41. Pet Movers

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Economics of Everyday Things

Episode 41: Pet Movers
Host: Zachary Crockett (Freakonomics Network)
Date: May 21, 2026

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Overview

This episode explores the strange, complicated, and surprisingly lucrative world of pet movers—the companies that specialize in relocating animals across cities, countries, and continents. Using the story of two British pet ducks named Bean and Wobbles, host Zachary Crockett dives into the logistics, regulations, costs, and personal stories behind this niche industry. Through interviews with pet owners and industry professionals, Crockett reveals the economic and emotional stakes of moving beloved non-human family members around the globe.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. An Unusual Moving Challenge

• Story Introduction: Amelia Barclo faced a unique hurdle while moving from the UK to San Francisco—bringing her two ducks, Bean and Wobbles (00:46 – 01:45).

• Identity Crisis at Customs:

  "We would speak to someone from the USDA who worked in livestock. They'd be like, no, they're pets. And we go to the people who work for importing pets. They're like, no, they're livestock." – Amelia Barclo (01:45)

• Both authorities repeatedly passed her off, unsure how to classify ducks that were clearly pets but fell under poultry regulations.

2. Inside the Pet Relocation Industry

• Specialized Pet Movers: Companies like Global Pet Relocation exist solely to tackle precisely such cases (02:02).
• Strange Cargo:

  "We had goats, pigeons, sheep... alligators, lions, tigers, flocks of birds, the occasional duck." – Mike Gaze, Managing Director, Global Pet Relocation (02:13)

• Growing demand is driven by international job moves, lifestyle changes, and even vacationers.

3. Can’t I Do This Myself?

• Many pet owners’ first instinct is DIY travel—but most hit bureaucratic walls or airline regulations (03:12 – 03:45).
• In-cabin Travel Limits: Only very small dogs and cats (under 8kg/18 lbs, including carrier) are allowed in-cabin, and animals must stay inside the carrier under the seat (04:05, Mike Gaze).
• No-go for rodents, reptiles, and many other species; emotional support animals no longer guarantee a free pass (04:41).

4. Checked Cargo: The Most Common Way

• Most pets travel as checked cargo in temperature-controlled, dimly lit animal cabins beneath the plane (05:24, Gemma Tappan).

• Airline Precautions:

  "The captain will know that there’s a pet on board... all of the controls are monitored continuously to make sure everything’s just right..." – Gemma Tappan (05:43)

• Last to board, first to disembark, with dedicated pet vans and handling (05:55, Mike Gaze).

• Costs:

  • Domestic: ~$300 for a small dog, ~$1,000 for a large breed (06:22)
  • International: 2–3x higher. Air freight alone can cost several thousand dollars, especially for large breeds (06:39, Mike Gaze).
  • Custom crates for giant breeds can cost up to $1,000 (07:12, Mike Gaze).

5. Risks and Special Cases

• Pet Travel Injuries: Rare, but snub-nosed breeds (like bulldogs) are prone to health issues—many airlines now refuse to carry them (07:34–08:04).
• Routing Challenges:

  "Hardly any major airlines around the world take pugs, English bulldogs... we would pick them up in London, drive them to Frankfurt and fly them..." – Mike Gaze (08:04).

6. Alternatives to Commercial Air Travel

• Chartered Jets: Pet owners form Facebook groups to split sky-high costs (e.g., $60,000 from NYC to London for a mid-size jet, 08:39).
• Cruise Ship Option: The Queen Mary 2 sails between New York and Britain with kennels, fresh biscuits, and even a fire hydrant; bookings are a year in advance (09:39, Mike Gaze).

7. Complex Web of International Regulations

• Regulatory Patchwork: In most countries, the Agriculture Department sets animal import rules, often highly specific (12:29).
• New and expanding destinations amid globalization create constant regulatory headaches for movers (13:06–13:21, Mike Gaze).
• Documenting Requirements:

  "We have developed a library of checklists for pretty much every country in the world, and it has exactly what’s needed..." – Mike Gaze (13:34)

• Movers may even have to broker “pet trade agreements” between countries in rare cases (14:02–14:30, Mike Gaze).

8. Range of Animals and Memorable Cases

• 97% of Global Pet Relocation’s business is cats and dogs; exceptions include tortoises, parrots, rabbits, goldfish, and more (14:30–15:00).
• Unusual Request:
  • Once asked to pick up a “cat” in Manhattan that turned out to be a Bengal tiger:

    "The driver's standing there holding a sky kennel that would be perfectly good for a cat. But it's like, hang on a minute, why is he called Killer? We had to politely decline that one." – Mike Gaze (15:33–16:14)

9. Bean and Wobbles’ Transatlantic Journey

• Regulatory Hurdles: Months of negotiation, salmonella testing, and 30 days of quarantine at JFK for the ducks (16:44–16:57).
• Comforts Provided:

  "They had a swimming pool, as ducks need. They had a log. They had all the creature comforts a pair of cool ducks could ever ask for." – Mike Gaze (16:57)

• Cost: $14,000—roughly double the average pet move (17:33).
• Reunion:

  "The second they saw me, they both just began quacking crazy and it was like nothing ever happened." – Amelia Barclo (17:49) Host: "What was the first thing Wobbles said to you?"
  Gemma Tappan: "Give me food." (18:02–18:06)

10. Bonus: The Landlord Problem

• On Apartment Restrictions:

  "Once they see how small they are and that they wear diapers and that they don't make a mess, they're usually okay with it." – Amelia Barclo (18:33)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There was no protocol for what we were trying to do. It was to the point where I'd call someone and they'd go, 'Oh, you're the duck lady.'"
  – Amelia Barclo (01:45)

• "If you have a Labrador... the airlines will charge a premium for the fact you’re sending a live animal. This can be easily into the thousands of dollars just for the air freight alone."
  – Mike Gaze (06:39)

• "We had to help facilitate and guide the Moroccan and Mauritian governments to come up with like a trade agreement to send these two pets."
  – Mike Gaze (14:02)

• "We had an owner... wanted us to pick up his cat... inside is a Bengal tiger. We had to politely decline that one."
  – Mike Gaze (15:33–16:14)

• "They had a swimming pool, as ducks need... all the creature comforts a pair of cool ducks could ever ask for."
  – Mike Gaze (16:57)

• "The second they saw me, they both just began quacking crazy and it was like nothing ever happened."
  – Amelia Barclo (17:49)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:46–02:13 – Amelia’s dilemma moving pet ducks internationally
• 02:13–03:45 – The niche of global pet relocation and typical client questions
• 04:05–05:24 – Airline cabin/cargo rules, eligible animals
• 05:24–06:55 – How checked pet transport works, costs, custom crates
• 07:34–08:39 – Pet travel accidents and “banned” breeds routing
• 08:39–09:39 – Alternative options: charters, cruise ships
• 12:29–14:30 – Regulatory maze, globalizing pet travel, unique cases
• 15:33–16:14 – The Bengal tiger incident
• 16:44–17:33 – Ducks’ journey: quarantine, costs, final reunion
• 18:33–18:44 – Landlords and unconventional pets

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Takeaway

Pet relocation is logistically complicated, surprisingly expensive, and filled with regulatory pitfalls, but dedicated companies and pet lovers go to great lengths to reunite animals with their families—sometimes even helping create new international protocols along the way. As globalization continues, the pet mover’s job grows even more complex and fascinating.

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Transcript

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[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

a few years ago, Amelia Barclo wanted to relocate from the United Kingdom to the San Francisco Bay Area. Like any international move, it was a bit of a slog. She had to ship out all of her belongings, go through a customs process and find a new place to stay. But Barklow's move also involved a more unique challenge.

[Amelia Barclo]

Oh yeah, there she is. She's in a mood.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

Those are Barklow's pet ducks, Bean and Wobbles.

[Booking.com Advertiser]

Bean.

[Amelia Barclo]

She looks like a pinto Bean. She has little brown and cream spots all over. Wobbles is because he's very clumsy and very round and he tends to fall onto his back a lot like a turtle.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

As it turned out, getting Bean and Wobbles to their new home in a new country was no simple task.

[Amelia Barclo]

We would speak to someone from the USDA who worked in livestock. They'd be like, no, they're pets. And we go to the people who work for importing pets. They're like, no, they're livestock. There was no protocol for what we were trying to do. It was to the point where I'd call someone and they'd go, oh, you're the duck lady. Yeah, sorry, we can't help you.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

So Barklow had to turn to a specialist, a company that has found a lucrative niche in transporting pets all over the world.

[Mike Gaze]

We had goats, pigeons, sheep. Airports of thousands of weird and wonderful animals go through tropical fish. Alligators, lions, tigers, flocks of birds, the occasional duck.

[Gemma Tappan]

This one family had an emotional support hedgehog, which is absolutely fine.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

For the Freakonomics radio network, this is the economics of everyday things. I'm Zachary Crockett. Today, pet movers Bean and Wobbles aren't the only jet setters in the animal Kingdom. Every year, around half a million pets travel by air. Sometimes pet owners just want to take their dog or cat on a vacation. But there are also job relocations and permanent moves. And those require an expert.

[Mike Gaze]

My name is Mike Gaze. I'm the managing director of Global Pet Relocation. We handle pet moves door to door, anywhere to anywhere in the world. We'll help anyone to move their pet.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

Global Pet Relocation is based in the UK. It's one of around 400 firms around the world that specialize in domestic and international pet moves. Every year the company relocates 800 to 1,000 pets. Gaze says usually a client's first question is, can't I just put my dog next to me on the plane and do this myself?

[Mike Gaze]

We get asked that question a lot. Way more often than not it becomes no, your pet's too big or the route won't take it. There's a whole bunch of places where you're just not allowed to bring your pet in that way.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

In some cases you can take your pet with you in the cabin inside a soft carrier. The fee for doing that is around $100 to $150 each way. But airlines have pretty tight restrictions around the weight and size of the pet. And where you're supposed to store does

[Mike Gaze]

have to be a really small pet. Typically the airlines will say if it's a cat or a dog that's less than 8 kilos including the soft travel bag that they have to travel in. So like £18, something like that. Chihuahuas, Boston Terriers, sometimes really small breeds. Some cats generally fit the profile pretty well. Your pet also has to stay inside the bag under the seat in front. That's usually the published rules.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

The majority of pets do not qualify for in cabin travel. Certain animals like rodents, snakes and spiders usually are not allowed to hang out with you on the plane at all, regardless of size. Service dogs are an exception. But emotional support pets may not be. A few years ago, United Airlines refused service to a woman who attempted to board a plane with an emotional support peacock. Even if your pet makes the cut, many international destinations won't let you enter with a self transported animal. In most cases your pet's only option is to fly as checked in cargo in a temperature controlled cabin in the bottom of the plane.

[Gemma Tappan]

It's a specially designed pet cabin typically towards the front or the back of the aircraft below deck so not with the luggage. Lights are typically dimmed down low. It's nice and quiet and calming in there.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

That's Gemma Tappan. She works in operations at Global pet relocation.

[Gemma Tappan]

The captain will know that there's a pet on board and therefore all of the controls are monitored continuously to make sure everything's just right. So things like oxygen pressure, you know, temperatures, et cetera.

[Mike Gaze]

Even though they kind of go in the same part of the airport, everything is totally separate. They'll have their own pet van that will be air conditioned from the warehouse to the car cargo door. Pets typically are the last passengers to go on board. So it won't be like, the plane's leaving in an hour, let's get the pet on. It'll be like we're going to close the doors in five minutes, then we'll get the pet on and safe.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

The cost for flying a pet as cargo is much pricier. Airlines tend to base the price on volume and weight. For a domestic trip, an airline might charge around $300 for a Chihuahua or and $1,000 for a Mastiff. International flights can be two to three

[Mike Gaze]

times more usually, like if you have a Labrador, an average sized pet, it's a very large box and the airlines will charge a premium for the fact you're sending a live animal. This can be easily into the thousands of dollars just for the air freight alone.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

Pets and cargo also have to travel in airline approved sky kennels. You can find small or medium sized sky kennels at a pet supply store for around 100 bucks. But some pets, like a Bernese mountain dog or a Saint Bernard, require crates that are far more expensive.

[Mike Gaze]

For a Great Dane that's needing something that's bigger than the standard sky kennel, you could easily be looking at a thousand dollars. They have to be custom made. There's not a huge amount of people out there that make them. So we will provide the sky kennel for whatever it is. If it's a cat or a giant dog or two ducks, we'll get it fabricated.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

Accidents with pets on planes are pretty rare, but they do happen. Between 2015 and 2020, the Department of Transportation reported 112 pet deaths and 81 pet injuries related to airline travel. Many of these incidents involved snub nosed dog breeds like bulldogs, boxers and pugs who struggle to breathe when it gets too hot. The problem became so prevalent that most airlines now refuse to transport them year round.

[Mike Gaze]

Hardly any major airlines around the world take pugs, English bulldogs. Really the only ones left are Turkish airlines, Lufthansa and a couple of others. So when you have a move which is say London to New York, we have to think, all right, well, what's the next best way of doing it and we would typically either fly them on Lufthansa, London, Frankfurt and then over to the States or we would pick them up in London, drive them to Frankfurt and fly them on a single flight from there.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

If you're really opposed to flying your pet over on a commercial flight, you do have a few other options. For starters, you can charter a private jet. On Facebook there's a group called Chartered Air Travel with pets. It has 41,000 members who post questions like how do I get a spoodle from Tunisia to the US and anyone else transporting a cat from Norway to Italy. If enough people are going to the same place at the same time, they can band together and split the cost, but that can still be prohibitively expensive for the average pet owner. A one way flight from New York to London on a chartered mid sized jet might cost around $60,000 and it only holds eight passengers. There's also the Queen Mary 2, a cruise ship that travels between New York and Britain for around $1,000 per voyage. Your dog will have access to fresh baked biscuits, daily walks and even a fire hydrant to pee on.

[Mike Gaze]

It's like booked out a year at least in advance. It's a super hot ticket for pets,

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

but figuring out how to move a pet from one part of the world to another is just one small part of Mike Gaze's job. Every country has different rules around non human immigration and depending on where you're going and what kind of creature you're bringing with you, things can get messy. That's coming up.

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[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

In most countries, rules about animals are set by the Agriculture Department. In America, for instance, the USDA plays the dominant role in setting standards, and those standards can vary depending on what kind of animal you're bringing in and where it's coming from. For example, you can't legally bring in a hedgehog from New Zealand or any place with foot and mouth disease. At Global Pet Relocation, navigating all of these laws has become a more central part of Mike Gaze's job. When he first started out in the industry 20 years ago, most moves were between major developed cities, but nowadays it

[Mike Gaze]

is really truly anywhere to anywhere. The globalization of workforces of companies spreading out all around the world. Every year, we have more and more destinations than we had the year before.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

In recent years, many countries have tightened quarantine and vaccination requirements for incoming pets, and Gaze has had to spend a lot of time studying pet import and export laws all over the world.

[Mike Gaze]

We have developed a library of checklists for pretty much every country in the world, and it has exactly what's needed for that country, depending on where they're coming from, what vaccinations are required, what format it has to be in, how it all has to be written out. So our teams there check everything, go through it all with a fine tooth comb.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

In some cases, those rules are being worked out for the first time.

[Mike Gaze]

We had a move a couple of years ago from Morocco to Mauritius for I think it was a couple of cats. It looked like there had never in history been movement of pets between Morocco and Mauritius. So we sort of had to help facilitate and guide the Moroccan and Mauritian governments to come up with like a trade agreement to send these two pets. That is way above the pay grade of US pet shippers.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

Other countries laws are notoriously hardcore. If you want to take your dog to Australia, you'll have to wait up to four months for a permit. Once little buddy is there, he may have to quarantine for 30 days or more. Cats and dogs make up around 97% of the pets that global pet relocation works with. But Gaze has seen it all. Guinea pigs, rabbits, parrots, tortoises. No job is too small to take on.

[Mike Gaze]

We're currently working on a move of seven goldfish from the UK to Boston. It will be a mix of air and water, so when you're up at altitude, the pressure doesn't cause the bag to pop and stuff like that. Generally they're packed inside polystyrene boxes and it's dark. You can't just take them off the plane and open them up into a bright room because it will shock them. So they have to go into a room where the lighting is low. They have to make sure temperature is okay.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

But some jobs are a little too big.

[Mike Gaze]

We had an owner in New York, in Manhattan, and they had a cat. And this guy wanted us to pick up his cat at like three in the morning or something like that. Lives in a nice townhouse in New York. And our driver went to collect the cat, went up the flight of stairs. Hey, how you doing? Gets let in and comes into the guy's living room lounge area. And inside is a Bengal tiger. The driver's standing there holding a sky kennel that would be perfectly good for a cat. But it's like, hang on a minute, why is he called killer? We had to politely decline that one.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

When Gaze got the call about moving two ducks from the UK to San Francisco a few years ago, he was tempted to pass that up too. He knew it would be a tough one, since the USDA considers ducks poultry, not pets.

[Mike Gaze]

Typically, if you're moving ducks or poultry, you are a big commercial outfit and you're moving 10,000 ducks for whatever reason. So there wasn't really the infrastructure or the methodology to move two ducks.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

But he decided to take on the challenge in the end. Getting bean and Wobbles to the States required months of conversations with the USDA salmonella tests and a stopover at a quarantine center in New York.

[Mike Gaze]

They flew on British airways over to JFK and then we had to organise 30 days quarantine for them in and around JFK airport. In a special quarantine center. They set the ducks up with their own big room. They had a swimming pool, as ducks need. They had a log. They had all the creature comforts a pair of cool ducks could ever ask for. The 30 days go by and they're good to go. So we get them on one more flight from New York to San Francisco, get them off at San Francisco Airport, take them home to two very happy duck owners.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

The bill for that move clocked in at $14,000, around twice the cost of a typical move through a pet relocation company. But for Amelia Barclo, getting Bean and Wobbles back home safely was worth every penny.

[Amelia Barclo]

I was feeling really nervous because I wasn't sure if they'd remember me. But the second they saw me, they both just began quacking crazy and it was like nothing ever happened.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

What was the first thing Wobbles said to you?

[Gemma Tappan]

Give me food.

[Narrator (Zachary Crockett)]

For the economics of everyday things. I'm Zachary Crockett. This episode was produced by me, me and Sarah Lilly and mixed by Jeremy Johnston. We had help from Daniel Moritz Rapson. What's the landlord's duck policy?

[Amelia Barclo]

Once they see how small they are and that they wear diapers and that they don't make a mess, they're usually okay with it.

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