Nowadays, people love to travel with their furbabies since these adorable pets like their own children. Some of them are emotional support pets to their owners. These fortunate beings get to travel even to other countries when their hooman parents visit faraway places or even other countries. Additionally, the parents are willing to pay a reasonable amount for their furbabies to be allowed in public transportation or airplane cabins, such as a woman who spent quite an amount of money to travel with her boyfriend and her dog for a vacation in Japan.
32-year-old Tiffany Chan and her boyfriend, Anders, are based in Hong Kong. She manages a pet bakery, and he works in the IT industry. They took in Siu Tim, a Golden Retriever when he was only 3 months old. Originally, they planned to take in a smaller breed, such as a pug or a French Bulldog. However, when they first saw Siu Tim at a pet shop in Mong Kok, the couple knew he was the perfect dog for them. When they decided to take their dog on a vacation in Japan, they roughly spent US$5,110.00 which, according to Tiffany, was money well spent. It was fascinating for them to see Siu Tim experience his first snowfall and stroll through Japan’s amazing scenery.
When Siu Tim was around 4 or 5 months old, the couple planned to go on a vacation and decided to take Siu Tim with them. However, a worldwide lockdown was implemented due to COVID-19. When Siu Tim turned 3 years old, lockdown restrictions were lifted. Tiffany decided to take the opportunity to travel while Siu Tim was full of energy and very playful.
Japan is known for its pet-friendly atmosphere and various seasons, which was perfect for Siu Tim. In August 2022, they decided to take their furbaby on his first international vacation. Japan seemed the best choice compared to a lengthy airplane ride from Hong Kong to Europe.
In the first week of September, Tiffany and Anders sought the assistance of a pet relocation agency to assist them with travel arrangements regarding Siu Tim and their travel arrangements for Japan. “Given the necessary 180-day lead time for documentation,” Tiffany said, “we kicked off the process promptly. By mid-March 2023, we were ready to embark on our adventure.”
A US$220.00 fee was paid for the relocation agency, including the shipping crate, an import permit, a rabies vaccination, blood tests, and various handling fees. However, an additional US$207.00 had to be paid separately for the overseas courier service fee.
The couple, along with Siu Tim, arrived at the airport 2 ½ hours early. Fortunately, the boarding process for Siu Tim went smoothly. Afterward, Siu Tim was given his last bathroom break before settling him into the kennel at the designated drop-off. Although he entered without reluctance, the dog was aware of his owner’s departure towards the boarding area. Hearing Siu Tim’s soft cries brought Tiffany to tears.
When they arrived at the animal holding area at Narita Airport, Siu Tim’s sadness disappeared, and his excitement resurfaced. They brought him to a quarantine facility for chip verification and completed the necessary paperwork for their entry into Japan.
Making the most of their vacation, they immediately visited tourist attractions such as the Asakusa temple in Tokyo and Kyoto for a kimono photo shoot. Later, they journeyed into rural places like Mount Nasu and marveled at top waterfalls. The couple rented a car for US$150.00 to make traveling easier for Siu Tim.
“Siu Tim’s first encounter with snow-topped mountains was my most memorable part of the trip,” Tiffany recalled. “I can vividly recall his delight as he played in the snow — leaping, twirling, and barking with excitement. For Anders, the highlight was taking Siu Tim to the zoo to watch the dolphin show.”
Siu Tim instantly became a local favorite in Japan due to the country’s fondness for dogs. Anders soon learned how to say Siu Tim’s age in Japanese.
Tiffany said that the trip was well worth it despite the steep expenses. They roughly paid around US$5,110.00 for flights, hotels, entertainment, and dining. They have provided the best unforgettable vacation to Siu Tim, making their sacrifice entirely worthwhile. The adorable furbaby seemed to enjoy the trip as well.
“Last month, we revisited Japan with Siu Tim,” Tiffany said. “We thought Japan again would make the most sense for its smooth process, having already completed all necessary paperwork and tests. On the second trip, we planned a less packed itinerary to avoid travel fatigue. We opted for longer stays at each location, minimizing hotel changes.”
Tiffany admits that for their next vacation, they began saving funds for Siu Tim’s European trip.
Image credits: © Tiffany Chan for Business Insider
