HELP! Need to move two dogs from Atlanta to Phoenix

[engineertwin2]

On Friday, my girlfriend's aunt passed away at the early age of 46. It was her wish (in her will) for us to take her two dogs (one shih-tzu and one pug), which we would love to do but found out this morning that the airlines that I have called require someone be traveling with the dogs. So that means we'd each have to fly out to Atlanta and bring back one dog (no more than two per flight and no more than one per person) each. A quick google search pointed me in the way of http://www.petmovers.com but they want $1400.Does anyone have any experience shipping pets or any recommendations on what to do to get the dogs here? $1400 is a lot of money and it is going to hurt pretty badly, especially here as the holidays approach..Any help is greatly appreciated.

[BlueCrush]

I see a road trip in your near future.

[joatmon]

never had to do anything like that, so looked on expedia.com to see who had the cheapest air fares, delta had a non-stop between Phoenix and Atlanta, so looked at Delta's pet regs, and found http://www.delta.com/planning_...cargoQuote »Delta Pet First is designed to address the special needs of all warm-blooded animals shipped without their owner.no idea what it costs, but seems like it would have to be cheaper than flying out to Atlanta to fetch them back.

[engineertwin2]

BC - I may have a road trip indeed...Joatmon - Thanks, I had called Delta and they were the one of the airlines that told me I would need to be present and on-board to arrange travel with my pets.

[engineertwin2]

Well, Joatmon was very right...I called Delta back and got a different person. This person seemed to know what he was talking about. After laying out all of the restrictions, etc, etc, it will be about $390 for both dogs shipped as live cargo via Delta. For both dogs shipped as live cargo via American Air, it will be $365, but they have more stringent ambient temperature restrictions than Delta because one is a pug. The last option I have gotten is from Uship, in which someone offered to drive them out for $300. This option would take 4 days, but may be less stressful on the dogs.So, I go back and ask for your help again - had anyone had the experience or heard of experiences with either road handlers (wether it be dogs, cats, or horses) or flying pets? It seems some people tend to think that its more stressful on the pet for it to fly, and I might agree.Also, while I am having the vet fax the animals' records over, if they fly they will have to visit the vet again within 10 day of flying in order to receive a certificate of health...so the $400 is reallistically about $475 or so...but if they are trucked, they wouldn't require this vet visit. But is it just me or could it be sketchy having someone just drive your dog out to you?

[CAN-AWD-VIBE]

when we moved from toronto to calagry (4hr flight) the vet gave them (one cat one schnauzer) some drugs and away we went... they were fine. The best part is when you let them back out of thier cage and they still have a little of the groggyness about them. LOL very funny. (not being mean but it was funny to watch my normaly nimble cat stumble around as if she was drunk)My sister routinly flies between vancouver and calgary (45min-1hr flight) drug free... no problems and they are both French Bulldogs (2yrs &6mo)I would not do the driving option 4 days on the road seems like a bad idea. I would lean on the flight side and if it is long then get the drugs to settle them down and relax and if it is short then it should be no problem.form atlanta to arizona it cant be more then a 2hour flight right?

[joatmon]

I wouldn't drive a stranger's dogs cross country for only $300. as far as the effect on the dogs, I'd say it depends ont he dogs, their personalities, age, etc, stuff I don't know, and probably couldn't assess even if I did know. Not sure how much the dogs know you anyway, so no matter how they get to Phoenix it will probably be a lot fo stress for them, new climate, new home, new humans, no more Aunt. Four days on the road will be a lot of stress for the pups, if they ly out at least it will only be a few hours of stressPass our sympathy on to your girlfriend for the passing of her Aunt.

[engineertwin2]

Thanks Joat...will do...

[Charlievibe]

Hi. Several years ago we adopted a rescue dog and had to fly him to us (long story). Anyhow, he came American Airlines with a friend of ours. At first, I didn't think it was going to work out and wanted to ship him back to his person who brought him to us. Delta would take him as live cargo but it was only during a certain period of the year. If the ground temperature at either port was below or above a certain temperature, then they wouldn't do it. You will need to check into that. Also, we were told that they required someone to be on the other end to meet the plane upon arrival (i.e. you had to be at their cargo pick-up location, not the terminal). In the end we didn't ship him back because we thought he deserved one more chance. Glad I didn't!!!Good luck with your move and I am really sorry to hear about your girlfriend's aunt. It is wonderful though that you are are willing to take her kids, she was able to pass on peacefully knowing her kids would go to a home of love. My kids will go to the rescue group that our dog came from. I have built in transportation costs in my will and let my life insurance policy to the group to make certain my kids are taken care of.I am a little off-topic here, but there is a group, I don't remember the name, that will take your pets after you pass on and will look after them the remainder of their lives. I had thought about that but at the time was not financially in the position to enroll them. Today, different story and I may once again look them up and go for it.I would be very careful with having someone drive your animals to you that you didn't totally trust them. If there is a family member where the kids are coming from, you could meet them half way to save a long drive. Why can't one of you fly out there, have the kids loaded as cargo on the same plane you are on and go from there? Just a thought. Anyhow, sorry to wander off there, good luck to you. And I wish a good and safe trip for your new kids!!!!

[engineertwin2]

Thanks Charlie...I have been trying to convince the girlfriend to fly out to Atlanta to bring them back, but with it being the Thanksgiving weekend, we can't find a ticket less than $1200 (and that is the bereavement rate!). Even if she flew back, no airline would even come close to guaranteeing that BOTH dogs would make the flight (most of the airlines restrict it to one pet per passenger, no more than two in the cargo hold or two in the cabin).We are having them shipped via Delta Air Cargo or American Air Cargo...I'm too jaded at the thought of having someone drive them out and the cost savings (approximately $50-$100) isn't worth the stress of having them on the road. So we are gonna cargo them out. You are right about temperature restrictions (typically 40 deg-F to 75 deg-F)...which is somewhat of a concern living in Phoenix. Right now the weather is a balmy 78 deg - but that creates a problem because they are very strict about the 75 deg limit with snub nosed dogs, and since one is a pug they won't consider budging. It does look like mother nature is gonna cooperate and there is a cooling spell at the end of the week into next week (low 70's high 60's). And yep, either airline will require us to meet them there (I don't even know the dogs' names yet).