[dogwarmer]

I love my dog. Ocassionally I have to travel and have considered taking my dog with me. Has anyone ever taken their dog on an airplane?

D

[Lunareclipse]

I took my Chihuahua to Russia with me. When I went to come back, though, they wouldn't let me bring my dog back into the country. I pitched a fit and got it all straightened out. Me and Boomer were glad to be back together.

[Todd]

No I never have. Seems like it would be quite stressful for the dog though. If I has her fly with me I'd obviously have her in a crate but maybe giver her a marrow bone or something to keep her mind occupied for the trip. Depends on how long the trip is to. Lucky could probably handle a 2 or 3 hour flight but I don't know about anything longer than that. She couldn't hold it that long. Here are some tips I found online if you decide to have your dog fly with you;

Take your dog to the veterinarian for a checkup within 10 days of departure. Make sure that all vaccinations are current and obtain a health certificate to provide the airline.

Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate that is large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around. Also, test to see if the crate is sturdy enough and the door closes securely. These can be purchased at many pet supply stores and airlines.

Line the bottom of the crate with a type of bedding that will absorb accidents. Securely fasten at least one food cup and one water cup to the crate (avoid snap-on ones that have a tendency to come off). Make sure to include your dog's favorite toy.

Write the words "Live Animal" in large visible letters on top and every side of the crate, and draw easy to read arrows to indicate the upright position of the crate. Also include your name, address, phone number, your dog's name, destination, and whether or not you will be on the flight (if not, specify who will be picking your pet up). Attach a current photo of your dog to the top of the crate as well, and keep one in your wallet in case your dog escapes.

The night before the flight, freeze a small bowl of water to put in the crate (so it won't spill during loading and will melt by the time your dog is thirsty). Also, tape a clear bag of dry food outside the crate, so that airline personnel will be able to feed your dog if it's a long-distance flight, layover or in case of a delay.

Check with the airline in advance as to where and when your dog can be picked up once the flight arrives.

Make sure your pet is wearing a secure collar with an updated ID tag, and also include destination information. Make sure the collar isn't too tight.

When you check your dog in, be sure the door of the crate is unlocked so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency.

Alert as many airline employees as possible at the terminal and on the plane that your dog is traveling in the cargo hold. Most will appreciate you telling them and be happy to keep an eye out.

*Your dog may also get motion sickness so consider feeding it some ginger before the ride which settles the stomach and nausia.

CONT...

Here are some regulations regarding pets on various airlines;

Continental Airlines

As with most airlines, Continental allows small pets to travel in the cabin. For those pets traveling alone, Continental has brought in a new program called PetSafe QuickPak Cargo. Under their program, you reserve space for your pet well in advance and reconfirm those reservations 24 hours before flight time. Pets should be checked in as cargo from a special QuickPak Desk near the ticketing counter, one hour prior to flight time. The 24-hour help-desk will create an itinerary for your pet (depending on origin and destination temperatures). If your pet doesn't fly as reserved, you get your money back.

Continental has no specific pet embargo dates. If the temperature of the destination or arrival airport is over 85 degrees or less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit, your pet will not be allowed to fly cargo that day. For pets over 7 years of age, Continental strongly recommends a heart examination and bloodwork to make sure there is no underlying liver or kidney damage prior to flying.

If your pet is small enough to fly as carry-on, the charge is $75 each way ($150 round trip).

Delta Airlines

Delta has instituted a pet embargo from May 15 to Sept. 15. This means that no pets are allowed to fly cargo during these dates. Pets are still allowed as carry-on anytime throughout the year, but the kennel must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. If your pet is transported as carry-on or is traveling with you as cargo, the cost is $75 each way. If your pet travels by plane alone, there is a substantial cost difference. You will be able to pre-book a maximum of 7 days in advance and a minimum of 1 day of the desired flight. Upon arrival in the destination city, pets will be delivered to the Delta cargo facility within 60 minutes.

United Airlines

As with other airlines, pets are allowed as carry-on anytime during the year but there are size and number of pets limitations. If your pet travels as carry-on with you, the charge is $75 each way. Pets can also be shipped as cargo. United has no specific pet embargo dates. If the temperature of the destination or arrival airport is over 85 degrees or less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit, your pet will not be allowed to fly cargo that day.

American Airlines

American also has a pet embargo from May 15 to September 15. As with other airlines, small pets can accompany you as carry-on. If traveling with an owner, the cost is $80 each way. Prices vary if your pet is traveling alone. Exceptions will be made for service animals and official bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs (with documentation).

There are temperature restructions. Accordding to Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com, "Pets can not be accepted when the current or forecasted temperature is above 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any location on the itinerary (75 degrees Fahrenheit for snub-nosed dogs and snub-nosed cats). Pets can not be accepted when the ground temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit at any location on the itinerary unless the pet has a veterinarian's statement of low temperature acclimation (see Airline Tickets and Airline Reservations from American Airlines | AA.com) When temperatures fall below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, pets may not be checked even with a statement of low temperature acclimation."

US Airways

US Airways also has no specific embargo dates. Pet travel is prohibited when the outside temperature is over 85 degrees or under 10 degrees Fahrenheit. US Airways does not allow pets to travel in the cargo hold anymore because of extreme temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas, where we have two large hubs. The exception is shuttle routes between New York LaGuardia, Boston, and Washington National Airport. They do not allow pets to travel to Hawaii due to state agricultural rules. Pets traveling as carry-on cost $75 each way. For pets flying cargo, costs are based on weight and destination. Complete details are at usairways.com. US Airways (480) 693-5754.

Northwest Airlines

Northwest has no specific embargo dates and determines if pet travel is allowed by daily temperature. Pet travel is prohibited when the outside temperature is over 85 degrees or under 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Pets traveling as carry-on cost $80 each way. For pets flying cargo, costs are based on weight and destination.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest does not allow pets to fly at any time.

[Lara's mom]

I've flown with quite a few animals. They were all small enough at the time so I could take them into the cabin and put the crate under my seat. They usually slept through the flight. I wish I could say the same about people's screaming babies and ill mannered children...

[dogwarmer]

TMI Todd.

Just curious about peoples experiences. Brodie is too large to go under the seat in the cabin. I'd have to crate him. Not sure he would deal with it too well. Don't want to traumatize!!

D

[Todd]

Originally Posted by dogwarmer

TMI Todd.

Just curious about peoples experiences. Brodie is too large to go under the seat in the cabin. I'd have to crate him. Not sure he would deal with it too well. Don't want to traumatize!!

D

sorry about that. didn't mean to bombard you with too much info. Just trying to help.

[OrangeDog]

Flying dogs is to high risk if you ask me. I have done it once but that was because there was no other option. If you are moving to another country, etc. it is worth it but not for a holiday, at least IMO.

I know many people who have had horrible flight experiences with their dogs, crates flipping, crates getting dropped, somebody I know actually had the airline LOOSE her dog for 18 hours!!! Plus many dogs die do to lack of air, temp extremes and/or stress.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by OrangeDog

Flying dogs is to high risk if you ask me. I have done it once but that was because there was no other option. If you are moving to another country, etc. it is worth it but not for a holiday, at least IMO.

I know many people who have had horrible flight experiences with their dogs, crates flipping, crates getting dropped, somebody I know actually had the airline LOOSE her dog for 18 hours!!! Plus many dogs die do to lack of air, temp extremes and/or stress.

Now that you bring it up, here's an article from MSNBC of a dog who died in this situation;

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A sixth dog in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race has died.

Race officials say the dog on Alan Peck's team died during a flight from Shaktoolik to Nome.

The musher had scratched in Shaktoolik, and officials were picking up the dog team Monday. Race spokesman Chas St. George says the airplane encountered significant turbulence during the flight. The pilot was forced to land in Golovin, where it was discovered that one of the dogs, a 2-year-old female name Cirque, had died.

St. George says the dogs were in good condition when loaded onto the plane. A necropsy has been scheduled.

Here's another article;

Dog Owner Looking For Answers Of Why Dog Died On Plane
Charity Young wants to know why her dog, Caleb, died on a plane from Atlanta to Buffalo.

This English Bulldog died on a Delta airlines flight when he was in the cargo area. Young said that no one at Delta knows how exactly Caleb died. She stated, “We feel like this is just another lost bag to them.”

Initially, the cargo handler told Young that Caleb was fine, but an hour later, she was notified that he had died. She said, “How do you not notice a dog that’s in that condition. There was blood and vomit in his crate. There was blood dripping from his mouth.”

A spokeswoman for Delta Airlines said they are looking into Caleb’s death. Young said that it took the airline ten days to get back to her after numerous phone calls.

An autopsy showed Caleb suffered from an unknown heart condition. Young said that her vet told it is something dogs can manage, and Caleb had flown previously before in the passenger area without any problems.

Here's a down right scary article here;

The Not-So-Friendly Skies

Commercial airlines are not deliberately cruel or even particularly careless when it comes to shipping dogs; they just aren't set up to deal with pets efficiently. Unless a dog is small enough to carry on board the plane, air travel is a risky way for it to go.

The basic problem is that to an airline, your pet is just an especially bothersome piece of baggage. And as everyone knows, baggage slip-ups are inevitable, given connecting flights scheduled too close together, long delays, and human error in a stress-filled, overloaded system. When a mistake means your luggage goes to Minneapolis while you go to Atlanta, you'll survive the inconvenience. But if your dog goes to the wrong city or is forgotten on a luggage carousel, it may not survive.

Special rules for assistance dogs. Assistance dogs travel with their owners, in the airliner's cabin.

AIRLINE RULES
For information on a specific airline's rules regarding animals, contact the carrier. Also check out the American Kennel Club's summary of airline animal shipping policies, available at American Kennel Club - akc.org.

The Problems With Flying
Put simply, a lot of things can go wrong when a dog goes on a commercial flight. Most problems occur on the ground, not during a flight. (Conditions on the plane are described in "How Dogs Travel on Airlines," below.) Here are some of the more common problems you should be aware of before you ship a dog.

The dog escapes from a cage. This can lead to tragic results, as it did in 1988 for a small dog named Loekie. Loekie, on a TWA flight from Dallas to Los Angeles, got out of his cage during a stopover in St. Louis. The dog was killed by a car on an airport road.
The cage gets tipped or crushed during transport. Sturdy travel kennels alleviate this problem to some degree, but mishandling - for example, putting a pet carrier on a regular baggage carousel - can toss an animal around.

The plane is delayed on the ground, with the dog in it. During flight, the cargo area in which pets travel is pressurized, and the temperature is controlled. But on the ground, no fresh air gets in, and the temperature can fluctuate dramatically in a short time. If you've ever sat in a hot, stuffy plane during the summer, waiting to take off or pull up to a gate, you can imagine how an animal feels in the even hotter baggage compartment.
Baggage handlers remove the dog from the plane during a stopover and then forget to load it on again. Animals are shipped in a compartment near the door of the plane where baggage is loaded. Unknown to the owner sitting on the plane, they may be removed during a stopover (so that other baggage can be unloaded more easily) and inadvertently not re-loaded.
The dog is shipped to the wrong place. Just like a suitcase, a dog can end up in the wrong place. Because few airports are equipped to handle animals well, a dog flown to the wrong destination can have a bad or even life-threatening experience waiting for another flight or for you to show up and claim it.

The dog is left in the heat, cold, or rain. An animal left outside at an airport may be subject to extreme heat or cold. An English bulldog died of apparent heat stroke in 1984 during transport; the dead dog was sent out on a conveyer belt with other baggage, where it was found by the owner.1 Many airlines no longer accept pets during the summer, and federal regulations prohibit shipping animals if they will be exposed to temperatures below 45 degrees or above 85 degrees for more than four hours.

The dog is left unattended, without food or water, in a "lost luggage" storage area. Because most airlines don't have special places for live animals, animals can sometimes end up abandoned with misplaced baggage. Usually, employees care for the dog as best they can. But if a dog is scared and snappish, as it may well be, it may get little care. Employees may not even know a pet is there.

Even if you plan carefully and everything goes as planned, air travel is frightening and stressful for a dog. And you often can't cope with problems as they come up, because you and your dog are separated during the critical times.

[OrangeDog]

very sad! But it happens often

[Todd]

REPORTED PROBLEMS
Airlines are required to report any incident involving an animal who is injured, lost, or killed to the Secretary of Transportation. Complaint figures are published in the Department of Transportation's monthly publication, Air Travel Consumer Reports, available on the Web at www.dot.gov/airconsumer. Very few problems are reported.

SHORT NOSE? STAY ON THE GROUND
When you fly, leave your Pekingese, bulldog, or pug at home. For these pug-nosed breeds, breathing - never easy - is just too difficult at high altitude. That's according to the Air Transport Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Some airlines don't accept dogs of these breeds if the temperature may be warm.

How Dogs Travel on Airlines
Some airlines don't accept pets at all, or allow them only in the passenger cabin. Others offer three options. From most to least desirable, they are:

in the passenger cabin
as excess baggage, or
as cargo.
In the Cabin
If your dog is tiny enough - generally under 20 pounds - to be comfortable in a pet carrier that fits under an airline seat, you can take it on the plane with you. You can find out the exact measurements of the under-seat space from the airline. Most airlines allow only one animal in the cabin per flight, so don't just show up with your dog; make arrangements when you purchase your own ticket.

Most airlines charge about $50 to $100 for the animal's one-way fare, regardless of destination. Many will also rent or sell you a kennel that will fit under the seat.

This is by far the best way to fly with your dog. Aside from being stuck in a carrier for a while (and not being able to stick its head out the window), it's not much different for the dog than a car ride.

EVEN ZSA-ZSA MUST FOLLOW THE RULES
Police escorted Zsa-Zsa Gabor off a Delta Airlines flight several years ago after she refused, according to airline officials, to keep her two dogs in cages. A Delta agent told the press that Zsa-Zsa's language was "less than ladylike."

Excess Baggage
When you're traveling with your dog, the dog may be able to travel as excess baggage. Many airlines, however, no longer accept animals as baggage of a ticketed passenger. Some airlines refuse to take certain breeds - American Pit Bull Terriers or Rottweilers, for example. And most major carriers now refuse to take dogs at all, except in the cabin, during the summer months, from about May 15 to September 15.

The dog travels on the same plane you do, in a cargo compartment that's pressurized, lighted, and heated. It's where all kinds of fragile items (flowers and musical instruments, for example) travel, according to airline officials.

Most airlines use the USDA regulations for commercial animal shippers as a guide for all animals they accept for shipment. These regulations require animals to be shipped in individual carriers big enough for them to sit, stand, turn around and lie down in.2

Many airlines require a veterinarian's certificate, saying that the dog is healthy and has had a rabies vaccination, before they will accept a dog to be shipped as excess baggage. You must present the certificate when you check in with the dog before your flight. The airlines that demand a certificate also vary on how recent it must be; 30 days is a common limit. This requirement is imposed by the airline, not by the law. The federal law that requires health certificates for animals shipped by air applies only to commercial animal shippers (dealers, exhibitors, research facilities, and others).3

Notify the airline in advance that you want to ship a dog as excess baggage. Even if it's allowed, each plane will only carry a few animals, and

certain items - things being kept cold with dry ice, for example - can't be put into the compartment with live animals.

Shipping a dog as excess baggage currently costs about $75, no matter what the destination. (Some airlines base their charge on the dog's size or weight.)

The size and weight limits that airlines impose on excess baggage apply to animals just like they apply to suitcases. Generally, anything over 100 pounds (counting the dog and the carrier together; a large carrier weighs about 25 to 30 pounds) must go as air freight instead of excess baggage. That means if you have an extra-large dog, you may have to pay an extra-large price to ship it. Shipping a dog as cargo is discussed just below.

[Todd]

CONT...

Cargo
If you're not traveling with your dog, or if your dog is too big to meet excess baggage size limitations, or the airline doesn't accept pets as baggage, the only alternative may be air freight. It's a poor option, for lots of reasons.

First of all, it is tremendously expensive. If you think of it as sending an overnight mail letter that weighs 100 pounds or so, you"ll get the idea.

Additional regulations may apply to dogs shipped as cargo. For example, you may need a health certificate signed by a veterinarian and rabies vaccination certificate.

Airline Liability Limits
Whenever you ship a dog, you run the risk that the dog will be injured. What you may not realize is that unless you buy extra liability coverage for a dog you ship by air, and something does happen to the dog, you may get stuck with the airline's decision about how much it will pay for your loss - no matter how much you lose.

International flights. Claims for damage that occurs during international flights are covered by special rules. (See "International Travel," below.)

How Liability Limits Work
The "NOTICE OF BAGGAGE LIABILITY LIMITATIONS" on the back of an airline ticket says that the airline's liability for loss, delay or damage to baggage is limited to a certain amount unless the passenger declared a higher value for the baggage and paid an additional fee to transport it. Remember, your dog is classified as baggage (carry-on or excess) unless you ship it air cargo. Similar liability limits also apply to air cargo.

Airlines can't declare themselves free of all financial responsibility for their carelessness toward baggage. They can and do, however, limit their liability to $2,800, the minimum required by the federal government.

The theory is that passengers agree to the liability limit in exchange for getting to pay the relatively inexpensive baggage rate to ship the dog. The airline can charge the low rate because it doesn't risk being liable for a huge amount of money if something goes wrong. And passengers have the chance to declare a higher value if they want.

That's the theory. The reality is that this "agreement" exists mostly in lawyers' minds. After all, it's not as if you bargain with the reservation clerk every time you buy a ticket, and finally agree that you'll accept a certain limit on the airline's liability in exchange for a certain fare. Most people assume that if an airline damages their baggage - suitcases, animals, what-ever - the airline will be responsible for paying a reasonable amount for the damage.

If you lose more than $2,800, and the airline refuses to make it good, you can challenge the liability limit in court (including small claims court, if the amount you're asking for is within your state's small claims court limit). In general, for a liability limit written in fine print to hold up in court, the passenger must have had:

notice of the limit, and
an opportunity to declare a higher value for the baggage.
Notice of the limit. If, as a passenger, you honestly have no reason to know about a liability limit, it obviously isn't reasonable to bind you to its terms. Courts look primarily at two factors: first, how obvious the limit

written on the ticket is, and second, the circumstances surrounding its purchase.

If the liability provision is buried in the fine print on the back of a ticket, a court may rule that you weren't given adequate notice. The limit must be clear and conspicuous, in big enough type to draw attention to itself. The language of the limit must be comprehensible. You may also be able to challenge the notice if the ticket says only that the complete liability limit rules are in a booklet that you have to ask for at the ticket counter.

If you didn't have time to read the ticket - if you bought an e-ticket and didn't print anything out, and you're not an experienced passenger - you may not be held to its limits. But if you're familiar with flying and with baggage liability limits, and you had your ticket days or weeks in advance, you will probably be held responsible for knowing what's written on it. The same is true if you were notified in some other way - by a conspicuous sign on the ticket counter, for example, or by an airline employee.

A chance to declare a higher value for the baggage. The airline must also give you a fair opportunity to declare a higher value for your dog, and pay a correspondingly higher shipping fee. If it didn't, you won't be held to the liability limit.

Most airlines do allow passengers to declare a higher value for baggage. The ticket will probably only inform you that you have this option; to find out how much the added liability coverage will cost you, you'll have to ask the airline. (See "Getting Extra Coverage," below.)

Example. In 1983, Thomas Deiro shipped nine racing greyhounds by air from Portland to Boston. The airline left the dogs in their cages on a baggage cart in the sun, in 97° heat, during a stopover in Dallas. Seven of them died, and the others were injured. Deiro sued American Airlines for $900,000.

The court awarded him $750, the liability limit at the time.4

The court analyzed the factors discussed above and upheld the airline's baggage liability limit. It reasoned that Deiro, who was an experienced traveler and regularly shipped dogs by air, should have declared a higher value for his greyhounds. "We find it difficult," the court stated, "to imagine how any passenger with Deiro's experience, planning to check a quarter of a million dollars worth of baggage, could have had more opportunity or incentive to familiarize himself with the baggage liability provisions."

Deiro had received his ticket nine days before his flight, but hadn't bothered to read all the print on the back. He paid dearly for his casual attitude.

Getting Extra Coverage
If you don't want to abide by an airline's liability limit, you can either get extra liability coverage from the airline or buy insurance from a private insurer. Obviously, if you're shipping economically valuable dogs, it will be worth your while to investigate. You can find out how much the airline charges for extra coverage by getting a copy of the airline's "contract of carriage," which is available at the ticket counter.

To get the airline to agree to a higher liability limit, you must declare that the dog's value is over the liability limit. The airline will charge you a higher fee, and if anything happens to the dog, you will be covered for the value you declared. For example, say you are shipping a show dog worth $10,000 as excess baggage, and the airline limits its liability to $2,800. Before the trip, tell the airline that you want to declare a higher value on the dog. The airline will charge you an extra fee based on the $7,200 of excess declared value.

[Todd]

The airline may limit the amount you can declare to a few thousand dollars. Above that amount, you will have to talk to private insurance companies to get coverage. Obviously, this all takes lots of time - another reason you should make your arrangements well ahead of time. Don't expect to take care of everything when you show up to get your boarding pass.

The same goes for air freight. Airlines limit their liability to about $9.07 per pound. Say you're shipping a 100-pound dog as air freight. The dog and carrier together weigh 125 pounds. So unless you declare a higher value, the airline's liability is limited to $1,133.75 (that is, $9.07 x 125 pounds).

How to Figure Your Losses
If the dog is injured or killed during air travel, you must put a dollar amount on your loss in order to make a claim to the airline. If your dog performs in races or shows, it may be relatively easy to put a dollar value on your claim. But if you got your dog free from a shelter, and its value is emotional rather than economic, what must the airline pay you in damages? It's a difficult question, and the answer seems to be changing as more and more courts become willing to take into account noneconomic factors.

SETTLING WITH THE AIRLINE
Even though airlines may not be legally bound to compensate pet owners for their emotional distress at losing a pet, lawsuits over such incidents are bad publicity, and an airline may be willing to settle a suit rather than go to trial.

American Airlines agreed to pay $15,000 to the owner of a dog that died in transit. The dog had been left in the cargo hold of an airplane - in 115-degree heat - when the plane was delayed on the runway for more than an hour.5 When the owner, Andrew Gluckman, sued the airline, it first offered just $1,250, the standard amount for lost baggage at that time.6

Advice for Air Travelers
If you must ship a dog, it's up to you to make sure the dog is on the plane every time you take off. Ask a flight attendant for confirmation from the baggage handlers that the dog is on board - or talk to the baggage people yourself. Be polite, but be persistent.

If you can, book a nonstop flight, even if it means choosing a less convenient schedule or airport. Most problems occur in airports, not during flights. Missed connections are a prime source of complications when you're shipping a dog; if you can't get a nonstop, make sure there is enough time between flights to get all the baggage loaded on the connecting flight. You can also do valuable research on how often a certain flight is delayed; statistics are now available from the airlines. When you tentatively schedule a flight, ask the airline representative what the on-time percentage is for that flight. Avoiding peak times (holiday weekends, for example) may also get you more cooperation from airline personnel. During hot weather, avoid flights in the hottest part of the day. During cold weather, try to schedule a stopover in a southern city instead of a cold northern one.

Be sure to get a well-made kennel for your dog. Watch out for ones that use wing nuts to attach the top and bottom. The wing nuts have been known to come off because of the vibration of the plane. You may also want to put a note on the outside of your dog's cage. The note should include the dog's name, your name, destination, flight numbers, and any special instructions or cautions.

IF YOU'RE MOVING
If you want help arranging transport of your dog, you may find it from the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International (IPATA), a trade association of animal handlers, pet moving providers, kennel operators, veterinarians, and others. Its member organizations use regularly scheduled flights on commercial airlines to ship pets, primarily for people who are moving, not traveling. They can help with pick-up and delivery, find flights with airlines and schedules that are best for your pet, provide flight kennels that meet legal and airline requirements, and help with health certificates and with documents that may be required for international travel.

The IPATA website is at www.ipata.com; you can call them at 903-769-2267. Another company that offers similar services is AirAnimal, at Pet Transportation Worldwide by Air Animal or 800-635-3448.

Don't feed your animal for six hours before the flight, but attach containers of food and water to the outside of the carrier, if possible. This will allow someone to feed and water the dog without opening the cage. Opening the cage is to be avoided as much as is possible: it not only makes the handler risk getting bitten, but also might let the dog escape.

Your dog, of course, should be wearing an identification tag - but not just one that gives the address you've just left, where there may be nobody home. Attach a tag with your destination, including a phone number where you can be reached. (You may also want to consider a method of permanent identification, such as having an identification number tattooed on your dog or injected on a microchip. See "Lost and Found Dogs" in the State and Local Regulation section.)

What about mildly tranquilizing your dog? The answer depends on the dog's temperament, health, and metabolism. Tranquilized dogs may be more susceptible to breathing problems, especially if they get overheated. And tranquilizers slow down an animal's metabolism, which is also affected by the change in pressure during flight. A less drastic alternative is motion sickness medication, which a veterinarian can prescribe. Talk to a vet who's familiar with your animal before you decide on a strategy.

CHECKLIST FOR AIR TRAVEL
Did you book the most direct and reliable flight?
Does the airline know you're bringing an animal, and do you know all the airline's rules?
Have you obtained health or vaccination certificates, if necessary?
Is the kennel big enough for the dog to stand up, lie down, and turn around in comfortably?
Is the kennel sturdy and well ventilated? Have you lined the bottom with shredded paper or other absorbent material?
Have you securely attached your name, address, phone number and any special instructions to the outside and inside of the kennel?
Have you labeled the kennel "Live Animals" and "This End Up" in letters at least an inch high?
Is the dog wearing an identification tag and a snug but comfortable collar (not a chain collar, which could get caught on something and choke the dog)?
Have you obtained adequate liability coverage for your dog from the airline or an outside insurer?

*All though this is scary, anything and everything is bound to happen with the amount of dogs who fly every day.

[Todd]

and one more thing for those traveling to Hawaii;

Special Hawaii Rules

Unless you're crossing national borders, you don't usually need to worry about special restrictions on taking your dog with you. But if you want to take your pet for a tropical vacation, you need to know that Hawaii quarantines all dogs - except guide and service dogs that meet certain require-ments - when they enter the state.

The current quarantine period is 120 days, 30 days, or up to five days, depending on what rabies testing is done before the dog arrives in Hawaii.

To qualify for the five-days-or-less quarantine,

the dog must have received at least two rabies vaccinations, not less than three months apart, the most recent one between 90 days and a year before arriving in Hawaii
the dog must have had a microchip identification implanted by a veterinarian, and
a blood sample, identified by the microchip ID number, must have been tested for rabies antibodies 120 days to 18 months before the dog arrives in the state.
There are many detailed rules about what paperwork is required and when fees must be paid. Make sure you get all the information you need well in advance - keep in mind that there's a 120-day waiting period after the blood test - so that the process goes smoothly.

Not only do you have to give up your pet, you have to pay for it: the current cost is $1,080 for 120 days, $655 for 30 days, or $224 for five days or less, payable when the dog arrives in Honolulu. Airlines deliver pets directly to a state holding facility, and the state takes them to the quarantine station on the island of Oahu. Dogs are kept in individual outdoor runs. Owners can visit their dogs during afternoon visiting hours but cannot take the animals out of the kennel.

State officials stress that it's important for owners to arrange, in advance, for a private animal hospital to provide emergency veterinary care. The quarantine center handles minor ailments, but it does not have facilities for major medical problems. Unless a veterinary hospital has agreed in advance to accept an ill pet, the state will not take the animal to a private hospital.

Special Rules for Assistance Dogs
Different rules apply to assistance dogs, as a result of a lawsuit by guide dog users.7 If you meet certain requirements, you can keep your dog with you after only a brief examination in the Honolulu airport. Before you go, you must:

Get a letter from a physician setting out your disability, unless your dog is a guide dog.
Get an ID card or certificate that shows that the dog was trained at a specialized school.
Have an identifying microchip implanted in the dog.
Make sure your dog's rabies vaccination is current, and have documentation.
Have the dog undergo a blood test for rabies.
Get a health certificate issued within two weeks before arrival.
Notify the animal quarantine station at least 24 hours before you arrive, so they'll be ready to take an immediate blood sample from the dog when you get there.
When the dog arrives in Honolulu, airline personnel will take it to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility. There, the quarantine officials will examine the paperwork and the dog. If everything is in order, you should be able to leave, with your dog, in about 15 to 20 minutes.

HAWAII QUARANTINE INFORMATION
Animal Quarantine Station 99-951 Halawa Valley Street Aiea, Hawaii 96701 808-483-7151 www.hawaiiag.org email: rabiesfree@hawaii.gov

[dogwarmer]

Thanks OD

I think I agree. I would hate to do anything that would affect the happy spirited dog that I live with. Would never forgive myself.

D