Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dharmasister]

Can anyone share their experiences with bringing a pet with them to Korea? How was the quarantine period? Were your pets traumatized by the experience? How is it living with your pet in an apartment?

(If there is a specific thread where this post should be, please advise)

[AHawk843]

How will you be transporting it? Taking a dog underneath the plane can be a severely traumatizing experience for a pet (as you might imagine). My ex's family shipped their dog back from Singapore to the States and it became very temperamental/had to be put down as a result.

[noobteacher]

I think it all depends on you and your pet. I brought my cat with me, and although both of us were a little worse for the wear by the time we got here, he adjusted really quickly and he is doing just fine.

Definitely do all the research you can. One site that really helped me was this forum - http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/forums/index.php

Make sure to have your pet's rabies vaccination at least 30 BEFORE you are supposed to leave and you won't have to deal with quarantine at all (if you've missed that cut off, I would seriously reconsider bringing your pet and putting them through quarantine!).

Basic process:
1. Rabies vaccination at least 30 prior to departure.
2. Make sure your pet is used to and comfortable in their crate.
3. No more than 10 ten days before you leave, send or take rabies
certification and special form your vet fills out your state's USDA office for certification.
4. A few days before you leave, pick up paperwork from USDA office (if you didn't do same day service) and get meds from vet (not sedatives, but something to keep your pet calm and relaxed).
5. Go to the airport, do special check-in, fill out paperwork, pay fee, do animal check, say goodbye and prepare to have an anxious flight.
6. Arrive at airport, get through immigration, wait for pet to be brought to you, take to quarantine, show paperwork, and voila! You and your pet are now safely in Korea and on your way to your new home!

Feel free to PM me or let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

[dharmasister]

noobteacher - tried to pm you but I don't have the prerequisite 25 posts before one can pm another poster.

Anyway, thank you for the great info. Lola (my toy chihuahua) is a seasoned traveler domestically. I joke that she should have her own frequent flyer membership since she logs a lot of air travel miles with me throughout the CONUS. She always travels on board with me tucked under the seat in front of me. On longer trips with lots of plane changes she is even accustomed to using a training pad which I put down in the family bathroom which most airports have. She's a pretty good little traveler.

She is always up to date on all vaccines including rabies, so if I understand you correctly, with her shot record in hand (and I generally also carry a vet check certificate) she won't have to spend a month in quarantine?! That will be awesome.

Once in Korea are pets welcome out and about? Lola goes with me everywhere including the grocery store and SOME outdoor cafes. Most places have restrictions on bringing non-service animals in them, but we have found a lot of places where she is welcome.

I just want to make sure Lola will have a great experience abroad as well.

Thanks for the info!!

AHawk843: Thank you also and sorry to hear about your ex's family dog . I agree with you that transporting a pet in the cargo hold is extremely traumatic. I just couldn't do that.

[simonandmartina]

I've taken Spudgy to and from Canada twice and there hasn't been any issue. He goes underneath to cargo and he comes out fine. Doesn't seem traumatized at all (unless he's the suffer in silence type).

[dharmasister]

How many hours was the trip to Canada? What were his crate/accomodations like? Did you sedate him? Is he a big dog that can't go aboard? I guess I am just a worrier about that. I think about the noise/scarieness (I know that's not spelled right)/air pressure/temperature. An international flight seems awfully long to submit Lola to that, she's a little bitty thing that is quite spoiled.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

keep the mutts on a leash... the stories of loose dogs and strays ending up in 개 수프 pots are legendary...

[simonandmartina]

[goat]

Sell the mutt. Buy a new one when you get to Korea.

[dharmasister]

[kleanne03]

Was anyone who took a pet to Korea a teacher. I am applying for a teaching position and want to be sure it's ok to take my cat with me. I know a couple of people have posted about taking their dogs. Does anyone know how tramatizing it is for a cat? Will he be ok in the cargo area? Thanks!

[recessiontime]

Id be afraid, your pet is in constant danger from:

1) becoming boshintung pot
2) being hit by Korean motorists (likely)
3) being kicked to death by Korean women (who will use intoxication form alcohol as an excuse)

[cert43]

Ok...i can answer your questions MORE throughly

as I have experience in this area:\

Most everyone here metionted the flight preperations,shots, carriers, etc..
this should be the least of your worries..

Having a pet in Korea is COMPLICATED...yes,Korea is very dog friendly, BUT your small apt is going to be a hard issue as is the heavy heavy upkeep of your dog..and apt.

There are no carpets, no grass..NOTHING. The dog WILL not be happy being cooped up all day in small apt nor will you be happy when you are haivng to constantly sweep mud, dust, hair, etc orff of hardwood floors 10 times aday.

Iam sure yoyur neighboors WILL grow to love a 24/7 barking dog.

[kleanne03]

[simonandmartina]