulations and ensuring a smooth travel experience.

Custom Crate and Carrier Services

Proper transportation requires appropriate crates and carriers. Pet transportation services often provide custom crate and carrier services designed to meet the specific needs of different breeds and sizes, ensuring comfort and safety during travel.

Emergency Transport Services

In urgent situations, emergency transport services can be crucial. These services allow for immediate transportation of pets to veterinary clinics or shelters, ensuring that pets receive timely care when needed the most.

Consultation and Planning Services

Planning a trip with pets can be complex. Many pet transportation services offer consultation and planning services to guide pet owners through the logistics of traveling with their pets, including itinerary planning and travel tips.

Frequently asked questions about pet transportation services in Auckland

What types of pets can be transported?

Most pet transportation services in Auckland are equipped to handle various kinds of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and even small mammals like rabbits or guinea pigs. Some services may also cater to exotic pets, but it’s essential to check in advance as regulations may vary.

How do I prepare my pet for transportation?

Preparing your pet for transportation involves several steps. First, ensure your pet is comfortable in a travel carrier or crate that meets safety standards. It’s also advisable to take your pet for a walk or engage in playtime to help them release energy before the journey. Additionally, consult your veterinarian about any necessary vaccinations or health checks required for travel.

What are the costs associated with pet transportation?

The costs of pet transportation services can vary widely based on several factors, such as the type of pet, distance of the journey, and whether it is a domestic or international transport. Basic services typically include transportation and handling, while additional fees may apply for special services like veterinary checks or overnight stays.

Are there any legal requirements for transporting pets?

Yes, there are specific legal requirements for transporting pets, especially if traveling internationally. Pet owners must ensure that their pets meet the import/export regulations of the destination country. This often includes obtaining health certificates and ensuring that vaccinations are up-to-date. Always check the requirements well in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.

How long does the transportation process take?

The duration of the transportation process can vary significantly based on the distance and mode of transport. For domestic transport, it may take a few hours to a day, while international transport can take several days due to customs clearance and layovers. It’s best to consult with the transportation service for a more accurate estimate based on your specific situation.

What happens if my pet needs special care during transportation?

If your pet requires special care, such as medication or special dietary needs, it’s crucial to inform the transportation service in advance. Many companies have trained staff who can accommodate these needs, but proper documentation and instructions are essential. Providing a detailed care plan can help ensure that your pet receives the appropriate care throughout the journey.

Can I track my pet during transportation?

Many pet transportation services offer tracking options that allow you to monitor your pet’s journey. This can include regular updates via phone calls or even GPS tracking systems. It’s a good idea to ask about these features when selecting a transportation service, as they can provide peace of mind during the process.

What should I do if my pet experiences anxiety during travel?

It’s not uncommon for pets to experience anxiety during travel. To help alleviate this, consider using calming products such as pheromone sprays or anxiety wraps. Consulting your veterinarian for recommendations on anti-anxiety medications can also be beneficial. Additionally, ensuring that your pet is familiar with their travel carrier before the trip can help reduce stress.

Are there any restrictions on transporting pets?

Yes, there may be restrictions on transporting pets, particularly for specific breeds or species. Some airlines and transportation services have policies regarding certain breeds deemed high-risk, and certain exotic pets may be restricted due to local laws. Always check with the transportation service and local regulations to ensure compliance.

What should I do upon arrival at the destination?

Upon arrival at your destination, it’s important to promptly check on your pet’s well-being. Ensure that they are hydrated and comfortable after the journey. If your pet has been transported internationally, you may need to go through customs and present the necessary documentation. Taking the time to acclimatize your pet to the new environment is crucial for their comfort and adjustment.