Do it yourself dogs !!
Jun 23rd 2009, 9:30 am
#46
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Location: Accrington UK Ontario soon!
Posts: 34
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Jun 23rd 2009, 10:46 am
#47
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Location: Accrington UK Ontario soon!
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Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Just an additon to this. Air Transat no longer fly from Manchester to Toronto. I believe most (if not all) direct flights to Toronto from Manchester are now done by Thomas Cook. I spoke to them this morning regarding my dog and its no problem at all, although they do like to work through pet carriers rather than just owners bringing dogs in crates i suspect. Anyway, very nice and helpful, i even asked about pets not being transported at certain times of the year due to temp in the cargo hold and they say its not generally a problem on the bigger transatlantic planes and not to worry about it. Contact for Thomas cook is 0161-498-4728
Jun 23rd 2009, 5:46 pm
#48
half a century
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Just an additon to this. Air Transat no longer fly from Manchester to Toronto. I believe most (if not all) direct flights to Toronto from Manchester are now done by Thomas Cook. I spoke to them this morning regarding my dog and its no problem at all, although they do like to work through pet carriers rather than just owners bringing dogs in crates i suspect. Anyway, very nice and helpful, i even asked about pets not being transported at certain times of the year due to temp in the cargo hold and they say its not generally a problem on the bigger transatlantic planes and not to worry about it. Contact for Thomas cook is 0161-498-4728
Jun 23rd 2009, 5:47 pm
#49
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Jan 10th 2010, 4:04 am
#51
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Was Leeds, UK now Peterborough, ON
Posts: 58
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
We have flown our dog over today to join us and had a nightmare so far. The Defra documentation requested over 10 days ago to the vets continually failed to appear thanks to Royal Mail and UK failure to be able to cope with snow.
The third copy that was promised to be sent Special Delivery was not because Royal Mail would not guarantee special delivery timings due to the snow, so Defra, in their wisdom, decided not to send it Special and try it again first class instead with two days to go until the flight.
Yesterday they finally agreed to print it out in Chelmsford so we could get it picked up by courier and sent to the vet.
The vet completed it but did not do a separate fit to fly letter despite our request because they checked with Defra in Carlisle who told them it wasn't needed.
My friend took her this morning to book her in to Air Canada Cargo and Defra on site at Heathrow said they did need a separate letter too so said friend had to take her to a nearby vet to get one.
Then the 3pm flight she was booked on, the heating had failed in the Cargo hold so she could not go on that flight. She was put on the 7pm flight and has now finally landed in Toronto.
Hubby is currently trying to get her out of Toronto and customs are throwing a strop because he has not taken the goods to follow list with him (she is on it but we just did not think about that side of it - neither did Air Canada when I asked what documentation was required for collection).
Just waiting to hear back if he has managed to get our dog yet, poor devil. She has been on the road/air (whatever) for the past 19 hours, the last 10 of which in her crate. OMG!!
Anyone else doing this, make sure you have both Defra form and fit to fly letter - don't allow anyone involved to act on conflicting advice between the airline and Defra about what is needed - get everything anyway. And, take your goods to follow list to collect! Oh, and give Defra more than the 10 days notice and hope and pray it doesn't snow in England.
The third copy that was promised to be sent Special Delivery was not because Royal Mail would not guarantee special delivery timings due to the snow, so Defra, in their wisdom, decided not to send it Special and try it again first class instead with two days to go until the flight.
Yesterday they finally agreed to print it out in Chelmsford so we could get it picked up by courier and sent to the vet.
The vet completed it but did not do a separate fit to fly letter despite our request because they checked with Defra in Carlisle who told them it wasn't needed.
My friend took her this morning to book her in to Air Canada Cargo and Defra on site at Heathrow said they did need a separate letter too so said friend had to take her to a nearby vet to get one.
Then the 3pm flight she was booked on, the heating had failed in the Cargo hold so she could not go on that flight. She was put on the 7pm flight and has now finally landed in Toronto.
Hubby is currently trying to get her out of Toronto and customs are throwing a strop because he has not taken the goods to follow list with him (she is on it but we just did not think about that side of it - neither did Air Canada when I asked what documentation was required for collection).
Just waiting to hear back if he has managed to get our dog yet, poor devil. She has been on the road/air (whatever) for the past 19 hours, the last 10 of which in her crate. OMG!!
Anyone else doing this, make sure you have both Defra form and fit to fly letter - don't allow anyone involved to act on conflicting advice between the airline and Defra about what is needed - get everything anyway. And, take your goods to follow list to collect! Oh, and give Defra more than the 10 days notice and hope and pray it doesn't snow in England.
Jan 10th 2010, 4:07 am
#52
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Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
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Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Oh no - hope doggy is ok!!! They never even asked to see our Goods to follow list!
Jan 10th 2010, 4:11 am
#53
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Was Leeds, UK now Peterborough, ON
Posts: 58
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Apparently they have gone to get her now.
Its my husbands birthday on 10th Jan (ooops that's now) so they were questioning him on whether she had been sent as a birthday present!
Its my husbands birthday on 10th Jan (ooops that's now) so they were questioning him on whether she had been sent as a birthday present!
Jan 10th 2010, 4:36 am
#54
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Was Leeds, UK now Peterborough, ON
Posts: 58
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
He has got her now. She wiffs a bit but apart from that is okay! 
Jan 10th 2010, 3:02 pm
#55
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Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Sussex
Posts: 104
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Hi there,
Can anyone tell me if they have managed to book their dog or cat with Thomas Cook directly?
Many thanks
Sara
Can anyone tell me if they have managed to book their dog or cat with Thomas Cook directly?
Many thanks
Sara
Jan 10th 2010, 3:38 pm
#56
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: back in Cambs
Posts: 7,157
and Happy birthday hubby 
Jan 10th 2010, 4:05 pm
#57
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Was Leeds, UK now Peterborough, ON
Posts: 58
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Thanks Coffeepot
She is home safe and sound now and seems no worse the wear for her journey.
She is feeling the cold on her feet though. Does anyone know if her pads on her paws adapt to the snowy conditions or would we be better getting her some protective wear to help?
She is home safe and sound now and seems no worse the wear for her journey.
She is feeling the cold on her feet though. Does anyone know if her pads on her paws adapt to the snowy conditions or would we be better getting her some protective wear to help?
Jan 10th 2010, 4:53 pm
#58
half a century
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Location: Sarf Lundun to East Van :)
Posts: 10,222
Jan 10th 2010, 6:06 pm
#59
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 51
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Hi all
Just reading through this post as it will apply to us in a few months. We have all the flights booked for July, we will be going for 2 weeks in April to validate our visa's and try to sort out as much as possible, we did not even consider putting the dog on the "to follow list" (oop's).
Can anyone please advise us on exactly what paper work we require & what injections are required for our 3 year old yorkshire terrier, she is already micro chipped.
regarding transport we have had to use an agent to book her on a Thomas cook flight from Manchester to Toronto, they deliver a crate to our home & we take the dog to the airport, total cost £450.00.
if anyone wants the name of the agent please let me know.
Just reading through this post as it will apply to us in a few months. We have all the flights booked for July, we will be going for 2 weeks in April to validate our visa's and try to sort out as much as possible, we did not even consider putting the dog on the "to follow list" (oop's).
Can anyone please advise us on exactly what paper work we require & what injections are required for our 3 year old yorkshire terrier, she is already micro chipped.
regarding transport we have had to use an agent to book her on a Thomas cook flight from Manchester to Toronto, they deliver a crate to our home & we take the dog to the airport, total cost £450.00.
if anyone wants the name of the agent please let me know.
Jan 10th 2010, 6:23 pm
#60
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Barrie but after the winter !
Posts: 193
Re: Do it yourself dogs !!
Thank god you have her safe and sound.
When mine flew over in May my oh picked him up whilst i was still in uk.
I was ringing him every 10 mins to check on progress, think i drove him a bit crazy...........
They asked him how much the dog was worth - he said "he's priceless" they said thats just cost you a fortune as they were taxing him on his value, oh he said i just remembered he's worth $50 !!!
xx
When mine flew over in May my oh picked him up whilst i was still in uk.
I was ringing him every 10 mins to check on progress, think i drove him a bit crazy...........
They asked him how much the dog was worth - he said "he's priceless" they said thats just cost you a fortune as they were taxing him on his value, oh he said i just remembered he's worth $50 !!!
xx