[rdlfamily]

We want to move to Florida within the next year or so. We have an elderly pit bull mix and a cat. We would be moving from New Jersey. Has anyone had any experience with pet transport companies? We don't want to put them on an airplane because of the horror stories we've read about airlines. Our pets are family to us and we want to be sure they are safe. We cannot drive them down ourselves as our car is way too small. I'd be so grateful for any help and recommendations. Thank you.

[evening sun]

Hire a bigger car & drive them yourself.

[bmw335xi]

Yep, rent a large car or a truck, safest way to do it.

[jambo101]

Rent a C class RV, the pets will feel right at home for the trip..

[wizrap]

I have never used a pet transport company but if I did, I would contact movethedog.net. I lurk on a retriever message board and many hunters and breeders have used this service to get dogs from one place to another. Pet transport is not entirely uncommon in the dog performance world.

I know nothing of the prices or if they take cats but if they don't, perhaps they know of someone or some other company. Anyway, they get high marks for their services in the performance dog world.

I suspect renting a bigger car would be cheaper but just a warning--I have seen too many rental agreements that prohibit animals in cars. So read the fine print. That's prevented us from renting a car many times as we often travel with our dog.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Rent a C class RV, the pets will feel right at home for the trip..

I don't think you can do a one way rental with RVs like one can with a car, and that would obviously be a pricey option to make 3 trips.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by rdlfamily

We want to move to Florida within the next year or so. We have an elderly pit bull mix and a cat. We would be moving from New Jersey. Has anyone had any experience with pet transport companies? We don't want to put them on an airplane because of the horror stories we've read about airlines. Our pets are family to us and we want to be sure they are safe. We cannot drive them down ourselves as our car is way too small. I'd be so grateful for any help and recommendations. Thank you.

You might look at renting a U-Haul 10' Truck which is on a van base with bucket seats. There's just enough room between the seats for a larger carrier for your dog and the cat can go in a smaller carrier on top secured to the one underneath. It might be a little cramped for them but you'll no doubt stop once or twice each day to let the dog out and being with you will help considerably versus with strangers. There are lots of pet-friendly motels on I-95 where you can overnight for a comfortable two day trip. Comfort Inns, Best Westerns and Quality Inns are the most common on I-95 and most take cats, which isn't always a component of pet-friendly oddly enough.

[rdlfamily]

We are seniors and my husband is unable to drive for any great distance due to back injury. It would be too difficult for us in retrospect even with a larger car. We would have to have someone drive us and that would not be practical. Hence the reason for inquiring about pet transport companies. I particularly wish to thank Wizrap for specifically addressing our question. I will look into the transport company mentioned. Again if anyone has experience with these companies I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks again.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by rdlfamily

We are seniors and my husband is unable to drive for any great distance due to back injury. It would be too difficult for us in retrospect even with a larger car. We would have to have someone drive us and that would not be practical. Hence the reason for inquiring about pet transport companies. I particularly wish to thank Wizrap for specifically addressing our question. I will look into the transport company mentioned. Again if anyone has experience with these companies I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks again.

Mentioning the back problems and inability to drive would have helped the rest of us trying to offer suitable suggestions as it was not mentioned in your original post...

More so for others looking to the forum in the future as an FYI if it does not work out to transport the cat with the pet-moving company, you can now bring them on board with some airlines. JetBlue, Delta and Southwest all allow cats in the passenger cabin within a carrier that fits beneath the seat.

[mph101]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You might look at renting a U-Haul 10' Truck which is on a van base with bucket seats. There's just enough room between the seats for a larger carrier for your dog and the cat can go in a smaller carrier on top secured to the one underneath. It might be a little cramped for them but you'll no doubt stop once or twice each day to let the dog out and being with you will help considerably versus with strangers. There are lots of pet-friendly motels on I-95 where you can overnight for a comfortable two day trip. Comfort Inns, Best Westerns and Quality Inns are the most common on I-95 and most take cats, which isn't always a component of pet-friendly oddly enough.

There isn't enough room in the (cab)10' U-haul for any sized carrier, no way. I know I used that truck and ended up with all 3 of my small carin terriers in the cab, 2 on the floor board and one in the seat. A adventure in a temp 550 mile move, that I had the pleasure of repeating 11 months later same sized U-haul.