Pet Export: Info Thread
Jul 25th 2005, 4:58 pm
#31
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,347
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by loidy
another thing, read a heartbreaking story today about the 7 year old collie who died of dehydration on the flight from heathrow to sydney 
. he chewed his water bowl and had no water. the rspca are investigating BA.
as if i wasn't dreading the whole process enough... x loidy
. he chewed his water bowl and had no water. the rspca are investigating BA.as if i wasn't dreading the whole process enough... x loidy
Someone else said that there is no access to the animals in the cargo hold during the flight, so water is only checked at stopovers. Doesn't their water spill when the plane banks? Now I'm really concerned, and am feeling more guilty than ever about taking our pets...
Jul 25th 2005, 5:08 pm
#32
Australia's Doorman
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Joined: Jan 2005
Location: The Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Par Air have sent me their full written quote now which stands at £2138 all in for both animals or £1742 for the dog and £675 for the cat and includes a £142 fee for picking them up from our home. Nice pack of information including a leaflet (with pictures of their kennels) and all the paperwork you'll need including the Australian Import form. Their quote covers air freight charges, the approved containers, airport and airline charges, vet's examination and sealing charges. It doesn't include anything Oz-side or transport of animal to them or kennel fees if you send 'em before the flight (they charge £12.34 per night for that). The quote outlines exactly what you need to provide though and points out that they can take care of pretty much everything this end, including the vet's certificate (£40), tests (£102 for a dog), and worming/frontline (£12/dog, £23.75/cat). Overall pretty impressed with 'em - seem to have a good reputation on the site too, so definitely still a contender.
Jul 25th 2005, 5:09 pm
#33
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Bella Donna
Just been doing a bit of googling on this one, and found myself on a Belgian air travel forum - the folk there seem knowledgeable about flying things, and a couple of people are saying that anyone who takes a dog on more than an eight-hour flight should rethink whether they ought to be dog owners in the first place!!! Someone else said that there is no access to the animals in the cargo hold during the flight, so water is only checked at stopovers. Doesn't their water spill when the plane banks?
Now I'm really concerned, and am feeling more guilty than ever about taking our pets...
Someone else said that there is no access to the animals in the cargo hold during the flight, so water is only checked at stopovers. Doesn't their water spill when the plane banks? Now I'm really concerned, and am feeling more guilty than ever about taking our pets...
Water is only checked and refilled at stopovers I will post a pic below of a typical air kennel - the water is filled via a funnel so that they do not open up the crate. I also worry about a bumpy flight and water spillage.
Lynn
Last edited by lynnlovessun; Jul 25th 2005 at 5:13 pm.
Jul 25th 2005, 5:14 pm
#34
Australia's Doorman
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Bella Donna
a couple of people are saying that anyone who takes a dog on more than an eight-hour flight should rethink whether they ought to be dog owners in the first place!!! Someone else said that there is no access to the animals in the cargo hold during the flight, so water is only checked at stopovers. Doesn't their water spill when the plane banks?
Someone else said that there is no access to the animals in the cargo hold during the flight, so water is only checked at stopovers. Doesn't their water spill when the plane banks?
Jul 25th 2005, 5:15 pm
#35
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Hutch
What do they suggest then? Give up a loved family pet and send it off to a dog's home, for the sake of half a day in the cargo hold of an aeroplane? Thousands of animals fly all over the planet every day of the week and there's only the occasional problem. Compare and contrast that with the number of humans that die from deep vein thrombosis or bugs they've picked up whilst breathing constantly circulated air. As to the water, I suspect they have non-spillable water facilities
Lynn
Jul 25th 2005, 5:20 pm
#36
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Right then - the inscrutable Golden Arrow Shippers have now sent me their pack, which comprises a booklet of testimonials from happy punters (*shrugs shoulders* hardly likely to include any adverse correspondence are they), booklet on regs for dogs, booklet on regs for cats and a little leaflet including tear-off form to fill in to require a quote. God only knows they'd better be good they way they drag out the whole process. Anyway - two forms filled in and returned. I await their typed response which will no doubt arrive by pigeon post on the basis that the Royal Mail is far too new-fangled.
Jul 25th 2005, 5:22 pm
#37
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by lynnlovessun
Bowl dosen't look non-spillable to me but agree with you on every other point.
Lynn
Lynn
Jul 25th 2005, 5:22 pm
#38
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Hutch
Right then - the inscrutable Golden Arrow Shippers have now sent me their pack, which comprises a booklet of testimonials from happy punters (*shrugs shoulders* hardly likely to include any adverse correspondence are they), booklet on regs for dogs, booklet on regs for cats and a little leaflet including tear-off form to fill in to require a quote. God only knows they'd better be good they way they drag out the whole process. Anyway - two forms filled in and returned. I await their typed response which will no doubt arrive by pigeon post on the basis that the Royal Mail is far too new-fangled.
Can just imagine the pigeon dropping your quote at your feet then flying off!
Jul 25th 2005, 5:24 pm
#39
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Hutch
Yea - old ice cream tub - not what I'd imagined at all. Wonder if you can supply your own container for them?
Lynn
Jul 25th 2005, 5:25 pm
#40
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,873
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
I had heard (I think from Golden Arrow?) that they use a giant size gerbil-type water bottle. I thought I might get one in advance so that I can teach the dogs how to use it 
I have posted on "So many times I have been asked..." thread my reasons for taking my dogs and not leaving them behind.
I have posted on "So many times I have been asked..." thread my reasons for taking my dogs and not leaving them behind.
Jul 25th 2005, 5:28 pm
#41
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Yea, found another image, enclosed below. Bit of Googling revealed that a lot fo the shippers use Vari-kennels which look a lot better. That water doesn't look non-spillable either though. Wonder what the deal is? I mean there'd be way more than that one case of the collie that died of thirst if these things were as dodgy as they looked. No?
Jul 25th 2005, 5:30 pm
#42
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,873
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Originally Posted by Hutch
Yea, found another image, enclosed below. Bit of Googling revealed that a lot fo the shippers use Vari-kennels which look a lot better. That water doesn't look non-spillable either though. Wonder what the deal is? I mean there'd be way more than that one case of the collie that died of thirst if these things were as dodgy as they looked. No?
Jul 25th 2005, 5:34 pm
#43
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,129
Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Yikes I feel worse than ever now - poppy would never know how to use a gerbil bottle!!!!!!! 
And big tubs at risk of spilling during takeoff. I'd imagine it would be very hot in the hold when the plane was stationary at Singapore.
Lynn
And big tubs at risk of spilling during takeoff. I'd imagine it would be very hot in the hold when the plane was stationary at Singapore.
Lynn
Jul 25th 2005, 5:35 pm
#44
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
OK! I have solution! Take your pet as hand luggage!
Jul 25th 2005, 5:48 pm
#45
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Re: Pet Export: Info Thread
Travel advisory for pets taken from the British Airways web site:
> Get your pet used to the container a few days before its flight. A favourite toy or blanket should help it feel at home in a strange environment.
> Give only a light meal to your pet a few hours before flight departure. Most pets are house trained and do not wish to soil their bedding. It is therefore kinder not to give them too much food. If the flight duration is over 12 hours, water needs to be provided, but care should be taken not to overfill the water container. Water is checked before loading and during transit stops.
> Pets travel very well and do not usually need a sedative. If sedation is required, it must only be carried out under strict veterinary supervision and the details should be clearly shown on the pet 's container.
> Puppies and kittens must be at least 10 weeks old and must be weaned and able to eat on their own. (Please note that for some countries the minimum age is 12 weeks). Cats and dogs up to the sixth week of pregnancy can be carried. However, they must have a veterinary certificate confirming the pregnancy and that the pet is fit to travel.
And from the Defra web site:> Give only a light meal to your pet a few hours before flight departure. Most pets are house trained and do not wish to soil their bedding. It is therefore kinder not to give them too much food. If the flight duration is over 12 hours, water needs to be provided, but care should be taken not to overfill the water container. Water is checked before loading and during transit stops.
> Pets travel very well and do not usually need a sedative. If sedation is required, it must only be carried out under strict veterinary supervision and the details should be clearly shown on the pet 's container.
> Puppies and kittens must be at least 10 weeks old and must be weaned and able to eat on their own. (Please note that for some countries the minimum age is 12 weeks). Cats and dogs up to the sixth week of pregnancy can be carried. However, they must have a veterinary certificate confirming the pregnancy and that the pet is fit to travel.
The vehicle, travel enclosure or container
The vehicle or travel enclosure and any container used should be of a suitable size for your pet, sufficient at least for it to stand, sit and lie down in a natural position, and to turn around easily. Carrying containers are often too small. A container used to transport an animal on a short journey to the vet may not be suitable or sufficiently large for use on a longer journey.
The enclosure or container should not contain anything which could injure the animal, and should be designed so that no part of the animal (e.g. head,paws or tail) can protrude or become trapped.
Adequate ventilation is essential throughout the journey. Remember that the travel enclosure and any container within it may be in ‘still air’ conditions for long periods of time.
A means of providing water, and feed when necessary, to your pet should be available if the journey is to last more than a few hours. The utensils for watering and feeding should be placed in or fixed to the container so that they cannot be knocked over or the contents spilt. On longer journeys they should be capable of being re-filled easily. Use of an anti-spill water bowl is strongly recommended.
Appropriate and absorbent bedding should be provided, and this may need to be changed during a very long journey. Newspaper is ineffective and should not be used.
Introducing your pet to its travel enclosure or its container before travelling should help reduce the stress of transport. A familiar object (e.g. toy or cloth) may assist the animal to settle into strange surroundings.
The vehicle or travel enclosure and any container used should be of a suitable size for your pet, sufficient at least for it to stand, sit and lie down in a natural position, and to turn around easily. Carrying containers are often too small. A container used to transport an animal on a short journey to the vet may not be suitable or sufficiently large for use on a longer journey.
The enclosure or container should not contain anything which could injure the animal, and should be designed so that no part of the animal (e.g. head,paws or tail) can protrude or become trapped.
Adequate ventilation is essential throughout the journey. Remember that the travel enclosure and any container within it may be in ‘still air’ conditions for long periods of time.
A means of providing water, and feed when necessary, to your pet should be available if the journey is to last more than a few hours. The utensils for watering and feeding should be placed in or fixed to the container so that they cannot be knocked over or the contents spilt. On longer journeys they should be capable of being re-filled easily. Use of an anti-spill water bowl is strongly recommended.
Appropriate and absorbent bedding should be provided, and this may need to be changed during a very long journey. Newspaper is ineffective and should not be used.
Introducing your pet to its travel enclosure or its container before travelling should help reduce the stress of transport. A familiar object (e.g. toy or cloth) may assist the animal to settle into strange surroundings.
Last edited by Hutch; Jul 25th 2005 at 5:53 pm.