Flying, airplanes and so on

[Schouiffy]

I couldn't decide where this post should go, so I'm tossing it to the general B talk.

The fates it seems enjoy playing with my life and it's likely that instead of coming back to the States in the fall I will be going to the UK. Marvelous for for me, and not so marvelous for my baby girl. In fact it's inducing a whole host of problems. Lycia will more than likely have to fly back to the States until she can get her Pet Passport and her bloodwork cleared from the UK for rabies etc. As I don't know anyone who would be able to foster her here in Europe for 7 months or so. :(:(:(:(

On the subject of flying, which I must do though I despise it, I wanted to know if someone has had experience with shipping dogs internationally?? I just want some opinions on the ins and outs, dos and don'ts, especially WHO flies the dogs? There is a good chance I will not make the flight to California with her so she will have to go alone. The new Pet Airways sounds awesome, but they don't do international flights.. shame shame.

Any help would be appreciated. On a personal vent, my work HAD to book me off to a country I can't bring my baby sans quarantine.:mad:

[Basenjimamma]

What a pickle! I am sorry to hear that you have to go though that as well as that Lycia has to potentially go back to the states before she can come over to you. It doesn't make sense..well it does, but it doesn't:(. I had Otis fly to come to me and I didn't like it, especially not now in retrospect. I know it is a pretty common occurrence and people do it all the time. I am sure plenty of breeders have done it from the States to Europe as there are a few American born B's in Europe, right?
Yes, doesn't that pet airway sound cool?
Otis did well, considering. He was fine, dirty frrm urinating and pooping in the crate..his plane was delayed by over 2 hours, but otherwise OK. I hate flying with a passion, so I understand them not liking it as well..

[Borbasuk]

Bryn flew in from Minneapolis to Heathrow when he was ten months old. He had to fly cargo (this is so for all dogs coming into the UK from the US, when you finally get your girl here; and it is expensive compared to checking the dog as excess baggage). I was on the same flight but I didn't get to see him until three hours after we landed.
He took it very well all things considered, but then he is a laid back sort of chap with an 'easy' temperament, and was young enough to be adaptable. He soon recovered and settled in with the two harpies that already lived here. I gave him a good six weeks to settle before he was shown.
I do think it's important that the dog is used to and comfortable in a crate, preferably the type of airline approved one that will be used to fly in.

[NerdyDogOwner]

I read somewhere that if you get an "Overseas Chip" for your dog it will shorten the possessing of the clearance considerably. That might be something to look into, talk to a vet or something about getting one.

[Janneke]

You can always bring her to the Netherlands..

[tsjoe007]

Or to Belgium !

[nobarkus]

Would you be sending her to your parents here in RWC?

[Schouiffy]

hehe. I woke up this morning to such pleasant remarks!! Hey, if Belgium or the Netherlands want to take on my girl I have no objections what so ever, both locations are far closer than the US!! I would be thrilled to find someone to keep her in Europe until her paperwork paned out.

Yes Dan, she would go to RWC if I can't find a European foster, but she prob would only be with my parents a short while as their B is a female and would not tolerate Lycia in the house. I have few relatives on the east coast, but I just would feel better knowing she was with Basenji people. sigh I'm really quite distraught because I was assured I would be staying in Switzerland for the next five years, and come to find that promise was broken after year one. It's the big guilt trip having to do this to her, because she really loves to be with her people. Makes me feel like a bad mommy.

I think I'll have to get in contact with some breeders and ask them about the logistics of long flight shipping. Going into the UK, from my research, is a complete nightmare, plus the idea of shipping a dog cargo makes my skin crawl. To be fair, it does make sense since there is no rabies. But requiring a dog is shipped cargo and on certain routes by certain airlines is just… well more exhausting. I might look into a charter plane. Any of the UK people import and have a working knowledge of DEFRA Pets scheme ??????

[Borbasuk]

@Schouiffy:

hehe. I woke up this morning to such pleasant remarks!! Any of the UK people import and have a working knowledge of DEFRA Pets scheme ??????

Yes, as I said I brought Bryn in in 2003. The regulations have changed in minor detail since then (more routes etc. and the paperwork is slightly different) but the essential factors of microchip, rabies shot, blood test then 6 months wait are the same. Wanda and I did all the arrangements ourselves and we were flying in the dark to a certain extent as we were among the first, but we managed. Others have used a shipping agent and that, while more expensive, probably isn't a bad idea. The only issues I have heard from others who have imported have concerned the tick treatment paperwork not being correct, but that just meant an overnighter in quarantine. Going cargo really makes little difference to the dog as she will be in her kennel in the hold anyway; it's just more expense/logistics for us!

[Elscodobermann]

Schouiffy if you are looking for someone to look after your girl until her pet passport allows her to travel - Lynn Glass of Gaindyke Dobermanns lives in France - she provides a service for people who are importing dogs into the uk - i know certainly she does for dobes, but she has owned several Basenjis herself in the past ( a couple of Azenda ones in the early 1980s which made me want one!). It might be worth having a word with her. Just google Gaindyke Dobermanns she has a good website (think its www.dobermanns.net)

Also, if your not keen on flying your girl over to the uk there is always the ferry as an option.

hope it all works out well for you

Scott

[Janneke]

@Schouiffy:

hehe. I woke up this morning to such pleasant remarks!! Hey, if Belgium or the Netherlands want to take on my girl I have no objections what so ever, both locations are far closer than the US!! I would be thrilled to find someone to keep her in Europe until her paperwork paned out.

You can find my emailaddress here: http://mirtillo.weebly.com./about-us.html It's under the 'here' link

Scott's suggestion doesn't sound bad either and Walter is a stay-at-home Basenji dad, so that's perfect too

I think you will work something out

[Schouiffy]

Oh splendid. I will be writing some emails then

Scott, thanks very much for the suggestion of the ferry, honestly I think that will be how I do it! If this all gets confirmed (in the next 3 weeks) I'm looking forward to meeting the UK side of our Basenji forums!!