Chelsea, Josephine, Boytjie and Ann-Ael

“Petraveller was the only company I had a good feeling about.”

Ann-Ael travelled with her family pets, Chelsea, Josephine and Boytjie, from Melbourne to Paris with Petraveller. Ann-Ael talks about her adorable pets affectionately and shares her international pet travel experience with Petraveller.

Ann-Ael adopted Pointer x Staghound, Chelsea, from a shelter in October 2016. Chelsea was one of seven puppies that were taken from a hoarding situation. Ann-Ael recalls, “When we met Chelsea, we knew she was the one! She is very beautiful and has a funky tail. The vet told us it had probably been broken since she was tiny and was never taken care of, so its tip is at an odd angle.”

Ann-Ael talks about Chelsea’s personality. She says, “Chelsea is a very sweet dog. She goes to doggy day care every week and does well with other dogs. Chelsea is not great on a lead, as she wants to be in front of the pack and is quite powerful. She is not the most playful dog, loves to bask in the sun all day and loves a belly rub.” Ann-Ael adds, “Chelsea can sit, drop, and roll over, but she has trouble being patient with food. She always sleeps in her crate and puts herself in it when she’s done something bad, like stealing from the counter. Chelsea barks at other dogs passing by, and when there’s someone at the door. She jumps on people when they come in the house but calms down quickly.”

Whippet x Staghound, Josephine became a part of Ann-Ael’s family in April 2018. Ann-Ael shares, “Josephine was not planned, but we were very happy to find her. A lady bought Josephine from a breeder but could not keep her as she was sick. She asked to take Josephine in, and we did. Josephine was very tiny, only eight weeks old and probably should have stayed with her mother for a little longer. But she quickly took to Chelsea as she was very patient with her, so they became sisters.”

Discussing Josephine’s anxious personality, Ann-Ael says, “Josephine was too young when she arrived and still shows signs of anxiety. She is very playful and never hurts anybody, but she doesn’t let you come too close to her without growling. She’ll come close enough for you to scratch her back, but on her terms (except for her boy, my older son, whom she loves very much). Josephine loves chewing on toys and fetching. If she feels overwhelmed, she goes to her bed and starts sucking and patting it. She loves our cat very much and likes licking him (he doesn’t) and chasing him (that he seems to enjoy).”

Ann-Ael continues, “Josephine gets worried when my older son goes outside in the garden without her, or if we take Chelsea for a walk and not her (they have to take turns). She’s not great on lead and gets nervous. Josephine loves going to doggy day care. She loves a treat but keeps it safe for a long time before she decides to eat it.”

Ann-Ael adopted Domestic Shorthair, Boytjie, from a local rescue association when he was a little kitten in January 2019. Boytjie was found in a warehouse with his brothers and sisters. Ann-Ael smiles and says, “We took our time to introduce Boytjie to the dogs, and he is now part of the pack as he thinks he’s a dog. He is very cheeky with the dogs, often hiding, waiting for them to pass by so he can jump on them and run away. When we call the dogs to give them some treats, he comes too and sits waiting for his share.”

Boytjie is an indoor cat. Ann-Ael says, “Boytjie is a very quiet cat; he doesn’t purr much and barely meows unless he wants to let us know that he captured a prey. He steals plush toys from my son and scatters them all over the house. Boytjie never hurts my kids or me but regularly attacks my husband (playfully).”

Ann-Ael and her family were moving to Paris. Ann-Ael says, “We are going to Paris to be closer to our French family so that grandkids and grandparents can spend some time together.” Ann-Ael couldn’t imagine moving without her fur babies and decided to relocate them from Melbourne to Paris.

Ann-Ael contacted Petraveller to manage Chelsea, Josephine and Boytjie’s pet travel to Paris. She says, “I contacted a few agencies, but Petraveller was the only one I felt good about. Also, I read Petraveller’s reviews, and I appreciate the contact with the different employees that I was able to talk to.”

Chelsea, Josephine and Boytjie were happy travellers and made it to Paris in great spirits. Thank you, Ann-Ael, for trusting Petraveller with your beloved fur babies. We wish you lots of love, laughter and exciting adventures with Chelsea, Josephine and Boytjie in the City of Love.