From:
MC
Date: 2001-10-24 03:00:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Flying the Friendly Skies
I hadn't heard about this 'Air Tran' but suspect it is a regional airline. Delta and America West are the only two National airlines that allow
ferrets in-cabin. Period. Don't waste your time searching...they just don't exist. (OK gentle reader, prove me wrong!) Continental (As well as
Delta) have a counter to counter animal cargo service that is exceptional...and pricey..but a very good way to ship ferrets if need be.
By the way, I will, at this time, put to rest some of absolutely untrue stories that people like to flaunt about air cargo and live animals and
mention a few live animal shipping facts.
1. All cargo holds (Baggage compartments) are heated and pressurized. This is NOT up to the carrier, it is an FAA mandate.
2. Animals do NOT die, en masse', when shipped air cargo. (Contrary to popular belief, not even Marshall Farms' ferrets die because of the shipping
methods.) If this were true, the airlines would be in even more financial trouble from all the lawsuits. Almost all of the major dog and cat
breeders around the world ship their animals to professional handlers on a weekly basis. Many of these show dogs are worth millions of dollars. (If
you have ever tried to ship a live animal and were told the flight was booked...no more live animals that flight, it was because of show dogs!)
3. Some airlines, because they use contracted cargo handling facilities, require that only company accounts can ship live animals. You must check
the airline before you make the arrangements to ship.
4. ALL kennels (Shipping containers) must be FAA and airline approved. The two types are NOT synonymies. Check!
5. All kennels MUST be hand searched before being accepted by the cargo agent, so don't seal the kennel before you arrive.
Contrary to what some airlines may or may not tell you, a current (Issued within 10 days) vet's health certificate is REQUIRED for each animal in the
kennel shipped within the United States. International shipping also requires the health cert but must also include proof of inoculation for any of
the 'requirements' for the country the animal is being shipped to. (This includes Canada!) Some airlines are very lax on this FAA and Department
of Agriculture's requirement, and may not ask for it, but...a copy MUST be on the kennel and if not, the animal could be confiscated and impounded
for 10 days....DON'T take the chance....
6. All airlines have temperature extremes in which they will not accept the animal. These are called 'exceptions'. They are different for almost
all airlines, so make sure you have a release from your vet stating that ferrets can easily live in sub-freezing weather. Be temperature explicit.
Trust me on this...you do not want to be shut out on shipping day because the weather exception for your animal's destination is 32 degrees and the
destination is 20! Also pay attention to 'heat' at your destination..again..there is an upper limit for animals on all the airlines, but it may be
too high for your ferret....use some common sense if it is summer. These temperature limits are in place, not for the aircraft itself..cargo hold is
temperature and pressure controlled, remember?, rather for the ramp time...taking the animal to and from the aircraft, many times the aircraft being
miles from the cargo facility. (LAX, SFO, Kennedy, Newark, Chicago, etc.)
7. Make sure you animal has plenty of food and WATER for the trip. A trick I use for water is to freeze a cottage cheese container of water and
then have that in the kennel. I use the same type container for the food as well. I take the lids and cut a hole, just large enough for the fuzzie
to get his head in without being caught. The animals lick the ice for liquids and no mess occurs on the trip...the ice will last, on average, 8
hours. I then take two more cottage cheese containers and hot glue them to the front floor of the kennel. Then, a couple of pop rivets to secure
them. Then, I simply plop the food and ice containers into the secured containers and voila, a non moveable, LARGE supply of food and water. With
rare exception, this system of food and water had stead me well over the years.
8. If you are shipping a ferret to a new home, do the new owner and the ferret a BIG favor...include a small bag of the kibble the ferret is
imprinted to. YOu never know when all airlines will be grounded and the cargo handlers have no clue what a ferret eats. If you include kibble,
there is no question the fuzzy will get the appropriate food.
My expertise, if you may, on shipping animals on commercial airlines, stems from my having imported ferrets for a number of years and then shipping
them all over the United States. Haven't lost one yet! I have run into each and every one of the things I wrote about. You have no idea how
frustrating it can be, to be stymied at the last minute. Preparedness will prevent any frustrations.
If anyone has any questions about shipping, and would like straightforward answers, from someone who DOES know, feel free to email
me...MC@P... I will gladly respond.
For our ferrets!
MC
News Gal wrote:
> OK, so we have Air Tran, Delta and America West who
> are ferret friendly. Just in case some of you are
> considering a little traveling also, just found out NO
> for Northwest. I wrote them back to tell them that
> it's unfortunate since Ferrets are just about as
> popular as dogs, cats and surely birds. Then
> proceeded to tell them that I will have to fly another
> airline that has already recognized this :) Anyway,
> does anyone know about Continental? I haven't heard
> back from them. I'm a little nervous that Felix won't
> handle flying well. Any tips? Thanks.
>
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