Anyone had a dog shipped?

[bumere90]

I am in Florida and want to ship my GSD to California.
Has anyone shipped a dog/pet before?
What is the best and the most convenient way?
I want to know how the experience went: approximate time and cost, etc..
I work 7 days a week and go to school 5 days a week and don't have time to take care of my dog.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by bumere90

I am in Florida and want to ship my GSD to California.
Has anyone shipped a dog/pet before?
What is the best and the most convenient way?
I want to know how the experience went: approximate time and cost, etc..
I work 7 days a week and go to school 5 days a week and don't have time to take care of my dog.

You have to put them on a plane - and they charge you cargo instead of luggage if you are not on the flight with them. Can be pretty expensive.

As for cost, what I paid 20 years ago is certainly not the same as today. Transported from Seattle to Florida with me on a flight for ~$100 20 years ago. Shipping cargo from Dallas to Florida was ~$300 and shipping as luggage Dallas to Florida was ~$100.

Years ago it was cheaper if you skirted the system. You purchased a ticket and paid the small amount extra to have them checked (in kennel) as luggage. Checked in at Airport and never got on plane - returning the ticket for a refund later. Obviously, you needed someone to show up at baggage claim at the destination to pick them up when the plane arrived. However 9/11 matching of passenger and luggage put an end to that method.

Quite frankly I am surprised they allow them to still be shipped Cargo after 9/11.

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...l-options.html

[KingOfJericho]

It's about $300. My dog came from New Mexico as a puppy and we picked her up at the cargo desk at LaGuardia.

[Templar]

I flew from Germany with my dog. There are special considerations you need to take, such as temperature, time outside waiting to load on the plane, etc. Some airlines won't fly the dog if it's too warm that day, because they can be outside waiting to load for a few hours. Same for bad weather, i.e. storms or snow. Something to think about.

The "ticket" for the dog cost almost as much as my ticket did (about $500), however that does not include the other bills I incurred. I am almost certain that was because it was international though, so it may be cheaper for you. The dog is also an 80 lb Irish Setter, so it's no small animal. The cost goes up with weight and size.

If you're shipping it alone, then look up some of the cargo flights. They probably offer different deals. I only know what my personal experience was.

[bumere90]

^ that's not bad at all.
the lowest I was quoted is $700 and the highest $1300