Airplanes & Ziggy
Hey everyone:) We are getting ready to head for the New England area, and I have some questions. I'm not prepared, though we're leaving in a few day because things weren't supposed to turn out this way, and Ziggy was supposed to be taken by land by a service, but then the people left early without warning so I didn't get into touch with them soon enough and they'd already passed through Salem. (If they were changing dates like that anyhow, I'm not sure that I'd be comfy with Ziggy going with them, especially as I read some reviews after missing out on him going that some people didn't get their dogs at all!)
So, then my thought was: "Onto another pet transportation service!" after much stressing over the fact that I couldn't find a cheap enough transport service, I realized I could just buy him a ticket myself, which I should be able to afford.
I just had some questions about this, that hopefully people can answer!
What Size Crate do I Need?
How do I determine?
Do I Have to Know Ziggy's Exact Weight to Order his Ticket?
When I took Ziggy in to get his health certificate so he could travel, they asked me to come back later when I had purchased his ticket. I had been planning on having him weighed then too to know what I should list, because I have no idea at this point.
When Should Ziggy go?
We are traveling by bus, which will take us roughly four days. I am torn between sending him before we leave, shortly after, or wait until we are already there. One way, I am leaving him behind with my grandparents, who don't keep him from whining, but he at least knows them. Another, it could go one of two ways. One would be that he would go straight to hubby's home and stay with his family until we got there, where he is in an unfamiliar setting, or Ziggy will be meeting up with another family member in a different state and will be driven over to us. (Don't know the exact date, but this is a choice because it being a big airport, so it would be more likely that a ticket there would be doable, and it would be only a couple days at most.)
What can I do to Make Ziggy's Trip Easier on him?
I want him to be comfortable, as much so as possible. I doubt he's ever been on a plane before and the whole thing is probably going to be pretty confusing to him.
Cheap & Safe
Which airlines are best? So far I heard Continental treats pets well.. Any other options to be aware of? Of course, has to be good with transporting animals. I don't want him to be just roughly tossed around:(
Other Tips and Tricks
I haven't ever flown before, so I am sure that there is a lot more to it than what I asked.. What should I expect? What should I do about food and water for the trip for Ziggy? Any advice or neat ideas are more than welcome!
How to Keep my Sanity
I am more than nervous, unwilling and flat our miserable at the idea of being away from Ziggy for four days. I don't want to do it more than I don't want to scoop his poop with my bare hands LOL. I am going to miss him a lot. What is going to worry me most is not the traveling itself (though that is a factor indeed) but the remaining days that he will sit around and I'll just be gone that really bugs me.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kaitlyn & Chase on
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I have traveled by plane many times but I have never traveled by bus. (Other than in school, but that doesn't count :P )
So it seems to be that you can't take him on the bus in a crate? I am not sure how that works..
As far as airplane travel goes.. I don't want to scare you any more than you already are BUT I have heard many stories of animals traveling in the cargo (in the belly) of the airplane have had a really horrible experience. I have heard that several animals that travel this way can have heart attacks or become injured somehow during the trip.They could also become dehydrated and some experience shortness of breath or have a hard time breathing. It is because they are down there and get treated like the "stuff" that is carried in the belly of the airplane.
I could be COMPLETELY wrong, because I have not had this personal experience. We have always had dogs small enough to keep in a soft sided crate at our feet on the plane.
I REALLY don't want to scare you, but I do want to tell you the truth about what I've heard so that I don't feel like I didn't say anything at all!!!
Good Luck!!
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Permalink Reply by Zigward & Kimberly on
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Kaitlyn! Lol!! "Not to scare you, but here is some of the scariest news someone who needs to fly their dog can possibly hear." is what I got outta that message;)
No, I know. I need to be prepared for any possible outcome. I know that nothing is 100% guarunteed until it's done and over with. I've already spent forever obsessing over the plane crashing from the sky, believe me lol. I am unpleased bringing him by plane, but the only ground transportation I can afford that I've found doesn't have another trip scheduled for so long that it would be two months before I got to see Ziggy again! No. Way. Especially since in the reviews I read, some people had their dog delivered to the wrong states, some were days late without so much as a call, some had broken teeth that had been healthy prior to travel, most were dehydrated, some weren't getting their dogs back at all even! I can't imagine how they keep getting business!:O
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Thank you a bunch:) Very helpful to have an outlook from someone who has traveled with their Corgi:)
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Permalink Reply by Yuki & Ellie on
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Ellie was shipped to me, at just 10 weeks old, via airplane. I was just about beside myself I was so nervous. Now that I've been through it, I have no doubt that I'd do it again if it were necessary. Ellie was not affected by the travel at all and arrived happy and healthy as can be.
It's true that some airlines don't give pets that extra bit of attention, but Ellie was shipped via American Airlines and everything went smooth as silk. She was on a non-stop flight (which is a must, in my opinion) and arrived right on time. She also wasn't the only one in there. There were two kittens, another puppy and two full-grown dogs that took the flight. None of them seemed at all distressed.
I have to agree with Sam, though. Have Ziggy shipped later rather than sooner. That way you can be the one to greet him at the airport! :)
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