This is directed mostly to Petmate (Doskocil) and the Pet Owner
URGENT
As of this date 28 Oct 2010  We Will NOT
accept any shipping kennel that is NOT held together by nuts and bolts.
NO  EXCEPTIONS !!

Many of your current travel kennels are TOTALLY inadiquate for pet shipping, particulaly as cargo or excess baggage.

For instance, you continue to market the so called double door kennel, with a door on top.  This should be banned for life!  Pets should ALWAYS have total solid

top protection from elements, etc.  Plus the door on top is very poorly connected.  Your cheaper models have poor connection devices (top to bottom)  Most airlines

are now properly requiring nuts and bolts.  The spring loaded door latches are VERY poor on many models.

You continue to attach labels to these kennels saying they are airline approved..... This is totally NOT true.  I have only been doing this for over 40 years.  I know what

the airlines say when we show up with these poorly constructed kennels.  Some of these kennels may be accepted for in cabin use.  You should so state that this is the case, not for overall general use.

I address this to PETCO  and  PETSMART as well, as they distribute your kennels, and can, and should, be held co-reponsible for lost animals, etc when your

kennels fail the test.....

In the past, while still a member of IPATA, I brought this to their attention.  I always felt IPATA as a group might have some possitive effect on your decisions.

Unfortunately, they apparently never saw the value of my attempts.

Your higher end kennels do seem to be very well made, and I congratulate you on these.  PLEASE  discontinue your attempts to mislead the public to think that

your bottom line models are safe and acceptable.  THEY  ARE  NOT !!

By the way.  I have always had a link directly to Petmate from my website.  I shall continue to do so.  I do NOT know of any ipata member that does this. 

Most Sincerely,    Jerry Mishler       VERY  IMPORTANT   http://www.dryfur.com/modify_your_kennel.htm   

New Update

I have just completed reading the MOST total nonsensical report written by a complete total idiot !!! It appeared in the 12 Aug 2010 copy of a Blog (?) provided by PetRelocation of Austin (Spicewood), Texas.

The question presented by a pet owner: "Should my dog be transported via cargo or checked baggage?"

Pet Relocations answer: "Unequivecally, your pet should always have your pet travel via cargo opposed to checked baggage"

What absolute total craziness.  And this from a professional (?) pet shipper........

The true facts are:  ALL pets flying as cargo AND as excess or checked baggage fly in the absolute SAME area of the cargo hold.  Pets flying as cargo usually need to be tendered to the airline at least 2 hrs before flight for domestic flights, and 4 hrs before international flights.

Pets going with a passenger as excess or checked baggage, usually must be tendered within 1 1/2 hrs.  Also, recovery of pets as excess baggage is ually within half an hour. As cargo, recovery is always at least 2 hrs, sometimes longer.

So, you decide what is best........  Also, cargo shipments cost MUCH more.....

ALL airlines have an established Pet Safe, Pet Friendly program in place.  NOT, just Continental.  ALL airlines have ONLY a pressurized and temperature controlled area for pet travel, NOT, just Continental.

The reason Pet Relocation in Texas prefers cargo shipments is very easy to understand.....

Their profits would be affected if clients took pets as checked baggage rather than cargo. A pure and simple greed attitude only.

For an average checked baggage pet shipment that might average about $200 per pet with most airlines; Pet Relocation would charge an average of $4000 to $5000 for a cargo move.

We have proof of this.  And, this is typical of most 3rd party pet shippers. 

COST  OF  SHIPPING  PETS

First of ALL    AVOID using a 3rd party pet shipper. see page 3.... Go ahead and contact them. BUT !  Look out for their VERY high prices, including the ripoff door to door services..... They can NOT do anything more for you than regular pet shippers.  They just feed you a lot of HYPE !

Probably the most often asked question is: How much does it cost to ship my dog or cat?

The second most asked question is: How safe is air travel?

First things first:  The least expensive way would normally be by 'carry on'  That is, a

small pet in the cabin.  This information is best gotten from the passenger-reservation

people of the airline you travel on.  The next least expensive would be: excess baggage

This is the same as checked baggage, at the ticket counter, and also would be addressed by the passenger-reservation people.

We pet shippers most often deal with pets as cargo, or unacompanied baggage.

Though these pets travel in the very same cargo compartment as those traveling as

excess baggage, the charges are dealt with differently.

Most airlines arrive at their cargo charges, using the volume or dimensional weight

system.  The maximum outside 3 dimensions are utilized.  Usually as inches, the cubic

measurements are taken.  Once cubic inches arrived at: divide by 194 to reach

domestic weight; and divide by 166 to arrive at international weight.

International volume or dim weight is usually further calculated to the metric system and

shown as kgs.  It is essential that these measurements are very carefully taken as one

inch can make the difference in many dollars.

If you will visit: Wikipedia - Dimensional Weight; and/or: Volume, much of this will be

better explained.  We might say here that: Continental airlines base their charges on

Actual weight of each pet and kennel; as opposed to vol or dim weight.

Please, at ALL times:  Make sure that the pet shipper of your choice itemizes ALL charges very carefully for you.  On top of the above methods of arriving at pet shipping

charges, one must also specifically ask about: fuel and security charges, taxes, etc

HOW  TO  PROPERLY  MEASURE  a pet for their pet travel carrier

Stand on ALL fours.  Head as high in air as possible.  Nose forward.....
You might need to force head up and back !
Measure from highest point on top of head, tip of ears if ears stand up,
to the floor.  ADD at least two (2) plus inches, to arrive at kennel height required
For length:  with head extended straight out from body, measure from tip of nose
to base of tail.  Add: 3" to arrive at kennel length size required.

These may NOT be natural positions for a pet, but, this is what the airlines will
look for to make their decision as to kennel acceptance.

For domestic shipments, usually ventilation is NOT required on the rear portion of
shipping kennel.  We strongly advise to have ventilation on ALL four sides.....
It is required for international shipments....

With ALL Brachycephalic breeds, we INSIST on additional ventilation holes placed
on both sides, and the rear, of the kennel, being placed all around on the upper
portions of the lower portion of the kennel......  We carry a drill for this purpose..

(VERY IMPORTANT!)
www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/pages/pets.aspx

Airline Live Animal Acceptance Checklist:

www.continental.com/web/en-us/content/travel/animals/petchecklist.pdf

VERY  IMPORTANT

ALL  shipping arrangements and getting ALL Shipping charges  MUST  be done in the

country of origin of the prospective shipment.   In otherwords,  NO ONE  in USA, for

example, can tell you what it will cost to ship a pet from Germany to the USA, or to

another country.  This info MUST be aquired in Germany ONLY   Many people make the

VERY serious mistake to retain the services of an agent, 3rd party shipper, to handle

a shipment from some country, other than their own, to another country, other than

their own.   Your total cost will skyrocket........

For your own protection, ONLY deal with someone who will have direct hands on your

shipment. 

PLEASE Vist our page # 15  'Saving Money'

SAFETY  OF  PET  SHIPPING

Probably the most feared question is: How safe is it to ship my pet?  I have heard so

many stories of hundreds of pets dying and being injured!  Well, this is what it is:

STORIES....  I have never had someone be able to document these stories......

The pets ALL fly in a special compartment in the cargo section, designed for Live Animals

It is fully pressurized and same temperature as the passenger cabin.  This area is VERY

carefully monitered by the Captain and staff.  Yes, it does have some noise.....

With nearly 15,000 pets flying monthly on the domestic carriers, there is bound to be

some risk.  Pet owners can minimize these risks.  Major problems resulting in death or

serious health issues result from: brachycephalic breeds of cats and dogs; and having

the brachycephalic respiratory syndrome.  Also, elderly pets.  And, those having

congenital or pre-existing health issues.  These pets often have pre-existing heart

disease resulting in pulmonary congestion and edema.  Then, if a death occurs, one is often

inclined to blame the airline.  The airline absolutely has NOTHING to do with these deaths.

Kennel construction is most often the problem with escapes, etc.  Many kennels have

very poor connection devices.  Nuts and bolts are the best.  We ALWAYS reinforce all

kennels with removable zip ties.  Also, we reinforce the doors with ties.

Kennels with ONLY solid tops.  NO doors and other openings on top of kennel.

Many pet injuries occur when some pets scratch and try to escape.  Pet shippers and

airlines can NOT be help responsible for highly agitated pets.  If you have a pet that

meets any of the above criteria as being a risk factor, just do NOT ship these pets.

Sorry.  And, NO sedation.  The above brachycephalic pets are the most likely candidates

for heat stroke.  Many airlines wisely refuse these type pets.

Please refer to: Air Travel Consumer Reports; and Airline Animal Incident Reports for

actual facts and figures regarding pet travel safety.  Do NOT listen to war stories with

no value.  VERY IMPORTANT: Visit:  airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm 

We find that all airlines that carry pets are equally 'pet friendly'  Unfortunately, not all

personnel at all airlines are equally pet friendly.

Did you know that not all direct flights are non-stop?  It is often better to have

connecting flights, than a long non-stop !!  We do NOT receive a kick-back from any

airline..... Some pet shippers do !

We really work with you to make the best travel plans for your family pets.....

Much confusion arrises regarding hot and cold temperature embargos.

The temperature restrictions refer to  OUTSIDE  temps  ONLY.  Has nothing to do with

inside temps of the plane.  We can always depend upon Continental.  If any other

carrier takes the pet, you can be assured the pet will be well cared for at ALL times.

FEEDING  PRIOR  TO  TRAVEL

For MOST breeds of dogs and cats, do NOT feed ANYTHING for at least 10 hours before
any kind of travel. (This INCLUDES  PUPPYS)  For  BRACHYCEPHALIC  dogs and cats, do  NOt  feed for at least 15 to 18 hours before travel,  AND, NOTHING during travel.  Water of course is always necessary.
You do NOT want to do anything that can contribute to vomitting or any other digestive
problem!! CHOKING on vomitus is a MAJOR problem ! Some airlines will tell you that you  must feed within 4 hrs of travel.  Do NOT
listen...... Just respond that you did comply with their feeding requests.  In deed, your
pet will thankyou later.  Always consider providing bottled water only during pet travel.
Especially at the end of the journey, especially if in foreign lands, do NOT provide tap
water.  Use bottled water....

SPECIAL  NOTE:   ALL airlines require that at least two (2) small plastic cups be attached to inside of door. One for food; and, one for water.  For above Brachycephalic dogs; and indeed for ALL dogs, you may wish to consider the crate cage crock made by Lixit.  These are much larger and simply can NOT come off the door.  Visit: www.lixit.com   Then consider on way to airport, purchase bag of ice cubes.  When finished with checking in with airline, and after TSA does their thing, put some ice cubes in the cage crock.  Dogs and cats should have more than adequate water supply to last until their next stop.   Since food should NOT be provided during travel, one small plastic cup can be attached and left empty; and as many as two of the larger cage crocks be attached for water supply.  These cage crocks are available at most pet stores; as well as on line. They are a bit more expensive than the plastic ones, but WELL worth it !!  Your pets welfare comes MUCH before the saving of a few pennies.....

SOME VERY WORTHWHILE WEBSITES TO VISIT:

http://www.petflight.com/   http://www.pettravel.com/   http://www.petfriendlytravel.com/

               google for: Air Travel Consumer Reports; and, Airline Animal Incident
                                                     Reports