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The recent dog incident involving Qantas highlights the perils of air travel with dogs. It is simply a risky venture with so many possibilities for problems. There are some air carriers who will no longer accommodate pets. For those airlines that still will allow pets in the cargo space, here are some suggestions for as trouble-free a trip as possible:

• obtain written confirmation that the airlines will accept the animal and what are the specific requirements for travel. This will involve the crate dimensions and documentation. If a second airline is involved on part of the trip, it is essential to have written confirmation from all air carriers.
• carry documentation concerning your dog. This involves identifiers such as tattoos, record of ownership, veterinary records indicating the most recent shots and so forth. This is for both domestic and international travel.
• check to see if the flight or flights have heated cargo. If the flight does not have heated cargo, use one that does.
• have a water supply system in the crate so that the dog does not become dehydrated. This might be a new experience; and the panting and stress may cause dehydration.
• arrive in ample time before the flight and speak to the ground crew who will load the cargo. Ask if there is anything that they can suggest to insure a safe flight. Some ground crews have excellent suggestions and know their cargo system well. Request that your dog be loaded last. In that way, you can confirm that the dog is loaded into cargo and the dog crate is near the first items offloaded. The captain can ask for visual confirmation that the cargo is on-board.
• at the bridge (where you go onto the plane), let the flight crew know that you are travelling with live cargo and request a check on loading. Most crews, with the very rare exception, will be very helpful and the captain can pass along loading confirmation to the flight crew.
• carry cleaning supplies. There is a likelihood that the dog might have been ill or might have soiled during the flight. It is a new and anxiety provoking experience for the animal. Check what cleaning supplies are allowed. Security can be very limiting. However, wet towels in a container, similar to what one would use with an infant, are very helpful. You might ask people who are awaiting your arrival to have cleaning supplies available.

There are other precautions and those who travel with their pets regularly are welcome to add to these suggestions. Many people who travel with their dogs to obedience competitions or dog shows, for example, may have more up-to-date suggestions. Travel regulations seem to be changing on almost a daily basis.

One final note that people will raise is whether the dog should be medicated. That is a decision that you should discuss with your veterinarian. There are too many factors involved to make a blanket statement on this issue. However, whenever possible, my personal choice is not to medicate. The reason for that is I feel that the dog can handle the experience the flight without its physiological system being altered by medication. It is something to discuss with your veterinarian for your dog. - And, if I had a choice, I would not fly with a dog. I avoid it whenever possible. There are simply too many things that can go wrong and the cargo is too valuable.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: air carriers, dogs, flying, security, Travel

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