Trained Dogs Rule

We all love our dogs and when we vacation we like to have them with us. That’s not too difficult if we are vacationing within driving distance or we are renting an RV and travelling across country. What, however, do we do when our vacation destination requires us to fly?

Many Humane Societies recommend that you not transport your dog by air unless it is absolutely necessary. Most airlines treat your beloved dog as cargo. Many cargo areas are not temperature controlled so your dog can experience extreme temperatures, poor ventilation and lack of oxygen. It can be quite a rough ride.

A law passed in the States in 2005 required that airlines report all animal incidents that occurred in cargo, such as death, injury or loss. The airlines responded by implementing restrictions accepting pets as cargo.

There are some things you can do to prepare your dog if you absolutely have to fly.

• Makes sure their health is up to the flight.
  
• Get them used to a crate (they will be crated).
  
• Make reservation well in advance.
  
• Check on airline policies.
  
• Check and see if dog can be in cabin with you.
  
• Fly direct.
  
• Try to book and early morning or late evening flight in summer.
• For winter months book flight for afternoon. 

When you arrive at the airport, check in on time, which is usually an hour and a half before the flight. Some airlines will allow you to keep the dog until they start to load the plane. If they insist on taking the dog then ask them where the dog is going to be kept. Find out if the area is heated or air-conditioned, depending on the time of the year.

Once they take your dog find the side of the plane where they load the luggage and watch for your dog to be loaded. If you don’t see your dog – ask. Do not take their word that your dog has been loaded. I made this mistake once years ago. Be persistent until you know for sure your dog is on the flight.

When your flight lands find out where they unload the oversize baggage because this is where your dog should be. When they bring your dog out, get him away from the mainstream. Let him calm down for a few minutes and then snap on his leash and let him out. Take him outside for a relief break and maybe a drink of water, then go back and get your luggage.

I haven’t flown my dogs in years. The first time I flew we had a bad experience. First mistake was not having a direct flight. First leg of the flight was good then had to change airlines in Montreal. I did not see my dog been loaded and inquired and was assured that she was on board. When we landed at our destination lo and behold – no dog. Seems they left her in Montreal. That particular flight only comes in once a day so they supposedly put her in a kennel overnight in Montreal.

We had to go back and get her the next day. When the flight landed and they unloaded the plane sure enough there she was. Now you have to understand that this airport was a small air force base – no closed in walkways here. I don’t know if they were afraid of her or what, but two of them picked her crate up walked a few feet and set her down. They repeated this until they got her inside. A two minute walk took them about twenty minutes.

What happened next was unbelievable. They had her in a back room and she was howling. This was the first time we had ever been separated. They did not want me to go back there until people who had just landed had kinda cleared out of the place and they did not want her loose at all. They also had a kennel bill from Montreal that they insisted I pay before I could even get my dog.

I don’t recommend the next action I took but I walked past the woman to my crazed crated dog, quickly opened her cage and snapped a leash on her. I told the woman if she wanted to stop me go ahead but I was walking out of there with my dog dragging the crate.

Needless to say I have no idea how much the kennel bill was and my dog and I walked out of there dragging the crate behind us.

I thought about that incident for some time and the only conclusion I could come to that would explain their behaviour was that they were afraid of my Doberman. At that time Dobermans were getting a bad rap.

For the rest of that vacation I had a 95 pound Doberman attached to my leg.

Until next time

Maureen Brownell