More about Pet Transportation.... (part 2)

Questions for Important Members of the Family....
The general pet transportation procedure may be understood by the transferee but there are often concerns regarding the care and safety of their beloved pets, rather than the logistics. Most important is how clients feel about their pet's move. It can be a foreign process to them filled with emotion and concern. These sentiments and anxieties can lead to numerous questions that a transportation specialist may be faced with.

Many myths surround pet safety and air travel, which adds to anxieties that a transferee inevitably has when they first start considering a pet move. Many of the scary stories that circulate about pets flying are a direct result of pet owners attempting to transport their pets on their own. Because of the extensive knowledge needed to work with the airlines, import and cargo procedures, etc, it is usually better left to professionals. It also helps to remind the transferee that they will be in experienced hands... for professional pet transportation companies, their duty is to ensure that every pet arrives safely.

The risk of extreme temperatures affecting the pet's safety is one of the other significant concerns among pet owners, many airlines will even embargo pets during the winter and summer months. But most reputable pet transportation companies work with airlines that have programs in place to keep pets in climate-controlled areas the entire duration of the flight. The pet is never exposed to extreme weather and this allows companies to transport pets all over the world year-round. Dogs escaping from or getting hurt while in their crates is an example of why pet shipping companies emphasize to clients that they crate train their pet before the day of the flight. It is also wise to contact the pet transportation company as soon as a potential transferee mentions they might be transporting their pet as the more time he can spend getting used to his or her new crate, the more relaxed they will be on the day of the flight.

There are 3 different ways a pet can travel on an airline: with the owner in the passenger cabin, as accompanied (or excess) luggage in the cargo hold, or as manifest cargo (typically without the owner). Most owners initially want to take their pets in the cabin, but unfortunately due to air travel restrictions on weight and size limits, as well as various government restrictions for international imports, rarely does a pet qualify to fly in the cabin. However, as long as care is taken in choosing the correct airline service, the cargo hold where the pet will travel is always pressurized and climate-controlled. This means a transferee's pet will fly in comfort even when apart from his owner.

While direct flights are ideal, direct routing is not the only factor when choosing which airline service a pet should travel on. Some airlines are not adequately set up to take care of animals in the event that there is a delay or emergency. "Pet friendly" airlines have developed dedicated pet programs to care for their four-legged travelers that keep them in climate control not only while in the plane, but also while waiting to board. These airlines also have kennel facilities at their main hubs, where during layovers, all of the pets pet are checked on, watered and if necessary, served meals.

Even with all of this careful attention, there are still some pets that most pet transport companies consider to be "at risk" when traveling. Older, infirm dogs and cats can travel as there is no age limit, but it is always best for the transferee to seriously consider the amount of stress an elderly pet can endure. High-anxiety pets also pose a risk for hyperventilation and injury to themselves if they are not properly crate trained and conditioned ahead of time. Snub-nosed dogs such as Pugs and English bulldogs are at an elevated risk for traveling due to their delicate respiratory systems which can become impaired under high stress situations. The length of travel and the pet's individual personality can add to the amount of risk. Ultimately, it's left at the pet owner's discretion to make a well informed decision after consulting with their pet transport specialist and veterinarian.

Continue on to part 3....

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page for more info.

Let our experience work for you - contact us here for your next pet transportation or relocation. We encourage you to email us with any questions you may have regarding any aspect of our services and how we may better meet your individual pet shipping needs.

We specialize in stress-free pet transportation services! Seeking the professional pet relocation service of Animal Transporters will assure you peace of mind when transporting your pets on the ground or in the air.

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