Pet Travel Blog

It was reported by the government recently that “Money lost in Internet crimes hit a new high last year, topping about $240 million”.  It also stated that one of the biggest scams on the Internet is fraud that involves pets.  You do have to be careful!  Any pet shipper and/or pet travel agent in the United States can tell you of stories from clients and colleagues where people were completely ripped off by using an on-line company to purchase a pet.  A big part of this scam is the actual shipping of the pet to you the buyer.  Scammers have been known to use the names of established pet shipping companies.  They tell the buyer that their purchased pet is being delivered by one of these companies…when in fact it is a total lie.  As pet shippers we are very aware of these scams and do all we can to sort them out and get them off the internet.  If you need to use a pet shipper or pet travel agent here are things you need to look for:
 

1-Are they a member & in good standing with IPATA-International Pet and Animal Transportation Association?
www.ipata.com
2-Does the company offer references of past clients whom you can contact independently if requested?
3-Does the company that works with the animals have a USDA handler’s license?
4-Can the company answer specifically all questions regarding the transportation of your pet from origination to destination?
5-How long have they been in business and can they document this information for you?
 

Be careful and do your homework!  There are WONDERFUL companies that ship animals all over the world…just make sure you know who they are!
 

www.puppytravel.com

The New York Sun published today an article about the Westminster Dog Show currently running in Madison Square Garden. http://www.nysun.com/article/48474
Bradley Hope who wrote the article is ‘right on’ about the fact that none of us have forgotten about Vivi.  What happened and how can we prevent this from ever happening to our own beloved pets?  From a pet travel agent’s perspective I have thought long and hard about Vivi and my take on what happened.  I honestly think that someone with the staff at the airport must have opened that crate door to get a look at this darling animal.  The suggestions in the Sun article are great.  I would like to add a few more.
Use an IPATA members – International Pet and Animal Transportation Association- http://www.ipata.com-to ship your pets.  IPATA pet shippers know their business.  They check your pet in with the airline, present required documentation for TSA and know the airlines that are the best with pets.  They also know the agents and individuals that handle the pets at the airports.  They really know what they are doing.  Puppy Travel is a member of IPATA. http://www.puppytravel.com
-If you are traveling with your pet, make sure that you advise the flight attendants as soon as you board the aircraft that you are traveling with your pet.  Ask them to have the pilot call down and advise the ground crew that he needs a call when the pet has been boarded.  Do not sit down in your seat until you KNOW that your pet has been boarded.  Don’t buckle up…just wait.  I have never had a client have a problem with this specific request.  Remember that the pets are the “last on & first off’ the aircraft so more than likely you will not be alerted that you pet is on board until just before the passenger aircraft door is closed.  Be patient.  They will do it. 
-Never take your eyes off your pet until it has been accepted and is the responsibility of the airline.  If you need to get your vehicle out of the parking lot before you can put the pet and crate in your car, PAY someone to watch it for you-a neighbor, friend, cousin.  It is money well worth spending.
-TSA should inspect your pet while you are still there.  Don’t release your pet to the airline until all inspections have been completed. 
-Ship you pet as ‘manifested cargo’ instead of ‘checked luggage’.  The airline ticket counter agents work mostly with humans-not animals.  They will treat your pet the same as your golf clubs or skis.  If you ship them as ‘manifested cargo’ you know where they are all the time because you can track them on the internet.  Checked luggage is what it is….’checked’…they have no idea what happens to it once they place it on the conveyer belt.