Shipping Dogs on a Plane

[XJade94]

We have no choice - we're moving overseas in just a few weeks to our next base. Our dog can go with us, on our plane in the cargo hold. He's about 50 pounds and furry. It's a non stop flight from the east coast to the Azores (where our next base is) and it will be about 6 ish hours long.

We have the airline legal dog crate, and yeah Merlin can stand up, turn around, lay down, etc without problems so I know the crate is big enough for him.

I'm just being a very worried mommy. Please don't resond with horror stories, I've heard them already. But any guidance, suggestions, and encouragement would be much appreciated.

And one more question -- should we build a dolly with wheels to put his crate on to? Or should we drill holes directly to it with a peice of strong pressboard to support the bottom of the kennel and attach lockable caster wheels? Or don't bother with that stuff and get a cart at the airport (BWI) and put him and the luggage on?

Thanks :)

[Jeffro600]

Ever seen snakes on a plane?? :P :D

[XJade94]

you're soooooooooooo strange ;-)

[Jeffro600]

BTW, i never did get around to picking up that stupid floor jack...did you guys pack it away? Ill come get it this weekend if not.

[XJade94]

come get it!! its still here. you know where we live, don't be a stranger! u still got matt's #?

[Jeffro600]

he sent it to me a month or so ago...when i was supposed to get it...but i lost it... :P

[DaJudge]

We have no choice - we're moving overseas in just a few weeks to our next base. Our dog can go with us, on our plane in the cargo hold. He's about 50 pounds and furry. It's a non stop flight from the east coast to the Azores (where our next base is) and it will be about 6 ish hours long.

We have the airline legal dog crate, and yeah Merlin can stand up, turn around, lay down, etc without problems so I know the crate is big enough for him.

I'm just being a very worried mommy. Please don't resond with horror stories, I've heard them already. But any guidance, suggestions, and encouragement would be much appreciated.

And one more question -- should we build a dolly with wheels to put his crate on to? Or should we drill holes directly to it with a peice of strong pressboard to support the bottom of the kennel and attach lockable caster wheels? Or don't bother with that stuff and get a cart at the airport (BWI) and put him and the luggage on?

Thanks :)
Have you checked on the cost? We shipped our mutt as excess baggage from JFK to Iraklion, Crete with a stop in Zurich and a change of planes in Athens. She made it ok but it was VERY expensive (and that was 40 years ago).

Be sure to have some water for him as soon as you get him out of the crate. Molly Brown was dehydrated and drank about a quart non-stop.

We just used the airline crate and a baggage dolly at the airport. Worked fine.

Be sure you have the right papers. My story is here (http://colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?p=992300#post992300).

[XJade94]

thanks. It's cheap for us since its military (but then again I don't know what the costs are otherwise). He's essentially a piece of excess baggage and I think it's like $95 to ship him.

How big was your dog when you shipped him/her?

No quarantine either for us since Merlin has all his required shots.

[DaJudge]

thanks. It's cheap for us since its military (but then again I don't know what the costs are otherwise). He's essentially a piece of excess baggage and I think it's like $95 to ship him.

How big was your dog when you shipped him/her?

No quarantine either for us since Merlin has all his required shots.
The dog and crate were approx 80#.

There were no military flights to Greece back then so we were travelling Cat Z (civilian air at Uncle Sugar's expense). Unfortunately, Uncle did not pick up the tab for excess baggage. Double check with SATO, or whatever they call themselves now, and avoid ANY chance of an ugly financial shock at boarding time. Get it in writing if you can.

[XJade94]

military are authorized 2 pets per family, SATO has booked us and our dog's reservation on the same flight. Matt's checking his paperwork, but I don't think we have to worry. There's been a lot of paperwork and special things we've had to do to get our dog on our reservations. We'll find the price in writing.... thanks for the tips. It's also a military "chartered" civilian aircraft we'll be on... I think its Northamerican airlines now or something, out of the AMC section of the terminal at BWI.

How soon before boarding did you turn your dog into whoever to get loaded? Any other details of the experience would be helpful... how quick they unload the animals, if its worth tipping whoever takes our dog to the animal loading area... etc etc

[GarageWheeler]

Buy a white cane and some sunglasses.

[DaJudge]

military are authorized 2 pets per family, SATO has booked us and our dog's reservation on the same flight. Matt's checking his paperwork, but I don't think we have to worry. There's been a lot of paperwork and special things we've had to do to get our dog on our reservations. We'll find the price in writing.... thanks for the tips. It's also a military "chartered" civilian aircraft we'll be on... I think its Northamerican airlines now or something, out of the AMC section of the terminal at BWI.

How soon before boarding did you turn your dog into whoever to get loaded? Any other details of the experience would be helpful... how quick they unload the animals, if its worth tipping whoever takes our dog to the animal loading area... etc etc
We checked the dog in at the same time we checked our luggage. IIRC it was 2 hours before departure but that was 1969 so I'm sure that has changed. I expect your experience will be easier since it is a military charter. We were flying TWA on military orders and nobody knew what we were supposed to do. It was a goat-rope.

There were no handling problems. Because she was excess baggage she went in with the bags at the check-in counter and came out with the bags on a tug from the plane to the terminal. No special handling/tipping/etc. HTH.

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

i was in the azores for 5 days, Horta to be exact... bunch of sailors and lots of Portuguese... it was bad weather for us the entire time, thankfully it started once we got there and not on the way (by boat)

I have no info about dogs, but the azores were boring in my eyes...

-Zach

[jdbwrx]

I flew with my dog several times going back to Milwaukee. I always flew a direct Midwest Express flight, and they have a temperature controlled forward baggage compartment they use. He had to have a vets signed letter of good health, dated within 1 week of the flight. They gave me a pill to make him sleepy. He seemed to do fine with it. The hardest part was always getting in and out of the airport by myself with the crate and my luggage.

They took him right away after I checked in. They always had the flight attendant come and tell me that he has been loaded on the plane. The Midwest representative brought him to baggage claim after we landed in a timely fashion.

I don't really like doing it, and always makes me nervous, but there was no one to leave him with and it was usually over Christmas, so I never like driving back then.

It kind of pisses me off though. My dog is waaaay better behaved than a lot of the kids they let fly. Put the kids in crates in baggage and give the dog a seat! ;)

[Rimmer]

I have 2 bits of advice after going to Germany 2 times and shipping our cocker spaniel both times.

1. Feed the dog very lightly in the 24 hours before you fly... nothing will be more stressful than your dog having to walk around in his own shiat for hours. In the final couple hours, walk him and let him get it all out of his system.

2. Go to the vet and get drugs that will knock the dog out and they will sleep the whole flight... Sleeping pills for dogs.

The cargo hold is very stressful for the animal, cold and loud, it is better that they sleep through it.

Check into private pet shipping services if possible, they cost a few but are a much better option when shipping overseas. The military picked up the cost last time we flew back here.

[RebelRescuer]

I'm not an advocate of shipping dogs, but I know a lot of show people who do it all the times (and I took in two rescues from PA that were shipped in).

First, freeze water in his bowl so that as it melts, he has something to drink. There are wonderful bowls available that are non-tippable that have a lid with a big hole in the middle. Freeze water in this and he should be good to go for the trip.

Second, tape a couple of bags of his food (like the trial size bags) to the top of his carrier.

Third, tape an envelope to his carrier that has your emergency contact info inside. This may be a requirement with the airlines as well.

Fourth, take zip ties and zipe tie the s**t out of the crate. That means every hole (where the top and bottom come together) needs to have a zip tie through it. Also zip the door shut. If the airline wants to, they can cut it off. The majority of horror stories I've heard have come from crates coming apart, or doors coming open.

Fifth, I'm SO glad you're sending him non-stop. Be sure to be there to receive him (though I think you said he'd be on the same flight). It takes a bit to get pets unloaded, but be patient!

Sixth (bored yet?) I agree about asking your vet for some dope for him. Rescue Remedy is supposed to work well.

Make sure you have tags on him with YOUR contact info, and that of a trusted friend or relative who will be by the phone until he gets there!

Hope it goes well!!

[XJade94]

Thanks for the info everyone. We knew about freezing a water bowl so it will melt on the plane and give him something to drink. I always suspected Merlin would fare better if he had sleepy drugs but I've heard that vets say its better if no drugs are administered before the flight. (????) We'll ask the vet when he goes in on the 15th for his health cert for the plane and USDA vet signed bilingual portuguese health cert.