Moving A Pet In Singapore: Things That Pet Movers Might Tell You To Do
Singapore is no doubt a pet-friendly country. Cats, dogs, and even exotic animals – as long as you have the right papers – are welcome there. Still, no doubt that the freedom that pet owners enjoy in Singapore have limits. These limits are prescribed by the laws that you have to abide by while living under its jurisdiction.
In connection, pet movers are very knowledgeable about the laws and policies that govern petkeeping in Singapore. If you’re planning to live in the Lion City, this article will surely help. I’ll talk about the recommendations that pet movers might tell you when moving pets.
Secure The Necessary Papers
Securing the necessary papers apply if you’re a foreigner who’s planning to move to Singapore with pets. Specifically, the papers that you need to comply with are import permits, quarantine reservations, veterinary health certificates, etc.
What are these papers for? As per government directives, the papers that I talked about ensuring that your pet isn’t smuggled and is in the right health conditions for travel. Singapore is very conscious of its health protocols. That’s why pets are strictly monitored for underlying health issues.
Check The Singaporean Government’s Website To See The List of Pets That Can Be Imported
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT if you’re importing dog to Singapore. Singapore has very specific guidelines when it comes to dogs and cats. That said, you might have to comply with additional requirements depending on the breed of the dog or cat you’ll be moving with.
This might be sad but you should know that Singapore doesn’t allow specific dog and cat breeds to enter its premises. Moving might be a problem if you’re an owner of these :
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Akita
- Pero De Pressa
- Tosa
- Neopolitan Mastiff
- Fila Brasileiro
- Dogo Argentino
- Bengal or Savannah crossbreeds – for cats (1st-4th gen)
If you still push to moving to Singapore with the abovementioned pets, know that the pet movers won’t be able to help you. Money won’t help if you’re thinking that using underhanded tactics will work. Singapore has a very clean government and corruption isn’t common.
By the way, reptiles are also banned as pets in Singapore. If you own one, it won’t be moving with you. The same is also true if you’re fond of keeping hedgehogs.
Get Your Pet Vaccinated
Singapore isn’t a big state ( it’s only 721.5 square kilometers). That’s why the least that its government wants is to have the residents get infected with rabies. That’s why The movers will certainly tell you to get your pet vaccinated.
If your pet is already vaccinated, rest assured that the movers will ask for some proof. In this case, the documents that you have to submit is the latest vaccination record of your pet signed by a certified vet.
Know that vaccination requirements differ on which country you’re from. Referring to this list might help determine what are the vaccination procedures that your pet has to undergo before it can move with you.
Inquire First If The Building Allows Pets
Pet movers are likely to recommend this if you’re moving to an apartment in Singapore. Unlike the western landlords who let their tenants enjoy absolute freedom, Singaporean landlords impose their authority and they might enforce policies that limit the tenants’ right to keep pets.
For example, some apartments and similar establishments do allow tenants to keep pets. However, this might only be limited to dogs or cats. If you’re planning to raise other animals aside from a dog or a cat, having a brief talk with the owner of the building is very important.
Check If The Neighborhood Take Kindly To The Specific Pet That You’re Raising
I don’t mean to generalize but Asians tend to pick on newcomers. This is very true for Singaporeans. Nothing’s wrong with this though. After all, everyone feels uncomfortable toward strangers at first.
Pet movers will ask you to visit the place that you’ll be moving to and check if your neighbors won’t have problems with your pet in the future. There are two ways of doing this. First, you can visit the area and see what kinds of animals are popular in the vicinity. And second, you can directly ask the person in charge to see if your pet won’t cause discomfort to anyone.
I think that this part is very important. It’s because the least that you want is to have a petition written against you after moving. You shouldn’t take petitions lightly. It’s because they can turn into lengthy lawsuits that don’t only affect your day-to-day living but your career as well.
Prepare Your Pet For The Move
Some pet relocation company might also recommend that you prepare your pet for moving. After all, they don’t want a dog, cat, or any other pet from acting up when it’s time to move. Preparation is important. It’s because moving can be emotionally and physically demanding for your pet.
Preparation is easy if your pet is a dog, cat, or any other tamable animal. All that you have to do is to train so that it becomes used to meeting strangers, bear with strange noises, stay calm while traveling, and avoid getting anxious.
It might be hard for rabbits, white mice, and other rodents to get prepared for moving. Still, know that the pet movers have some tricks on their sleeve so that they won’t have trouble transferring these animals to their new home for you.
Final Comments
Engaging a professional pet mover makes transferring pets to their new home very convenient. They’re trained professionals but know that you have to do your part as the owner. Doing your part ascertains that moving your pet happens without problems. Remember that Singapore is lenient towards pets. But this is only the case if their owners follow its policies that regulate all aspects of petkeeping.
To finish, don’t make the job of pet movers harder. Always follow their recommendations and accept the fact that experts know best.