Comments on: Shipping pets by air: What, me worry? http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:13:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lisa Carey http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-260441 Lisa Carey Tue, 06 May 2008 02:36:26 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-260441 All your comments are terrifying! I am trying to find an international shipping company to bring my late sister's "babies", two 6 year-old dogs, to my home in the midwest. They are currently in a Paris suburb at my brother's, he is unable to keep them and unwilling to bring them to me. Currently nursing an old 16 year-old dog and two old kitties, I really cannot go get them either. Lisa All your comments are terrifying!

I am trying to find an international shipping company to bring my late sister’s “babies”, two 6 year-old dogs, to my home in the midwest. They are currently in a Paris suburb at my brother’s, he is unable to keep them and unwilling to bring them to me.

Currently nursing an old 16 year-old dog and two old kitties, I really cannot go get them either. Lisa

]]> By: emily http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256731 emily Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:57:35 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256731 More and more airlines are refusing to provide this service now. So you can be stuck between what is available and nothing at all in moving countries with a dog. The international side is chaos. Everyone has a completely different story on the requirements and they keep changing both federally and at the state and port level. More and more airlines are refusing to provide this service now. So you can be stuck between what is available and nothing at all in moving countries with a dog.

The international side is chaos. Everyone has a completely different story on the requirements and they keep changing both federally and at the state and port level.

]]> By: Alison B. http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256695 Alison B. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:02:50 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256695 As a breeder I have had dogs shipped both to me and from me and I know it's going to be responsible for most of my wrinkles and coming gray hair. This week I've got two leaving and one arriving, so I'll be a triple nervous wreck. I live near a smaller airport and only two airlines carry pets, Delta (Skywest) and Alaska. Both of them thankfully have given me good service over the years. The Skywest folks have been very good about working with me on schedules and on customer calls. They have never lost a dog, and I've had a few arrive a bit shaken, but not more than I'd expect having gone through often their very first flight. The Alaska people has been very nice to deal with and they've gone above and beyond to help me arrange to have a dog returned to me. Even with that, I still know that I'm in for some serious worrying the day any of my dogs have to fly. I do the best I can to prep the dogs before hand. I make sure they are crate trained or at least accustomed to a crate, for the younger dogs, I make sure they have a safe crate to fly in, I make sure they got good soft absorbent bedding, that they've got ice frozen into their water dish if they need it, and food strapped to the top that they are used to eating, tags attached to the crates, collars securely fastened, phone numbers all over the crate, names on the crate. I do the best I can to cover all the bases I can think of the make their flight better. The only airline I had trouble with was Northwest who first sent a puppy that was going to live in Vancouver, WA to Vancouver, BC and then because the puppy didn't have an international health certificate I had to fight to get the puppy returned to the U.S. They also lied once about a plane coming in late and the puppy missing their connection, when by tracking online the plane had arrived 20 minutes due to favorable tailwinds. I'm sure that puppy was set aside until all the baggage was unloaded and then it was too late for the puppy to make the flight. Thankfully she was cared for and survived and met her new home the next day, but it still upset me. So yes at this point I will continue to use airlines to ship pets, but I do know my cargo people and they do work very hard to get me the best flights. I can see int he future though that it may be a changing with all the airline troubles. As a breeder I have had dogs shipped both to me and from me and I know it’s going to be responsible for most of my wrinkles and coming gray hair. This week I’ve got two leaving and one arriving, so I’ll be a triple nervous wreck. I live near a smaller airport and only two airlines carry pets, Delta (Skywest) and Alaska. Both of them thankfully have given me good service over the years. The Skywest folks have been very good about working with me on schedules and on customer calls. They have never lost a dog, and I’ve had a few arrive a bit shaken, but not more than I’d expect having gone through often their very first flight. The Alaska people has been very nice to deal with and they’ve gone above and beyond to help me arrange to have a dog returned to me. Even with that, I still know that I’m in for some serious worrying the day any of my dogs have to fly. I do the best I can to prep the dogs before hand. I make sure they are crate trained or at least accustomed to a crate, for the younger dogs, I make sure they have a safe crate to fly in, I make sure they got good soft absorbent bedding, that they’ve got ice frozen into their water dish if they need it, and food strapped to the top that they are used to eating, tags attached to the crates, collars securely fastened, phone numbers all over the crate, names on the crate. I do the best I can to cover all the bases I can think of the make their flight better.

The only airline I had trouble with was Northwest who first sent a puppy that was going to live in Vancouver, WA to Vancouver, BC and then because the puppy didn’t have an international health certificate I had to fight to get the puppy returned to the U.S. They also lied once about a plane coming in late and the puppy missing their connection, when by tracking online the plane had arrived 20 minutes due to favorable tailwinds. I’m sure that puppy was set aside until all the baggage was unloaded and then it was too late for the puppy to make the flight. Thankfully she was cared for and survived and met her new home the next day, but it still upset me.

So yes at this point I will continue to use airlines to ship pets, but I do know my cargo people and they do work very hard to get me the best flights. I can see int he future though that it may be a changing with all the airline troubles.

]]> By: Karen http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256652 Karen Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:06:26 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256652 A decade ago I was filming for a TV show. The woman entrepreneur subject for the program was a freight forwarder so we were on the runway just outside a luggage warehouse. It was summer, so hot, the tarmac was black and I had to wear a suit jacket. Thoughts of my discomfort ended when I noticed a large dog in imprisoned in a cage on one of the luggage trailers. He/she was in agony. I went into the warehouse -nobody around. No phones in the building. The Director was impatient with me we finished and left. I have thought about the dog so often. I worked for the airlines I would never entrust a pet to the mercy of what we called "ramp rats". I am sorry to stereotype a group but it only takes one to harm your pet. I saw too much. A decade ago I was filming for a TV show. The woman entrepreneur subject for the program was a freight forwarder so we were on the runway just outside a luggage warehouse. It was summer, so hot, the tarmac was black and I had to wear a suit jacket. Thoughts of my discomfort ended when I noticed a large dog in imprisoned in a cage on one of the luggage trailers. He/she was in agony. I went into the warehouse -nobody around. No phones in the building. The Director was impatient with me we finished and left. I have thought about the dog so often. I worked for the airlines I would never entrust a pet to the mercy of what we called “ramp rats”.
I am sorry to stereotype a group but it only takes one to harm your pet. I saw too much.

]]> By: Colorado Transplant http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256615 Colorado Transplant Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:13:44 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256615 Adding to my flight woes: Besides the lack of adequate normal air for my cats on the plane, they were confined to a little cage for those 15 hours and got NO excercise at all. However, since it was 6 weeks before the infamous 9/ll date and I was flying out of Logan Airport--I guess I was glad we all survived--the four adults and the two felines. Adding to my flight woes:

Besides the lack of adequate normal air for my cats on the plane, they were confined to a little cage for those 15 hours and got NO excercise at all.

However, since it was 6 weeks before the infamous 9/ll date and I was flying out of Logan Airport—I guess I was glad we all survived—the four adults and the two felines.

]]> By: Margaret http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256405 Margaret Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:51:36 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256405 I have only flown my 2 cats and 1 dog from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, where we now live. This was on Air New Zealand, using a transport company that comes highly recommended if you ask around. The quarantine kennel picked them up, and I was told only one cat had an accident in the crate (each had his own). Crates are locked shut during the 13 hour flight. No complaints from me with the airline or animal export company. I have heard, however, of high-drive Schutzhund dogs being teased and tormented on the tarmac while the owners freaked out on the plane, and they nearly got thrown off! I don't remember the airline. While living in the US I chose not to enter any dog events requiring a flight, based on the problems I'd heard about w/ airlines. I have only flown my 2 cats and 1 dog from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand, where we now live. This was on Air New Zealand, using a transport company that comes highly recommended if you ask around. The quarantine kennel picked them up, and I was told only one cat had an accident in the crate (each had his own). Crates are locked shut during the 13 hour flight. No complaints from me with the airline or animal export company. I have heard, however, of high-drive Schutzhund dogs being teased and tormented on the tarmac while the owners freaked out on the plane, and they nearly got thrown off! I don’t remember the airline. While living in the US I chose not to enter any dog events requiring a flight, based on the problems I’d heard about w/ airlines.

]]> By: Susan Fox http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256387 Susan Fox Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:05:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256387 After everyone else's stories, Emily, I'm surprised you weren't arrested for trying transport an endangered/invasive/exotic creature and that he/she wasn't confiscated. Hope no one who sees your post decides to try to start breeding them for the Next Big Thing in pets. Sigh. ;-) After everyone else’s stories, Emily, I’m surprised you weren’t arrested for trying transport an endangered/invasive/exotic creature and that he/she wasn’t confiscated. Hope no one who sees your post decides to try to start breeding them for the Next Big Thing in pets. Sigh.
;-)

]]> By: emily http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256299 emily Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:47:57 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256299 My air shipping experiences vary. I was on a plane where they had closed the door and I peered otu the window to see my pet carrier still on the tarmac. I had to tell the steward and there was much chatting on walky talkies, they had indeed forgotten to load it. A friend of mine had her small dog come tumbling down the automatic conveyer belt upon arrival. My own dog had his collar vanish in flight (and it wouldn't have fitted out without opening the door fo the carrier). How well airlines do depends a lot on how often they move pets and their staff turnover. For real fun, try flying with a pet rat. I only got anywhere with that when I declared him a dwarf naked-tailed Antartican cat. They had rules for cats and so we could go ahead from there... My air shipping experiences vary. I was on a plane where they had closed the door and I peered otu the window to see my pet carrier still on the tarmac. I had to tell the steward and there was much chatting on walky talkies, they had indeed forgotten to load it. A friend of mine had her small dog come tumbling down the automatic conveyer belt upon arrival. My own dog had his collar vanish in flight (and it wouldn’t have fitted out without opening the door fo the carrier).

How well airlines do depends a lot on how often they move pets and their staff turnover. For real fun, try flying with a pet rat. I only got anywhere with that when I declared him a dwarf naked-tailed Antartican cat. They had rules for cats and so we could go ahead from there…

]]> By: EmilyS http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256290 EmilyS Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:34:12 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256290 It's hard for me to believe that the airlines would treat pets better than they treat their human passengers, and the almost uniform experience of everyone I know (including myself) who has flown recently is DREADFUL service, cancellations etc. And who do you call if you have a problem? The off-shored, barely English speaking "agents"? no way I would ever fly my pets. It's a darn shame the US trains don't add kennel cars and start allowing pets. It’s hard for me to believe that the airlines would treat pets better than they treat their human passengers, and the almost uniform experience of everyone I know (including myself) who has flown recently is DREADFUL service, cancellations etc. And who do you call if you have a problem? The off-shored, barely English speaking “agents”?

no way I would ever fly my pets.

It’s a darn shame the US trains don’t add kennel cars and start allowing pets.

]]> By: Colorado Transplant http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/04/27/shipping-pets-by-air-what-me-worry/#comment-256288 Colorado Transplant Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:25:15 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/?p=2434#comment-256288 When I was moving to Colorado, I had to take my two cats on the airline. I first took them to the veterinarian to get hydrated. The veterinarian suggested I do so. Then, after a long limo drive to the airport, we waited several hours for the plane to take off because there were three thunderstorms to get through (lightning strikes wouldn't allow any movement of the planes). My daughter came to help. She carried the cat through the screening gate (cat almost escaped from her very strong arms) for less screening damage. She kept making sure the cats were not dehydrated. We did not always keep the cats under the seats. Nobody seemed to notice the cats--the stewards or stewardesses, the other passengers, or anybody milling around. Of course, it took us 15 hours to get to the new house--even though it was a 3 and one half flight trip from Boston. We had almost a two hour driving trip from the airport. The waiting at Logan Airport delayed the trip for several hours and threw a big wrench into our plans. If I had flown on a sunny day, maybe I would have had less trouble. The cats were somewhat dehydrated by that time, and not in the best shape even with the our best efforts while on the plane. They recovered with love, water, and food. When I was moving to Colorado, I had to take my two cats on the airline.

I first took them to the veterinarian to get hydrated. The veterinarian suggested I do so.

Then, after a long limo drive to the airport, we waited several hours for the plane to take off because there were three thunderstorms to get through (lightning strikes wouldn’t allow any movement of the planes).

My daughter came to help. She carried the cat through the screening gate (cat almost escaped from her very strong arms) for less screening damage.

She kept making sure the cats were not dehydrated. We did not always keep the cats under the seats. Nobody seemed to notice the cats—the stewards or stewardesses, the other passengers, or anybody milling around.

Of course, it took us 15 hours to get to the new house—even though it was a 3 and one half flight trip from Boston. We had almost a two hour driving trip from the airport.

The waiting at Logan Airport delayed the trip for several hours and threw a big wrench into our plans. If I had flown on a sunny day, maybe I would have had less trouble.

The cats were somewhat dehydrated by that time, and not in the best shape even with the our best efforts while on the plane. They recovered with love, water, and food.

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