I just had to share this with someone. My husband and I are slowly researching again, to get little Mia a playmate.
We even are considering flexing our hard and fast rule... "NO shipping". As there are so many wonderful breeders out there, who have babies available, but are a bit of a distance. We will only consider, if the flight is very short. We also may wait a little bit, as well, and give Mia sometime, but still wanted to research, and if the right fit came about, we would be blessed with two little babies.

When corresponding with a wonderful breeder, who does not ship, she shared with me a recent event that happened to her friend.

Her little baby was stuck in cargo for four days. The baby did survive, but what an ordeal.

My God, just thinking of that poor little baby stuck in cargo. I would never make it through the four days of worry.

So, I share this with all of you, as it is so heartwrenching to think about, and also in hopes it helps someone else avoid this happening to one of their little babies.

If my husband and I do have to use the alternative of shipping, we would defintely hire someone to bring the baby on the plane, and keep them on their lap.

Are there any other ways to avoid this happening? Just breaks your heart.

Christine

I was just reading up on the transport via air...


Is counter to counter different? It says it's the safest way to transport.

Still so heartsick.

Are you all aware of the bus program???

There is some bus that travels 24 hrs a day and has a staff onboard that feeds and gives your animal attention and they stop for potty breaks that way you know your dog is fully taken care of and you don't run any risks of getting them lost.

No, I never heard of that. Do you have anymore information on that?

Thank you.

Here are some pet transporting companies..there are many out there - I got these off of a google search. I do not know anything about them. I am my own pet transporter as my breeder does not ship either.. and I love visiting CA - so it was easy for me to do. Best Wishes.


Option 1
Option 2
option 3 NorthWest Airlines
option 4
Option 5
Option 6

Awww thank you so much!!!!!

If I couldn't pick them up myself I would stick with someone very well recommended that others have used before. Gatiger40 and her hubby transport via plane and I know a few people that have used them. I don't know how much the ground transports cost but I'd be beside myself with worry until I had that little bundle of white fluff in my arms. I'm just a worry wart.

Me too Maggie. I came out of the womb worried!!! We will only do what's very best for the little baby, and worry, that it's too soon for Mia, worry that she misses a playmate...worry worry worry.

I sit at my computer with her on my lap, and pull up the youtube with the maltese playing with each other...and she looks at it so intently, and just tilts her little head..back and forth...back and forth......

When Catcher was shipped (1 hour direct flight) I chose counter-to-counter service. As soon as the plane arrived, a flight agent went to the plane and brought his crate to a special office that handles this sort of thing. He didn't ride on the baggage cart or anything like that. This was USAirways. Even though the flight was just an hour, he also had an hour car ride to the airport and then of course had to wait to board, etc. I'm not sure I'd do it again.

Thanks so much for sharing..it is alot to think about.

I would say that something ever happening to an animal being shipping (whether it be the animal gets lost, delayed, injured, etc) is an extremely rare case. Airlines seem to always take great care of animals, especially the cute little white fluffy puppies (honestly, even someone who hates dogs loves Maltese puppies!).

When I had London shipped to me from Tennessee, it was a fairly long flight. The breeder paid extra to "insure" the dog, and she had said that they seem to take even better care of them if they are insured. London was shipped cargo, but in a climate-controlled plane, so there was no extreme heat or cold. When London arrived at our airport, I had to go to the counter, show proof of identity, sign for her, etc. I felt very comfortable with the whole process, and would do it again if I had to. Now, if paying someone to escort a puppy in the cabin was only $50-$100 more, I would probably do that instead. At the time I didn't know about puppy escorting.

I think shipping puppies is safe and most of the time, isn't overly stressful on the pup. I know everyone has their own opinions, as some refuse to ship, but I personally think it's okay.

So you are shopping for another baby? Good for you. I would if I could. I don't blame you for not wanting a baby shipped. That's why we looked for a breeder in driving distance. I don't think I could live through the worry. What state are you in? Where did you get Mia? Maybe her breeder would know of another who has pups that she would recommend. Maybe you could wait until she has one available and give Mia the time alone you were talking about. Lots of suggestions coming your way.

I'm in South Jersey. And we do want to give little Mia sometime to learn and spread her wings...but we do also want to have a playmate, and know sometimes it could be up to six months or longer, for the right one. We were thinking after her spay operation...would probably be best. Oh, how the head spins

Where baby Mia, came from, was just a stroke of blessed luck. A very sweet lady, mother of a friend of our nephews, and she just bred this one time, and won't be breeding again. At least not for a very long time. She said it was very scarey. But what a sweet lady.

Lots of suggestions, you are so right, and I am so grateful for them all.

Mia seems fine, being the only one, I think it's hubby and I that worry more then Mia wants a playmate. It's so hard to tell.

Sometimes, when I am in the kitchen doing the dishes, she plays with her little bally, like it's a playmate...or that could all be in my mind.

THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH!!!!

When I looked up shipping the dog in the cargo section, it says you need to provide food in the event of an emergency (delays, I assumed). And Delta (at least) said that they take extreme care of the dogs. I'm still hoping I can take him in the plane with me though but I don't know how he'll do zipped up in a bag either. He's too big to move around in it much but I do understand you can't have them in your lap they have to remain under the seat.

We just had a local incident with a lost dog at the airport. A couple and their dog were flying from Alaska to Portland, OR. The dog is a 40 lb. dog so was in a crate in baggage or wherever they put them. They arrived in Portland but when they tried to pick up the dog they found a baggage person had felt sorry for him and opened the crate. He escaped and was missing for 5 days. He was found 5 days later hiding under some heavy equipment at a construction site several miles away.

You just never know.

Oh God

This reminds me of the show dog, I believe it was an Italian Greyhound, that was lost at Kennedy Airport in NYC. They never did find the pup....

I was just thinking the same thing!

And I know many people have had their doggies shipped to them safe and sound, but I would NOT want a doggie shipped to ever. I KNOW full well I would "die" from stress over it.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

enJOY!
Melanie

I don't think that I could have a little Maltese puppy shipped to me. We made the trip from FL to NJ to pick up Abbie. I also wanted to be able to meet Abbie's breeder (Kandi Maltese- Andrea) in person. Personally, I don't mind traveling to get a puppy because I couldn't put them in the cargo hold. Maltese puppies are just too little do that with. I guess it is a personal decision. I too, worry way too much, so having a puppy shipped...I would be a worried wreck.

I've had multiple pups shipped. I prefer the Delta service...they wait in the office until its time to board and are unloaded and wait in the office until picked up. My pups have all done great. I had a breeder zip tie the crate shut, and I like that idea so nobody opens the door. When I helped my friend ship her dogs to HI, we did the same.

This is an example of the reasons most (but not all) responsible breeders do not ship their puppies. Despite many safe
and efficient transports, things do happen with air travel, especially in the last few years with delays for security, getting
rerouted to another city or whatever. When I got Bonbon from California, the 21-year-old son of good friends of mine
flew out to SF to pick her up and bring her in the cabin with him. It cost $80 for her "ticket." It may be OK most of the time
but I wouldn't risk it.

I agree too. I would be beside myself. Aside from the worry of the transport, My biggest fear, when they get home, is to make sure they eat. Seems the first week, I would just hold my breath, and think in my heart...pllllllease be a good eater.

They are so tiny when they first get home, there really isn't much to work with, if they miss a meal. THANK GOD, Mia is an incredible eater. She is the first baby, I didn't have to hand feed.

We are going to wait a little big, till Mia, finds her way around, and gosh she really is doing so well, THANK GOD again.
We are thinking of adding a playmate, after her spay operation.

We talked to an incredible breeder, who we just fell in love with, and if we are unable to make the drive out, we will consider flying out, and also the breeder has someone, that will bring the baby on the plane with them. It wouldn't be a long flight at all.

I was adamant about no flying and when I first heard about it, I felt like I just couldn't breath.

Thank you all for your wondeful input.

When corresponding with a wonderful breeder, who does not ship, she shared with me a recent event that happened to her friend.

Her little baby was stuck in cargo for four days. The baby did survive, but what an ordeal.

My God, just thinking of that poor little baby stuck in cargo. I would never make it through the four days of worry.

So, I share this with all of you, as it is so heartwrenching to think about, and also in hopes it helps someone else avoid this happening to one of their little babies.

If my husband and I do have to use the alternative of shipping, we would defintely hire someone to bring the baby on the plane, and keep them on their lap.

Are there any other ways to avoid this happening? Just breaks your heart.

Christine

********************************************

This is an example of the reasons most (but not all) responsible breeders do not ship their puppies. Despite many safe
and efficient transports, things do happen with air travel, especially in the last few years with delays for security, getting
rerouted to another city or whatever. When I got Bonbon from California, the 21-year-old son of good friends of mine
flew out to SF to pick her up and bring her in the cabin with him. It cost $80 for her "ticket." It may be OK most of the time
but I wouldn't risk it.


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I feel the same way as Bonnie has expressed above.

If it were me, I would pick up my puppy personally. Or, if I couldn't fly ... I would have a trusted friend or relative fly and bring home the puppy.

We have a neighbor who works for United ... and, unfortunately, she said people would never believe how bad it is for pets shipped in cargo. I believe her.

We drove to Norfolk to pick up Snowball. In fact, we drove to Norfolk to visit with him a few times until he was old enough to come home with us. So, again, for myself, I would be a nervous wreck and feel uneasy having a puppy flying cargo at all. I would be okay though if a trusted friend or relative flew home with the puppy in their lap.