Flying with a Dog

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Big Dan and I are headed to Canada for an October Duck/Goose hunt.

I want to take Maybelle.

I have never flown with a dog, but I know it is done regularly.

Any tips and pointers appreciated.

thanks,
Jay

[Bert Rodgers]

flying to Saskatchewan with ole Buggs about 8 years ago. Luckily he is bullet proof.( He still is, he's beat cancer, been lost for days despite being deaf and is now 12 1/2 with no quit.)

I flew North West from BWI. We were routed thru Minianpolis
to Saskatoon.The 1st leg went without a hitch and we switched planes. After we got on the plane in Min. it seemed to be taking forever to take off. Mind you it was every bit of 90* on the tarmac. I look out the window and see the baggage cart with Bugg's crate parked next to the plane and a couple of extremely intellegent baggage handlers scratching their heads and crotches as that class of people is in the habit off doing.

After an interminable wait and a plane load of increasingly grouchy fellow travelers my name is called over the PA system. Now 75 pissed off people are watching me discuss the situation with the Pilot, desk mamnager and flight attendent.

The plane they used for the connecting flight was not properly configured and insulated to carry pets in baggage. My buddy and I had paid and plained the trip months in advance and now we were Fd and the poor dog was out on a hot tarmac, with jet engines whining all around him.

We ended up getting off the plane and getting another flight to Edmonton where we had to rent a car and drive 200 miles
to N. Battleford.

The good news is, the hunting surpassed all expectations, and Buggs was a star both retrieving waterfowl and flushing grouse and partridge.

The trip home was comparatively uneventfull

Double check everything before you go!

Bert

[Birddogging]

Capt Jay.

I have been fooling with bird dogs for many years and sent and picked up dogs via the airlines a bunch. Flying with dogs can be tricking if you don't follow all the rules to a "t". Canada is also different than the US; be sure to ask the airlines you'll be traveling on. Customs could also slow down the shipping and recieving process. You'll have to have health certificates less than 10 days old. (coming and going). There will be rules about the size of the kennel and acceptable bedding. Must also have the food and water bowls that attach. That time of year you also might want to think about a crate cover. Once the wind starts blowing up there in the fall, you never know what type of weather to expect.

Hope you have a great adventure.

Rob