Domestic travel with dog

[Eveline 9]

Hey everybody. My husband will deploy in December and I'm gonna move in with his mom in TX. We are currently living in North Carolina and I was wondering if anybody here made some experience on how to send your dog ALONE to another state. We have the kennel and I would get some pills for him to calm down (he is a Lab Puppy and then 11 months old) but I couldn't find any information from the airline if I could actually send only him and the kennel to TX and have my mother in law pick him up. Do I have to be on the plane (clearly he won't be in the passenger's cabin since he is waaay to big and also a big time chewer) and what are the costs. Does he need special vaccinations for domestic flights (he has all neccessary vaccinations right now). I would be happy if someone could provide me with a link about that matter. Thank you very much.

Good nite, Evi

[Canuck Carrie 1]

I would suspect all the variables would be up to the airline, you might want to check the ones you can use. Their website(s) should have some info for you.

[cmartyn 0]

Biggest thing is the crate it needs to go in. They are picky about that and its labeling.

The mortality rate is fairly low.

[Donna A 4]

i had a cat shipped thru continental airlines to me. http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/conte...ls/default.aspx

u will pick them up in a cargo area instead of the baggage claim area. its in a totally differnt part of the airport all together.

[mawilson 2,133]

You need a K-9 visa for your dog

[I'm Gone 60]

You need a K-9 visa for your dog

java script:add_smilie("","smid_23")

Edited October 16, 2006 by mdyoung

[Eveline 9]

You need a K-9 visa for your dog

Haha, from NC to TX? I'm also doing "redneck doggie obiedience" with him to get him all hyped up for his new environment (he only gets steak and mashed potatoes as well as sweet tea)

The Crate should be fine. It is a sky kennel and he definetely fits in there fine. I know that other dogs travelled in it already so it should be fine for him too.

[Arazia 0]

Make sure you contact the airline first more than anything else. Some airlines have special requirements for transporting animals. I know of a couple of people who had animals that had to be transported with them, and the animal had to have a vet screening and be certified as 'healthy to fly'. Some vets are also really skittish about giving this kind of certification, because if something happens they don't want the blame in the matter.

[Reba 2]

it is not advisable to sedate an animal when its being transported by air. They could have a terrible reaction and die while drugged, or if the plane hits some turbulance, they won't have the wherewithall to brace themselves against it and could get all banged up in their kennel.

Talk to the airline itself and ask them what their policy is on this. I'm quite certain most, if not all, will require that the animal not be sedated.

[Eveline 9]

@Reba. We will probably fly him out with Delta and according to their website, they don't recommend the dog being sedated for the same reasons you stated. We will have to try to just get him sleepy and kennel train him a little more often (he is a spaz sometimes and just doesn't get certain things). I will also have to visit the vet prior to the flight. After all it is easier than taking the dog on a 3 day road trip from NC to TX and pay extramoney at hotels etc. Thank you very much.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Contact the airline, they all differ,they can tell you exactly what is required. Some only do it certain times of the year. Was watching the show Airline (evolves around Southwest every day paseneger operations, its quite comical) They had 1 episode where a women showed up with her brand new puppy,but southwest has a strict no pet policy!! She had to leave her new puppy with her daughter!! I flew my Sheltie a few yrs back from Victoria to Saskatoon, unsedated as per vets instructions. he made the trip ok, except for he had crapped all in the cage. What a stinking mess was eerywhere,EXCEPT on him!! Was amazing. Had to use thewir washrooms and clean it up!! What a mess. Best of luck

[Reba 2]

@Reba. We will probably fly him out with Delta and according to their website, they don't recommend the dog being sedated for the same reasons you stated. We will have to try to just get him sleepy and kennel train him a little more often (he is a spaz sometimes and just doesn't get certain things). I will also have to visit the vet prior to the flight. After all it is easier than taking the dog on a 3 day road trip from NC to TX and pay extramoney at hotels etc. Thank you very much.

I dunno...we drove from NC to Wisconsin with both our Saints earlier this year. Its cheaper to drive with them and pay an extra $10 or $25 per night in a hotel than fly them there for a few hundred bucks.

Super 8 is pretty good about allowing pets. And some Comfort Inns as well. Super 8 has no size restrictions that we've run into. Which is good, considering the beasts we travel with

[cmartyn 0]

I drove my three cats 500 miles. Thats where I learnt that a cat can stay awake for 24 hours and not pee.

We staid at a Best western that was pet friendly.

[Eveline 9]

Really, it's only about 25 bucks extra for a dog? I figured they'd charge you a good 70 Dollars or so. Don't know why I thought that I just assumed it. Super 8 you said? The problem is...our dog is not house trained. Whenever we have him in the house he does fine and jumps up and down the door when he has to go but he never really stayed a whole night in the house (except for the last hurricane we had and then he REALLY had to go at 5 am). Maybe we should reconsider taking him with us.