Shipping help - Page 1

I've got a rescue pup here that I'm trying to get to her new home in Colorado. We'll be shipping out of LAX. We tried shipping the other day, and the temperature in Denver was ONE degree too cold for her to fly in...the idiot I talked to on the phone (just prior to making the two-hour drive to the airport) did not mention the wind chill as a factor and said she'd be just fine to fly. Needless to say I was a bit peeved at leaving my house at 2am for absolutely nothing. Sorry, I don't mean for this to sound like a rant...lol. The person getting this dog is becoming quite a hassle herself, demanding this pup fly on a non-stop flight to Denver because someone has scared her into thinking the dog might not ever arrive if it has to connect flights somewhere. Continental has no temperature restrictions to due their temp controlled stuff and getting her there with Continental seems like the best idea. Only the prospective owners are throwing a tantrum about the dog having to first fly to Houston. Is there anything I can tell these people to reassure them? They've never flown a dog before and seem (to me) to be overreacting about the whole experience. I cannot remember the last time I managed to get a dog on a non-stop flight anyway, and have flown dogs from this coast to the east coast with nary a problem. And so many others have imported dogs....maybe someone could give me some advice on how to handle the new owner? As for me, I'm ready to throw in the towel. I've had bronchitis for two weeks, am 5 months pregnant, and my tolerance for people is going down the drain, haha. Thanks in advance for any suggestions :)

Sorry, but I can't imagine shipping any live thing to Denver right now. It's a mess there. Can't the shipping be postponed for more agreeable, safer conditions?

I live in Colorado and do GSD rescue. I do hope that this dog is not going to end up in a situation where it needs another home......I will not adopt out of state, nor do I take out of state dogs because we have too large a problem here to begin with and I certainly cannot take a dog back from another state, let alone get it there. The temperatures all week will be too cold to fly the dog in the early morning or later in the afternoon. Tomorrow and Monday the winds may be blowing 60 to 70 miles per hour and because of all the snow blowing whiteouts will occur. Today I-25 from Pueblo south to the NM boarder was closed because of this. Tuesday and Wednesday temps may be around 45 or so, but early temps will be in the teens. By Thursday we are expecting another storm which might be serious. I suspect that the airport and cargo operations are still not back to normal in Denver because of two blizzards and the ensuing problems. The cargo building for Continental is not heated where the dog would end up, and obviously neither is the actual tarmac where the plane will end up. It is about a 30 to 40 minute operation, assuming things go quickly, to get a dog off a plane to the cargo terminal which is some distance from the airport tarmac. I would not want a pup out in these conditions, especially one that is not acclimated. I do a lot of shipping now and then. Non-stops are, in my opinion, always better and whenever I import a dog for myself or a client, yes, I try hard for no stop overs. There are too many opportunities for problems to arise. Dogs can and do escape, temperature and airport/airline issues make for difficulties and each time the dog ends up somewhere else where other dogs are being held there is the opportunity for infection to take place. I find it strange that you cannot find a home in your own state and if you did, you could avoid all this hassle and refer the people to either me or to the local shelters. We have lots of GSDs in this state that no one wants.

Thanks for the weather info. I was not aware that their facilities were not heated as they make it out to be. Usually I do not adopt out long-distance unless its a spectacular home, and I have local rescuers (local to the potential adopter) that are available to do the home check and family interview for me, and also folks to fall back on if there is ever a problem down the road. This pup is not a GSD, it's a Gordon Setter mix and priority is given to those who own or have owned Gordon Setters. I can't tell you how many inquiries I get from people that see the cute pup on Petfinder or something but have no clue what a Gordon is.....those are the folks I have to weed out. This puppy in particular has temperment issues and an extremely competent and experienced home is required for her, which is why I'm attempting at all to go through all of the hassle to get her to these people. If any mistake is made on who I place this pup with, she'll end right back up in the rescue system (or worse) and I'm not willing to let that happen to her.

Think it would be more stress on the dog if a chain of ground transports was arranged, with the long hours being on the road? I probably won't be able to pull that off, but it's a thought I did and put a few feelers out.

I do not know exactly where you would be sending the dog from, but by your web information it appears to be in CA. Driving from CA to CO in winter time can be very challenging and I would be surprised if you can arrange this, even in small segments by different people. Yesterday, for example, the main highway had to be closed again for several hours because of blowing snow. There was a huge avalanche on a mountain road. The wind is blowing and expected to go as high as 70 mph in some places in Colorado today and tomorrow. It is very cold here. I think there are many, many obstacles to this idea of adopting a dog over such a long distance, especially during winter and especially given the conditions we are experiencing here this winter. Good luck with the pup.

You know I have been shipping with Continetal for 8 years and have never had a problem with them. They are very nice people and real dog lovers. I would just let the people know that this is the only option...or they will not be able to get the puppy...unless they want to drive down and get him themselves. I have found that people will push you as fare as YOU will let them. If you try to do to many things,,,change plans...then they will want you to do more. I would just lay it on the line, that this is the only airline you can use and that the Houston people are very nice and take very good care of the dogs during the layover, and that is the best for the puppy, the least amount of stress all together.

The more I think about it, the more I feel like they ARE trying to push me beyond the limit. I "laid it out" for them last night, and I got a rather grumpy email from them today - complaining that "if you had sent her on Thursday when we asked you to, this would not have been a problem". I was so upset because I feel like I have bent over backwards on all their requests (more pics, more videos, more this, etc). But, they sat on their butt about getting the adoption fee, adoption contract, and shipping/crate money to me...and expected me to send her on Thursday without that in hand? haha, no way. I'm just so irked about the situation. Is that even a word? Asked them to send the money this way, they refused, had to do it their way and wasted 4 days going back and forth about it. It's like, not to sound like a control freak or anything, but I told them the easiest way to get things done - easiest, least hassle way - and they fought me on every detail. And if they'd done what I said, the dog would have been out on Thursday and probably there. Oh well, I just updated her stuff for Petfinder and hopefully a family will come along soon that would be a good match for her. Guess the best way to get to know people is to go through a little adversity with them, then the true colors show :)

Maligator, For what it is worth, I think in the end you likely did the right thing in waiting. It too has been my experience that when people begin to act as you say these people did, they probably are not the right home. Sometimes, despite our best efforts to screen on an adoption form, once you begin to spend a lot of time talking to someone and see that they do not follow through on their end and then begin to blame that on others, it may not be the right home at all. I am sure you will find this pup a great home in time. Good luck from a GSD rescue founder.