HELP, best way to ship dogs from mich to montana? (Detroit: relocation, trip)

[michigan guy]

I am moving from west michigan to montana. I do not drive and have 2 dogs i must freight to montana, I have researched a bit on airfare and its crazy expensive. does anybody have any ideas or numbers that might help shipping them by rail or truck? any help would be appreciated.

[trinkit]

What breed of dogs are they? I just relocated to South Carolina (home for the holiday) and did a good amount of research in flying my dog (a Rottweiler) home with me. I found a couple of things that were "deal breakers": the cost of the ticket was equal to, and in some cases more, than the round trip fare for me, she would be shipped in the luggage compartment, she would need an "approved" carrier (cost around $100), she's still a puppy at 17 months and would be EXTREMELY stressed (as told by friends who have shipped their dogs) by the end of the trip. In ADDITION to all of that, airlines will NOT ship live animals if the temperature is below a certain temperature (too cold) or above another certain temperature (too hot) -- but I'm not sure what that temperature is. I never considered rail or truck -- no direct rails to Aiken SC -- but that may be the way to go. My advice would be to hire a friend to drive the dogs to their new home -- they will be much less stressed that way.

[Peter B]

Yup! Rent a car and have someone drive with you. DO NOT send a beloved family pet and leave it at the mercy of an airline. A death sentence for all intents and purposes. Incredibly selfish as well.

[michigan guy]

Thanks, yes i did look at airlines and incredibly expensive for 2 german shorthaired pointers. 1500$ for the both of them. I dont drive and am taking the bus to montana myself and the dogs will stay behind for now with mom and dad so they will be in great hands. i was hoping by rail or some such thing would be economical as money is an issue but i must know they will be taken care of as they are like kids to me.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by michigan guy

Thanks, yes i did look at airlines and incredibly expensive for 2 german shorthaired pointers. 1500$ for the both of them. I dont drive and am taking the bus to montana myself and the dogs will stay behind for now with mom and dad so they will be in great hands. i was hoping by rail or some such thing would be economical as money is an issue but i must know they will be taken care of as they are like kids to me.

If you love them, have someone drive them!

[rutha1105]

Originally Posted by michigan guy

Thanks, yes i did look at airlines and incredibly expensive for 2 german shorthaired pointers. 1500$ for the both of them. I dont drive and am taking the bus to montana myself and the dogs will stay behind for now with mom and dad so they will be in great hands. i was hoping by rail or some such thing would be economical as money is an issue but i must know they will be taken care of as they are like kids to me.

I agree, for $1500 someone can drive them, and you, too!

[trinkit]

From what I understand, rail prices are not much cheaper than flying. NO ONE will treat your dogs with the love and care that you do NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.

I agree with a previous poster: rent a car and drive them. You're coming into winter and I know of no common carrier that does not have an outdoor temperature restriction -- meaning that they WON'T ship them if the outside temperature is too cold. THAT in itself should tell you something: the compartments that the dogs will be in are NOT temperature controlled.

If none of these methods (renting a car or having a friend drive you) is an option for you, then the best thing for the dogs would be to find them a good home here.

As I said in a previous post, I am now working in South Carolina, but home for the holidays. My company will pay for a FLIGHT home, but I chose to drive home (a 2 day-900+ mile trip) so that my "baby" was with me and not boarded or treated as "freight".

[doverama]

If you or someone else can't drive them, find a company that specializes in transporting pets by truck. I Googled Pet Relocation Services and got for example: TLC Pet Transport. Nationwide Animal Transport Service or Pet Transport Transportation Transporting Pets or petride.com/worldwide.htm -- it looks like they may be able to do pick-up and delivery across the country (despite not being in Michigan).

I noticed that a company in Livonia indicated on the IPATA web site that they do long distance road transport - Detroit Dog Boarding Michigan Boarding Kennel Overnight - Belle Creek Kennels-- If they don't do it maybe they can recommend another kennel that does.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

Airlines also have rules about the temperature in the departing city and the arrival city, if its too cold or too hot in either, they animals won't get loaded.

[michigan guy]

Thanks all yes im gonna fork the money out and ship them via plane, I cant leave them behind they mean to much to me and one of them goes into bad depression (not eating etc.) if seperated from me. Was just hoping somebody knew a more cost effecient way as i work construction so the last few years in this grandhole state have killed me.