Bringing a dog

Has anyone here taken a pet with them to Australia? My little yorkie is my life, and I am hers. she adores me and follows me around everywhere! I'd like to go to Australia for a year, and I just don't think I could ever leave her behind. I have looked into what it takes to bring her with me, and the expense doesn't bother me as much as I worry about how stressed she would be in quarantine for 30 days. From what I've read, you are only allowed 2 visits per week, and you can't even see the animals after getting off the plane.
Has anyone else had experience with this? I wish someone would let me know it's not as bad as I'm thinking!

Go and check out the "Canadians in the UK" forum on this website. Click on the "UK Visas and Immigration" subforum and from there click on the thread titled "Pet Transport (domestic, transborder and international)". Sorry it wouldn't let me just post the link. Right now that thread is about 5th down so its right on the first page and shouldn't be hard to find.

Everyone there is discussing taking their pet to the UK (obviously!) but it's pretty much the exact same things you'd have to do to bring your dog to Oz. Australia does the same pet transport scheme as Europe.

The Defra website mentioned in the first post is super informative. I recommend you check it out. Also, be warned that the whole process takes a minimum of six months, so if you're planning on leaving soon then you may be out of luck

Thanks for the info! I'm actually not planning on going until early 2009, I just thought I'd get some information now so I have more time to make a decision. I'm going to go check out that thread now!

Go into the immigration site for australia. There is all the info. you need to bring a dog into the country. You do have to get various tests done, the main one being a rabies test. The quarantine period is 30 days if the rabies test and certificate has been done about 4-6 months in advance of arrival, but if it is less, the dog may stay in quarantine 90-120 days. The site also has information about the quarantine place itself. I have heard they are very good. Proper housing and vets. Also talk to your vet in your city, they might have information.

Well this is really tough. I'm so worried about putting all that stress on her, and I'm also worried about leaving her. I guess I might have to just put this plan on the back burner and maybe just take a holiday to Australia instead

I brought both my dogs in 2005. It's not that bad. In Sydney, the quarantine location is reasonably nice and they are well looked after. It's actually better not to visit twice a week as it stresses your pet out more every time you leave. 30 days goes by quick.

how much in total did it cost you to ship your two dogs and have them stay in quarantine for 30 days?

I think it was close to $1500 from start to finish.