Expert Ground Pet Transport Service
Within the Continental USA
Senior & Medically Challenged Pets
Guidelines for pets that are above 10 years old or have had major medical operations.
Pet must be ambulatory and all medical needs must be discussed and reviewed before a reservation will be allowed. If we need to administer medication then one of our Medical forms is required and All medications have to be kept in their original containers.
Very senior pets and pets that have undergone extensive medical treatment (cancer etc) cannot ride on a shared ride ground transport. They typically require extra care and need to be picked up and delivered in as short of time frame as possible. Shared rides do not guarantee that.
It is important to us that we do the best we can, past experience has taught us not all pets should be riding on a shared ride. We understand you love your pet, but sadly, there are times when a pet should not be transported.
Contact us directly to discuss the best possible solutions for your pet's care during transport.
Pet transportation by Air
1. A Health Certificate and rabies certificate are required for pet transportation whether by air or by ground. Please have the original health certificate and copy of rabies available at time of pickup. We will place them on top of the kennel along with the airline paperwork at time of check-in.
2. Kennel: As a professional pet transport service we ensure to check your pet for the proper sized kennel. Airlines will deny pets at time of check in should we arrive with a pet that has been squished into a kennel. Stand your pet beside the kennel. Your pet has to be able to stand in their normal stance, sit, turn around and laydown with adequate space all the way around (3-4 inches space!). A kennel that is too small will cause a pet to stress, pant, overheat, or worse.
3. Food: Provide a zip lock back of food. This gets taped to the top of the kennel. Even if the pet is set to fly non stop send some food. In the event the flight gets diverted for unknown reasons, there is a meal available for your pet.
4. Leashes and collars. Leashes and collars are removed and taped to the top of the kennel.
Things to know before they go! - Getting your pets ready to travel.
1. Get them acclimated to a crate. All USDA licensed pet transporters are required to have the pets ride in a crate. This is for the safety and well being of your pet. This also keeps the pets from bolting out of the vehicle when the doors are open.
2. Leash training. Dogs are walked at least four times a day. A pet transporters worst nightmare is a dog that tries to pull out of its collar. Remember, your pets don't know us. They know you are stressed and we show up to take them away from their humans. The first 24 hours your pet is with us, this is what we know as the flight risk time. It's a time when your pet is getting to know us. Keeping your pet calm is essential for all involved.
3. Health Certificates: These are required for all pets traveling on our vehicles or via air. This is to ensure all pets are not sharing anything more than a ride. All airlines require this certificate. YES, it is mandatory for our company as well.
4. Food for the trip: It is preferred that food be bagged in single servings for dogs. If your sending wet food please provide the snap top lids. Foods requiring to be kept cold please provide a "small" insulated cooler.
5. Bedding for the crate: Crate pads are preferable. But you can send a shirt, towel, or small blanket that smells of you and home. Water is kept in your pet's crate 24/7 and water may get spilled onto the blankets, bed mats, bedding. Sometimes a pet may have an accident. We always clean a soiled pet, but sometimes the bedding must be thrown away. Please don't send Grandma's favorite heirlooms! We can't replace irreplaceable heirlooms!
6. Collars, harnesses, and leashes. Every dog has to have a collar or harness. You know your dog better than we do. If you feel your dog may try to do a runner then provide a harness. We don't want a dog backing out of a collar or harness because its too loose. Please tighten the collar/harness to two fingers. NO, choker collars or prong collars.
7. Identification Tags: Your name, dog's name and (current or new) phone number. If your cat is used to wearing a collar then also provide a tag. Cats are not walked, nor do we allow cats unfamiliar with us out of their crates. Our crates are large enough they have space for their food and their bedding at the same time. We take the food out and replace it with the litter box a few times a day/night.
8. Medicines: Only send meds that are current and need to be given while on the trip in the original prescription bottle/container from the vet clearly labelled with the pets name, your name and the dosing instructions. Do not send meds in zip-lock baggies, they will not be accepted!
9. Things NOT TO SEND: This is especially true for the shared ride trips. Crates, jumbo beds, old medicine, extra food bags, boxes of toys.
Space is a premium on the vehicles. The empty crates you see are typically booked out to other families. There is enough space for the crate your pet is riding in and small carry on bag for food, one toy and a bed to go in the crate. Remember your driver needs space to put their stuff for the trip also.