Taking the family pet overseas is not straightforward, and if you return to Australia there are some strict quarantine rules to follow which are eye-wateringly expensive.

"Think twice before taking your pets overseas," ABC Radio Perth listener Helen warned others.

"We recently moved back to Perth from Singapore. It cost us $1,700 to take our cat over to Singapore six years ago and $4,500 to bring her back."

For listener Dion, coming home from a stint in the United States with two cats and a dog cost almost $20,000.

"The costs were $8,500 going there in 2013 and $US15,500 coming back, and this doesn't include actual vet costs.

"People have to be aware of the approximately six-month lead in vet testing and work to get them back in."

Cats and dogs entering from overseas must first fly to Melbourne and stay at least 10 days at the national quarantine facility, which costs a minimum of $2,000 per animal.

"Return is also dependent on availability at the Melbourne facility," Dion said.

"Our pets were delayed until space was available.

"Lucky my wife and kids love the pets so much."

Animal health status fiercely protected

So why is it so hard for our four-legged family members to come home with us after a stint overseas?

"Because Australia has such a high animal health status, it is far more difficult to bring animals into Australia than it is to other countries," Mark Schipp, chief veterinary officer with the Department of Agriculture, told ABC Radio Perth.

Our isolation and tough quarantine rules have allowed animal diseases common in other parts of the world to be eliminated.

"Australia is free from rabies, and we often don't realise what a great benefit that is, that we can pat a dog in the street and not be worried about being bitten and infected with rabies, which is inevitably a fatal disease if not immediately treated," Dr Schipp said.

"That is something that we value very highly."

One-way ticket to Melbourne

The post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham in Victoria looks after cats, dogs, horses, rabbits and some birds. ( Supplied )

The Department of Agriculture used to have quarantine facilities in various capital cities but now has just the one in Melbourne.

"The flight needs to land directly in Melbourne from overseas," Dr Schipp said.

"The animal will spend a minimum of 10 days in quarantine and then will be released and be able to travel to the owner's residence."

The stay in quarantine costs $2,000, but if parasites or ticks are found on the pet, the length of stay and the cost can increase.

"There are several thousand coming in each year and the facility has accommodation for several hundred cats and dogs at any one time," Dr Schipp said.

"Because of that we don't allow owners to visit their pets during that 10-day quarantine period because it is a very intensive period.

"During that time we repeat a number of the blood tests that are conducted overseas prior to export to verify that the status of the animal is correct and that it has had the necessary vaccinations.

"We treat it for parasites and we verify the paperwork and the identity of the animal."

There are some pet breeds than can never come into the country.

"Certain breeds that are known to be particularly aggressive and some dog and cat hybrids have also been prohibited," Dr Schipp said.

These include pit bull terriers, American pit bulls, Bengal cats and any dog-wolf hybrid.

Is it worth it?

Despite the time, expense and ordeal of travel and quarantine for the animal, many owners say it's worth it in the end.

For Jenny, whose two dogs spent 56 days in quarantine when she moved from the UK to Australia in the 1980s, there are no regrets.

"Our dogs were part of our family so obviously they were coming with us," she said.

"We had to have two special containers built in the UK to Australian requirements, vet checks, blood tests, vaccinations, lots of forms to sign, statutory declarations and final vet check just before leaving the UK by air to Perth.

"It was expensive, but our dogs lived for 12 and 13 years in Australia before dying of very old age."