SHIPPING OUR PETS

 

New moms and dads usually have lots of questions regarding shipping their new babies unless they have had some prior experience with the process. Over the past twenty years we have shipped most of our pets to their new families. Most every occasion without incident and quite smoothly.

 

We ship almost exclusively counter-to-counter via the commercial airlines. Rather than spending any time in the cargo warehouse, the pets are delivered to and from the passenger terminal. They are hand carried to and from the plane. The new owner can usually pick up his pet at the baggage claim area in the passenger terminal. The drop off and pick up time is also reduced using counter-to-counter. Pets are usually available shortly after the plane arrives. The entire travel time with counter-to-counter is reduced considerably from when we sign the pet in at our end until the new owner picks him up at the other.

 

The Federal Government has placed temperature restrictions on the airlines for the transporting of live animals. Temperatures cannot exceed 85° nor can they be lower than 45°.The lower temperature can be 20° F with a certificate of acclimation.  All animals are carried in the cargo area of the plane, which has the exact same conditions of temperature and pressure found in the passenger area. The Government’s concern for temperature is based upon the ground air temperature. What conditions the animals will be exposed to while waiting, loading and exiting the planes are what have forced temperature embargos during the warmest months of the year at many of our airports. Counter-to-counter shipments have allowed shipping while straight cargo could not be undertaken.

 

We ship primarily American Airlines out of Dallas/Fort Worth, which is the main hub for American. We can almost always find a direct flight into other major cities. We prefer to use direct flights if at all possible. During the heat of the summer months we ship as early as possible in the day to keep ground temperatures to a minimum. Occasionally temperatures have forced the airlines to place embargos on certain cities. We have no control over these circumstances and we have to book flights around the delays. We frequently utilize the services of a pet courier in booking the best flights for any given time and destination.

 

We also have the opportunity to utilize Continental Airlines counter-to-counter live animal service called "Pet Safe". Continental offer a unique situation designed with the welfare of live animal shipment in mind. The airline has spent large sums of money to equip their ground facilities with temperature controlled environments. They have added air conditioned cargo vans which bring the animals to and from the aircraft. They also have specially designed and environmentally controlled ground offices for the animals if they must be kept during transit. Because of these unique facilities Continental Airlines has the ability to transport live animals during temperatures above and below the federally controlled requirements to which other airlines must adhere.

 

A flat rate of $295 will generally cover the cost of counter-to-counter shipment within the United States. This will cover the size and weight range of toy breed dogs and cats. It will also include an airline approved carrier, a home made crate pad and a toy. We make all the travel arrangements at this end. All the new owners have to do is to go to the airport on the decided day and pick up their new pet.

 

Some new owners chose to drive or fly to pick up their new pet themselves. We always like to meet new moms and dads if at all possible and do recommend the travel on their parts if it is a short trip. We have often met folks at the airport who have chosen to fly in to pick up their new pet. In general the short airplane ride to their new home is less traumatic for the pet than for his new family. Usually within two or three hours after we sign them in at the airport, they have arrived and are being picked up by excited new families. While they are safe in their carrier they have little idea if they are in Texas or over the sea. Only when they arrive at their new home and the carrier is opened will they realize that there’s a new world and a loving family awaiting them.

 

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