pet friendly travels

We are getting lots of questions from folks who are looking to transport their pet. This is good! You should be concerned about your pets’ health and safety. It is not an easy thing – sending your furry kid off with a stranger. Neither is is easy for the pet. Strange van, strange people and no way to explain to them what is happening to their perfectly ordered life. But some are missing the really important questions and we know that it isn’t because you don’t care -it’s because you don’t know what questions to ask. I threw a mini-list together to share with you here. Copy this one and add any questions that might pertain to your critter and its particular situation and have them handy the next time you  are inquiring about shipping your pet for any reason.

1. First, the big question. By land or by air? Given the dangers of flying by air (unless you fly with your pet and it accompanies you in the cabin) I would say ground transportation is safer.
2. What is the ground transport vehicle?
3. How is it equipped?
4. Are the shippers USDA licensed? You can call the USDA in Ft. Collins, CO with the certificate number and they will tell you the shipper’s rating with them.
5. Are they professional drivers? What is their safety record?
6. Are they experienced pet handlers?
7. What is the company’s safety record? If they hold US DOT authority, their safety and insurance files are public record. These can be found on SAFER.
8. The USDA regulates how often and how much food, water and exercise your pet must have. However, ask the shipper if they have any differing policies and why? It must be more generous than that required of them.
9. Cats generally are not released from their cages during transport since most are not trained to walk on a leash. Dogs must be afforded the opportunity to stretch a bit. Ask how often and where?
10. OK, here’s one we hear a lot. “Do you let my dog out in disease-infested rest areas?” What? Have you ever let your human child play on a public playground? Of course, you have but you’re not worried because Junior has all his vaccinations. Same thing with your pet. Please, please, keep the shots current on your pets as well. This is your best and cheapest insurance to keeping them healthy. (All USDA shippers must require a health certificate to accompany the pet – this will include a listing of the pets’ current shots.)
11. What information do you need from me? This should include the above-mentioned Health Certificate, contact numbers, pickup and delivery instructions and you will be required to sign a statement to the effect that your pet has been offered food and water within the last four hours of pickup by the shipper.
12. How long will it take? Unless you are booking a private conveyance, your pet may be in transit for a few days while other pickups and deliveries are made along the route. This is generally not a problem for most pets.
13. If my pet has special needs, can these be addressed?
14. How much is the total cost? Do I need to make a deposit?

Well, just some ideas for you. If you are looking to ship your pet, we’d be happy to give you a quote and talk about all your concerns. Check us out at The Well Traveled Pet and wherever you travel, please be safe!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 21st, 2010 at 9:12 am and is filed under Transport Tales. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.