Help! Moving Dog to the States

[BlueToffee]

Please could somone help as I am haveing a nighmare trying to organise a way of getting my Boxer over to the States.
For some reason to use BA these days you have to use a 3rd party an we have been quoted by them a fee between £1500 - £2000 just for the Dog!

The other option we have is to sail on the QM2, for me the wife and the dog its only £2000 but then we have the problem of the 12 hour drive from New York to Atlanta.

Delta class the Boxer bread as pug nosed and wont take a pug nose animal to a detination thats over 75F so no chance of flying with Delta into Atlanta in July/August.

Has someone out there taken their pets with them?

Thanks
Darren

[mr&mrssunshine]

we have with Virgin but used a company in Dorset called Petair UK. I cannot speak highly enough of them.
they organise everything -yes you pay extra but boy did we get the service.
we flew out on Nov 30th -the day the snow started ,and on thei recommendation Marley our 125lb Mastiff was scheduled the next day. this gave us time to pick up a car and all our luggage,got to a hotle for a nights rest and then be ready to greet him the next day.
EXCEPT -the snow got worse. we woke to a phone call saying gatwick was shut so they had taken him back to the kennels near Windsor,he was fine and we should head to our home and they would let us know the next day what was happening.
next day Gatwick still closed but they advised they could get him to Heathrow for a flight to MIA. which he did.
during a very stressful time they kept in touch with phone calls and emails (often out of normal hours). Boarded and fed him, drove him half way round the Uk and all for no additional charge. the service was first class and whatever extra we paid was worth it.

you are correct some airlines wont fly snub nosed breeds in Summer.

as for the cost -well Marley is part of our family so it was part of the cost of moving -

I would avoid Delta as some US airlines get a bad rep for pet care.

Perosnally if we had to do it again -Petair and Virgin for me every time -even if it meant a drive

[byjove]

I would vote QM2 so what for the 12 hour drive, it would be a 9 our+ flight and your dog would be much happier.

[byjove]

try and get everything registered in the UK i.e. micro chipping then rabies shots and keep records, because if you had to return it is not so easy. I am not sure about where you are moving to, but there is heartworm here and you must give preventatives every month.

[mr&mrssunshine]

we enquired about the QE2 and were snottily informed 'we do not take large dogs, only smaller ones'

you can just imagine all those little 'fifis' running around

[Susie]

Just curious, do pets (all kinds) have to have a pet passport of some sorts

[mr&mrssunshine]

I believ the answer is yes and no.
they do not need one to travel UK to US as the Uk is designated non rabies and therefore they can travel.
HOWEVER to return they either need one to show they have had their shots or face 6 month quarantine as the US does have rabies