New puppy comin' - need advice!

[Dogmama]

ISince then, I give a small donation to 2 different animal shelters here every year. Our stringband also volunteers our music services for the fund raising event of the Humane Society as well, which is a huge success.
I DO empathize with your wanting a new and very special dog in your life. But all those hundreds of dollars spent just to GET the puppy to you?- please do consider how many homeless and sick abandoned animals could be saved or helped with that kind of money.

Lisa, my cat is a rescue - just a day away from the needle at the Humane Society because he is black & nobody wants a black cat (according to them.) I will always have rescue cats.

I give hundreds of dollars annually to our local Humane Society and ASPCA. When Katrina hit, I sent money via a credit card to the ASPCA to help the animals - figured the people would have shelters! I have volunteered (and will do again when I retire) with local dog training clubs to help people with their dogs. My hope is that if Fido can sit/stay and generally be a good member of the family, he won't end up in the pound.

I also want a dog that I can show in AKC obedience and that means a registered dog. Because my love is German Shepherds, I insist on buying from a careful breeder (not a puppy mill) as the breed is riddled with health problems. I neuter/spay immediately - always have.

I appreciate your opinion and agree wholeheartedly. I've been in dog training for 35 years and hopefully have convinced many people to neuter or spay. My favorite retort to "Oh, I want little Bubba Jr. to witness the beauty of birth!" is "Well, then have Bubba Jr. go to the pound on euthansia day to witness the result of your folly."

[Dogmama]

The drive is a minimum 3 day (10 hours/day) drive. We decided that this might be more stressful for Junior than a short plane ride. If it were any shorter, I'd do it. I had already mapped out flying over, renting a car & driving back.

So, we fly to Charlotte NC, rent a car to go to the thriving metropolis of Lenoir. Spend a day, pick up Junior & drive to Atlanta. Take a 4 hour direct flight on Delta (supposedly pet friendly airline) to Phoenix. S/he is booked as baggage, but I'm going to plead, whine, cry and generally beg to bring Junior on the flight inside of the cabin. Then we drive 1.5 hours from Phoenix to Tucson.

Thank goodness for good travel agents!

[Bad JuJu]

I've also heard that Delta is one of the most pet-friendly airlines there is. I think there are even times/places when they simply won't fly pets because of high temps.

Anyway, good luck with your trip, and try to find time to post some pix of the little one when you get him home!

[hiker chick]

I'm going to plead, whine, cry and generally beg to bring Junior on the flight inside of the cabin.

Get him one of these to wear -- extra extra small -- and he'll look convincingly like an assistance dog in training.

http://www.sitstay.com/store/clothing/service1.shtml

My Samoyed's a certified therapy dog. For liability reasons she wears her organization cape only on official visits. Sometimes when we're going to a dog-friendly retail store I've put her non-official cape on because it puts at ease people who may be afraid of dogs. It is not my intent, but it also keeps a lot of people from approaching her because they assume she's an assistance dog. I actually like adults and children to approach Gidget because it's good practice for her therapy work.

In a perversion of the Americans with Disabilities Act, if a psychiatrist will affirm that you need your pet with you at all times for your mental health, then airlines have felt obliged to oblige by letting the animal ride in the cabin.

I personally couldn't in good conscience play the ADA card, but many have.

The Atlanta-to-Phoenix direct flight sounds like a very good plan. With a crate for the pup to ride in, I don't think a long car ride would be a problem for the pup. In fact, the quality time on your lap and stops at public places like rest areas, restaurants and hotels would be excellent socialization opportunities. Socializing with people, that is. Not having had all its shots, the pup would be dangerously young to mix with other dogs.

High-quality breeders fly beloved and valuable dogs every day. 99% of the time there is no problem. On that note, it's probably safer than driving.

[Nanci]

You wouldn't believe the wide variety of reactions to him going through security. Some places let me just walk him through the metal detector, others had to inspect him, others had to call a supervisor to inspect him, others made me log him on a hazardous item log sheet (along with golf clubs and human eyes!) Once actually on the plane- (he rides in a little mesh purse) they let me carry him on my lap the whole time.

No one ever asked to see his ticket or health certificate...(which he had!) (I even photoshopped him a tiny passport with his picture in it and everything, just for fun!)

Nanci

[Bluetree]

Take a 4 hour direct flight on Delta (supposedly pet friendly airline) to Phoenix. S/he is booked as baggage, but I'm going to plead, whine, cry and generally beg to bring Junior on the flight inside of the cabin.

I hope you get to bring your baby into the cabin, but please make sure the other passengers are aware of this. The only time my ex (a surgeon) had to give emergency medical assistance on a plane involved a passenger who developed severe breathing problems/chest pains. Fortunately, it was only an asthma attack... but it was brought on because someone had a cat carrier near the guy, and he had a severe allergic reaction. Dogs don't seem to elicit as many reactions as cats do, but it would be polite to warn people nearby if they have allergies.

[Nanci]

Another good thing about going out there and flying back with the pup is you get to see and meet mom. That's pretty informative, I think.

I've flown dogs as cargo and not had any problems. I've also flown with them as baggage and not had any problems. I don't believe there is a price difference for a pet ticket between cabin/baggage, and the last time I flew with Dillbird, his ticket was $75 each way. The size of the under-seat carrier is small- the pup diefinitely couldn't sit or stand.

Nanci

[KnottedYet]

I love the idea of Dillbird flying in a plane. I don't know why, but it just tickles me!