Professional pet transportation companies are popping up everywhere to help owners get their pet to a desired destination without them.
There are two types of animal transportation companies. The first is a pet taxi-type of service. Pet taxis operate much like a people-carrying taxi service, however, the drivers are trained animal handlers.
Pet taxis are great for people who do not own a vehicle or have access to one, but require local transportation for a veterinarian or grooming appointment, for example.
Depending on the pet taxi company, the dog or cat’s owner does not always have to ride along with his/her pet. Some companies will collect the pet and drive it to a pre-determined destination. If the pet requires a ride home, the taxi driver will often wait or return to collect the animal and drive it home. There is traditionally an extra charge associated for this type of service.
The second type of animal transport company is one that arranges for your pet to be transported to anywhere in the world by either ground or air transportation. These types of pet transportation companies are run by, and employ, highly trained travel co-ordinators who also happen to love animals. The goal of this type of pet transportation company is get a person’s pet from one location to another in the safest and quickest manner possible. In essence, these people act as travel agents for cats and dogs.
This service is primarily used when the pet and his/her owner are travelling separately. Another example of when this service is utilized is when a person has purchased an animal from another part of the country, or world. The professional pet transporters co-ordinate all ground and air pet transportation, take care of the animal prior to boarding and in between connecting flights, as well as ensure the animal is delivered to the appropriate person in the final destination city.
The pet transporters will also help to arrange for the pet to have all of his proper documentation with him and attend to any of his needs while travelling.
When animals travel by plane, they are transported in the live animal section of the plane’s cargo hold. This section is pressurized, insulated and temperature controlled to ensure maximum comfort of the animals.
When transporting an animal via air travel, the time of year is of particular importance. Airlines will not allow an animal to fly during excessive cold or hot temperatures. Although the animal cargo area is temperature controlled, airlines establish these embargos based on ground temperature in an effort to prevent illness or even death in the travelling animal. This is especially important for dogs with compromised immune systems, weak immune systems – such as puppies, and for breeds that have respiratory problems such as Pugs and other short nosed animals.