How to get my dog home

[StrandedPup]

Hello All!
I’m a resident of St. John in the US Virgin Islands and trying to get my adopted dog here. Currently he is stateside in the US. I’ve looked into making him a service dog, getting a private jet, and putting him in cargo. He’s skittish (trauma the poor soul carries from when he was a pup), I can’t afford a private plane, and I’m afraid putting him in a plane’s cargo will give him a heart attack (the airlines advise heavily against sedatives before flying). I’m left desperate with few options, which is how I ended up here asking y’all. Any advice for solving? I thank you in advance for any ideas!

[slugsgomoo]

As far as sedatives go, we used to give our dog valerian root for the 4th of July to help with the fireworks. It made her mellow and she would just ignore the fireworks and hang out with us.

[StrandedPup]

great advice! i had not heard of valerian root. I will research, thanks!

[skipmac]

Instead of sedatives I thought the recommended prescription was a tranquilizer. Years ago we had a scrip for doggie Valium for a dog that had a problem riding in the car on long trips Don't recall any concerns or warnings from the vet for this.

[ozdigennaro]

We need to know the weight of the dog. Each airline has a max weight for flying in the cabin. Do that if you can.


If you must fly the dog in cargo, get a big crate.

we had success with "175 mg trazadone" which our vet recommended.
Our dog was glad to see us, and recovered quickly.


We are in Q Roo, Mexico. Aeromexico was by far the best, reasonable price, and good attention to the dog: last in as cargo, first out. And all service people loved dogs.


Oz with Lulu our dog, 55 pounds

[sail sfbay]

Based on my experience flying a greyhound from Scotland to San Francisco and a dog from San Francisco to London and back in cargo (14+ hr flight):

1. Train your dog to sleep in a crate of the size size specified and required by the airline.....we flew our dog in a crate, albeit he was comfortable in the crate since he likes sleeping in one.
2. Hire an exporter in the US and importer in St John and confirm their documentation, vacination, crate, etc. requirements, if required by the airline......we did that.
3. No sedative......our airline and the exporter would not permit that.
4. Book the flight for yourself and the dog. Find out the airlines documentation, traveling requirements and if they can fly in the cabin or in cargo.
5. DO NOT fly the dog in warm months, if it has to travel in cargo.

[guyrj33]

By boat?

[JPA Cate]

Hi, StrandedPup,

If there is any way at all you can do it, fly with the dog. If it is at all traumatized, it is you to whom it will look for comfort. Return to States. Take dog to vet, to get right dose, and the one time valium, will not hurt the dog, but it has to be the correct dose, and also calibrated to the dog's nervousness. Fly back with it, same day.

Good luck with it, but here I would follow your vet's advice relative to your particular dog...and if it comes to it, as in the vet recommends strongly against it, consider re-homing the animal pal, as the lesser evil, if you cannot get it to the islands.

Ann

[Sailshabby]

Check with some of the veterinarians in Florida. I lived in Tampa for awhile and my vet offered shipping services.

[Dreamcatcher34]

Would seem if the hound isn’t a good flyer a ferry is the only option but a long trip inside a vehicle or in the hold if say going to Puerto R appeals. I have seen references to companies which manage whole process -that’s how we can take a dog home from EU to UK (unless going via Ireland) by dog taxi which travels on the cross channel ferry ,however a shorter crossing than 13 hours etc. I guess not many yachtsman in Florida who would take fee paying dog passengers going to St J which might be your real dream solution.

[Bill O]

After some friends put their dog in a cargo bay for long distance travel, I don't think it would be my first choice.

For whatever reason the cargo bay lost pressure for an unknown length of time and the dog was ever quite right after the flight.

May not happen all the time, but wouldn't want to take the chance.

[JPA Cate]

Bill, a long time ago, i was told the baggage compartment is not pressurized. If this is correct, it is no way to ship a pet.

Ann

[Bill O]

Ann,
The incident happened many years ago. Now the cargo holds are pressurized and some are temperature controlled as well. Again, not sure if I'd take that chance if it were my pet.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Bill, a long time ago, i was told the baggage compartment is not pressurized. If this is correct, it is no way to ship a pet.

Ann

Ann, as a former long haul flight attendant I can assure that many and varied animals have done long journeys on aircraft. The hold is the lower section (below the passenger compartment floor) of a large pressure vessel, the entire thing is pressurised however the hold may or may not be heated, depending on the need at hand. I also spent a few years as a quarantine officer at Sydney airport and in that role checked a lot of travelling animals.

[JPA Cate]

Thank you for that. It makes sense, too, because the animals do survive.


Ann