Some pet moves take a weekend of planning. Billy's took the better part of a year. Billy — also known as Duke — is a handsome Doberman who made a long journey from Los Angeles to Taiwan this fall, and getting him there meant months of veterinary visits, repeated blood work, shifting schedules, and a mountain of paperwork. Our LA team assisted our partner Pet Relocation on this complex move, and JC, who handles our hands-on pet transportation in Los Angeles, was with Billy for nearly every step on the U.S. side.
A Move That Took Months, Not Days
International pet moves are rarely a straight line, and Billy's was one of the more involved ones we have worked on this year. His destination has strict health requirements, which meant a sequence of veterinary appointments, blood tests that had to be repeated, and documents that had to line up exactly before he could be cleared to fly.
Our role was the Los Angeles side of the job. We worked with Pet Relocation, Billy's caretakers, and his veterinary team to get him to every appointment on time, keep the paperwork moving, and make sure nothing slipped between visits. Billy was staying with a caretaker family in Southern California, and a small quirk made pickup days interesting: he answers to both names, so JC learned to ask for “Duke” at the door.
Vet Visit After Vet Visit
Between late June and mid-October, JC picked Billy up and took him to the veterinarian again and again for blood work and exams. Some of those appointments moved at the last minute: clinic schedules shifted, a visit planned for one afternoon became the next morning or the following Monday, and additional testing came up along the way. Each time, the plan changed quickly and Billy was on his way.
Those repeated blood draws are not unusual for destinations with strict rabies and disease-control rules. Results have specific timing windows, so a delay in one step can mean redoing another. That is exactly why a move like this works best with someone local who can say yes to a schedule change on short notice, and who knows the dog.
Before the big flight, JC also took Billy to a final veterinary visit on October 15 to finalize his health documentation. This is the step that ties the whole move together: every test result, vaccine record, and certificate has to be correct, signed, and in the right hands before departure. JC brought the completed certificates straight to Anna, who manages the travel-day paperwork, so nothing was left to chance for check-in.
Billy's Move at a Glance
- June–JulyBlood work and exams — multiple pickups for vet visits, plus vaccine boosters requested by Billy's care team, with schedules adjusted as appointments shifted.
- October 15Final vet visit to finalize health documentation. Certificates handed to Anna for travel day.
- October 26Travel day — pickup with his travel crate, a walk at LAX, and check-in with Cathay Pacific Cargo.
- October 27–28Arrival in Taiwan — export clearance completed quickly and Billy was delivered to the quarantine station.
- Early NovemberReleased from quarantine and welcomed home by his family.
Travel Day: Crate, Van, and LAX
On October 26, JC arrived at Billy's caretaker home at noon with his travel crate. Billy looked great and settled in like a pro. JC put it best in the team chat: Billy was going to “fly in style.” Ice in the water bowls, a comfortable mat, and a calm start made all the difference for a dog about to spend a long time in transit.
From there it was a drive across Los Angeles to the cargo area at LAX, with the sun setting over the airfield by the time the van pulled up.
One Last Walk, Then Check-In
While Anna went inside the Cathay Pacific cargo office to handle check-in, JC took Billy for a walk around the lot. A good stretch, some fresh air, and a chance to relax before a long flight is always part of our travel-day routine, and Billy enjoyed every minute of it.
By early evening the news came through: Billy was checked in and ready for his flight. The team chat filled with well wishes for the handsome Doberman, and the next morning came the update everyone was waiting for: Billy was on track and in the air.
Landing in Taiwan
Billy landed safely in Taiwan, where our partner agent met him and moved quickly through the export process so he could be delivered to the quarantine station the same day. The report back said it all:
“Billy is a good boy, inspection completed smoothly.” — Our partner agent in Taiwan
Billy was also eating and drinking well, which is always the first thing his team wants to hear after a long flight.
What Our LA Team Handled for Billy's Move
- Door-to-door transportation to every veterinary appointment, with pickups from Billy's caretaker home and flexible rescheduling.
- Blood work coordination across repeated draws and exams so test timing stayed on track.
- Final vet visit and documentation, with completed certificates delivered to our travel-day lead.
- Travel-day pickup and LAX handling, including a pre-flight walk and cargo check-in with Cathay Pacific.
- Constant updates to Pet Relocation and Billy's caretakers, with photos at every step.
Home at Last
After his quarantine period, Billy was released in early November and went home with a member of his family. Our partner in Taiwan reported that Billy was very, very excited to see him, which is exactly the kind of update that makes a long move worth it.
A move like Billy's takes a whole network: vets, caretakers, a relocation partner, airline cargo teams, and agents on both ends of the flight. We are proud to have been part of it, grateful to Pet Relocation for trusting our Los Angeles team, and thrilled that Billy is finally settled into his new home. Safe travels, handsome boy!
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