Taking a dog on the airplane, advice needed
#41
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BT - I'm not talking about YOUR dog. You have convinced us that yours had a fine experience.
BUT you said "None of their dogs have EVER been injured or traumatized" - just how do you know that? Are you tuned in to all their animals as well?
Not trying to pick a fight here - honest. I am VERY happy your dog came through it just fine - but that doesn't always happen . . . . . .
BUT you said "None of their dogs have EVER been injured or traumatized" - just how do you know that? Are you tuned in to all their animals as well?
Not trying to pick a fight here - honest. I am VERY happy your dog came through it just fine - but that doesn't always happen . . . . . .
#42
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Well, actually, I'm on a few private dog chat lists and this topic comes up from time to time. That's how we know. If the breeders and handlers tell us their dogs came through fine, we have no reason to believe they're lying. They have passed on negative experiences that others have had, usually caused by not following the common sense guidelines and consulting with people who have had experience.
I'm not trying to pick a fight either, in fact, this will be my last post on this topic. I'm beginning to wonder if the OP wasn't just trolling. Whether she was or not, I don't see why the bad experiences recounted (even if third hand or from some animal rights web site trumped up claim) should be counted as worth their weight in gold, while the positive first hand experiences of those who ship dogs frequently are to be treated with suspicion or derided as lies.
I'm not trying to pick a fight either, in fact, this will be my last post on this topic. I'm beginning to wonder if the OP wasn't just trolling. Whether she was or not, I don't see why the bad experiences recounted (even if third hand or from some animal rights web site trumped up claim) should be counted as worth their weight in gold, while the positive first hand experiences of those who ship dogs frequently are to be treated with suspicion or derided as lies.
#43
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Boy howdy, I wonder if Melissa isn't laughing at this tempest in a teapot.
I have flown with pets, so I am qualified to participate in this debate.
1. Never say never.
2. I have a standard poodle; traveling with him wouldn't be a "vacation". He doesn't like to sleep in.
3. Weigh the risks against the benefits. I would guess professional dog handlers have insurance for financial loss. Show dogs often don't even live with their owners. A "PET" is something entirely different. They aren't a business investment.
4. I'm glad to see we care enough about our pets to feel strongly about this topic.
5. I'm thinking of kenneling my children for my next trip. Any one have any recommendations?
I have flown with pets, so I am qualified to participate in this debate.
1. Never say never.
2. I have a standard poodle; traveling with him wouldn't be a "vacation". He doesn't like to sleep in.
3. Weigh the risks against the benefits. I would guess professional dog handlers have insurance for financial loss. Show dogs often don't even live with their owners. A "PET" is something entirely different. They aren't a business investment.
4. I'm glad to see we care enough about our pets to feel strongly about this topic.
5. I'm thinking of kenneling my children for my next trip. Any one have any recommendations?
#44
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My 0.02...
First, I bought my dog from a breeder in Virgina, and he sent the dog via American Airlines to Texas as cargo. Mind you, the dog was 10 weeks at the time. He arrived shaken, but healthy and alert. He was depressed for a couple of days, mostly because he was separated from his mom and litter mates. He emerged from that as a very nice, perky, sweet natured dog.
A couple of months ago I was relocated from Northern Mexico to New York. Chester went as cargo, again. He arrived tired, but looking perfectly normal. My dog has always travelled perfectly... does that mean that every dog travels well? I guess not... however, if you have a healthy dog, with all its vaccines, there's no reason why anything should happen. I would imagine that dogs arrive safe and sound way more often than injured, or sick, or dead.
About weather, it is more about the time the dog has to spend outside the airport terminal than the temperature inside the plane. At 39,000 ft it is winter everyday of the year!
First, I bought my dog from a breeder in Virgina, and he sent the dog via American Airlines to Texas as cargo. Mind you, the dog was 10 weeks at the time. He arrived shaken, but healthy and alert. He was depressed for a couple of days, mostly because he was separated from his mom and litter mates. He emerged from that as a very nice, perky, sweet natured dog.
A couple of months ago I was relocated from Northern Mexico to New York. Chester went as cargo, again. He arrived tired, but looking perfectly normal. My dog has always travelled perfectly... does that mean that every dog travels well? I guess not... however, if you have a healthy dog, with all its vaccines, there's no reason why anything should happen. I would imagine that dogs arrive safe and sound way more often than injured, or sick, or dead.
About weather, it is more about the time the dog has to spend outside the airport terminal than the temperature inside the plane. At 39,000 ft it is winter everyday of the year!
#47
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WOW! I had forgotten about this post and for some reason an email showed up in my inbox today months later saying there were replies. In any case, this post was taken so far beyond the point. For the record I didn't end up taking my dog because the vacation didn't end up going as planned. I wasn't planning on taking my dog to Hawaii, and I wasn't planning to just take a short vacation. I certainly don't think it would be fun for a dog to go on a typical "people" vacation and I would never think of taking my dog on a pleasure trip. Perhaps I should have used the word "trip" instead of vacation. I was supposed to go from California to Tennesse for several months to stay with some family who needed help. I wasn't going to leave my dog in a kennel and I couldn't drive. I was planning to leave in March when the temps aren't horrible. I had no other option. My dog IS crate trained,and not easily spooked. Of course I wouldn't take my dog on the plane if I didn't have to, but I figured since I might have to I should ask about it. So for the record, I'm not a troll, or an animal abuser. Thanks for the people who gave constructive input, for many of the others, you would do better not to make assumptions when you don't know the facts.
#48
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Hi xmelissax, a question. What do you mean that a message showed up in your inbox saying that there were replies.
Do you mean you received an email? From who? You do not show your email address here so I assume that the message was not from a poster on Fodors. Maybe I am not understanding. Have never known the editors at Fodors to send an email advising that there are responses to a thread one has started. Just curious, can you explain further. Thanks.
Do you mean you received an email? From who? You do not show your email address here so I assume that the message was not from a poster on Fodors. Maybe I am not understanding. Have never known the editors at Fodors to send an email advising that there are responses to a thread one has started. Just curious, can you explain further. Thanks.