LAMMA ISLAND, Hong Kong – People here mention trying to establish a Guinness World Record as “the most cosmopolitan village in the world”, a small place that's home to folks of the most nationalities.

Some of Lamma's best known dogs may yap in amusement. Many of the pooches can match the people original-home-for-original-home, country-for-country. If Lamma dogs did much more flying, they might sprout wings.

Former Lamma Islander Amanda Veitch, an IT manager in the finance industry, discussed pet travel when visiting Lamma recently. Four months ago, she moved to London, together with a human partner, Julie Bell, three dogs, Laura, Sasha and Sammi, and two cats. She returned to Hong Kong on a business trip.

“Our dogs miss playing on Lamma's Power Station Beach and seeing their Lamma friends like Eric, Gail and Mika,” said Amanda, but they've adapted to British life and found new doggie friends named Ruby, Dora, Jerry and Robbie.

“Strangely enough, our dogs love the UK,” Amanda said. “They prefer not being hot all day, all night. As an alternative to playing on the beach, they have fox-chasing. They're good at challenging foxes, but not at catching them. They like squirrels too, but those go up trees, and the dogs can't get near them. We have yet to come across rabbits.”

Dogs often travel between Lamma and overseas. For example, a popular beagle named Eric arrived from Berlin. He left behind a girlfriend and disliked the trip, but enjoys Lamma.

A small dog named Freddie jetted to the United Abab Emirates. Lamma dogs Rita and Sadie returned after stints together in England and Spain. Two others, Lucky and Hebe, moved to Slovenia. Shadow, an amiable black dog, arrived from Ottawa.

Mika, a long-time regular in the canine crowd at Power Station Beach, once tested life in Vancouver. Tolly, a familiar, four-legged stroller along Main Street, may move to Australia and reunite with Mojo, a poodle-pal who left earlier.

For Laura, Sasha and Sammi, daily life has changed. “They adjusted well to the cars and other traffic, although Laura did hide behind Julie the first time a big bus roared by,” Amanda said.

She and Julie escort the dogs on long walks. “With three dogs in London, you need two people to manage them. We take them on Sunday picnics.”

Unlike on Lamma, the dogs stay on leashes when walking. They're unleashed at home and in a nearby park.

The Lamma trio encounters mostly pedigree animals, not mongrels like themselves. “The UK is full of pedigree animals,” Amanda said. “People take an interest in our dogs because they're not recognizable breeds. It's a big conversation point. There are lots of greyhounds, chocolate labs, this, that and the other. We enjoy having very different dogs.”

On Lamma, Laura was considered “the fastest creature on four legs”. She could sprint along Power Station Beach within seconds. “Our neighborhood has a lot of retired greyhounds,” Amanda said. “Laura sees them in the park, but they're a bit mellow and don't go in for big races anymore. Of course, our three dogs still have their own races.”

Immigrating with pets can be a hassle. Amanda and Julie express gratitude to veterinarian Hans de Vries, Lamma residents Mayette, Mario and Richmond, Sai Kung-based Ferndale Kennels, London-resident James Cargo and others who helped.

Canine shipping documents and health papers, the latter reflecting checkups and injections including blood tests and rabies shots, must be in order. Normally, the dogs ride in crates or plastic boxes in an aircraft's pressurized cargo hold.

From planning and preparation to reality, moving to Britain with pets takes six to seven months, even with advice and co-ordination by a pet-transport company.

“We worried about the dogs being upset on the journey. They didn't like riding on the ferry from Lamma to the Central district. They weren't used to it. Laura gets all shaky on ferries. She's a big dog who can go ‘ruff, ruff' at anyone, but the moment you put her on a ferry, she's like jelly.”

Laura, Sasha and Sammi traveled about 24 hours. “We don't know how they did once in the hands of the shippers and British Airways,” Amanda said.

Relocating the animals cost considerably more (about HK$10,000 per critter) than moving all of Amanda and Julie's personal possessions. “We had made-to-measure crates built after trying to measure the dogs. It's hard for them to stand still, but the crates saved us money because they occupied only the necessary space.

“By the time the dogs reunited with us, they were angry. Due to delays with our house, they had to stay in kennels. A few days passed before they saw us and knew they weren't abandoned. When they spotted us, they went mad, as they always do. They were very happy and relieved. Until then, I'm sure they wondered: Why are we in this cold country? Where's Mummy? Where's the beach?”

Despite the stress and expense, pet-owners should relocate with their animals. “You have to take them,” Amanda said. “You can't keep pets for a few years and then get rid of them just because you're moving. That's unfair. You wouldn't do that to a child. Why do it to animals?”

So a better Lamma world-record bid might be for “the most cosmopolitan canines”. Everyone in favor, say “Woof”.

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