Pet of the Month:  Isabel & Humphrey

At PetRelocation.com, we pride ourselves on offering safe, reliable pet transport service around the world.

For the most part, that means securing flights on airlines that are suitable for pets and making sure that pets are never exposed to any dangers such as the extreme temperatures on noisy tarmacs. However, sometimes we recommend -- when possible -- to drive our client's pets rather than fly them. There are various reasons for why sometimes it's safer to drive pets than to fly them.

For example, snub-nosed breeds are at risk for having breathing difficulties on a normal basis. When put in a high-stress situation like traveling, they can sometimes have an even harder time breathing. Older pets also sometimes have a harder time traveling safely, especially if they are in poor health. We have found that when they can be watched the entire time, everyone is able to have peace of mind. Many airlines won't even ship snub nosed breeds.

Recently, we were contacted by Samantha, who needed her English Bulldogs, Isabel & Humphrey, relocated from Miami, Florida to just outside of Detroit, Michigan. Because of the length of the trip and the fact that they were English Bulldogs (which are always at high risk for having breathing problems), we recommended they be driven from Florida to Michigan.

Samantha was relieved to hear we had her two dogs' best interest in mind, and was surprised by how fast they arrived in Michigan. "The relocators did a fantastic job," Samantha wrote, "and actually had them there in less than 48 hours! I would highly recommend your service to other people."

Isabel and Humphrey had a safe, comfortable trip, and are now enjoying their new home in Michigan.

Brachycephalic (Short-Nosed) Dog Breeds

Extra care is required when the following breeds are shipped because they often have hereditary respiratory problems. These animals are susceptible to increased risk of heat stroke and breathing problems when exposed to stress or extreme heat:

• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Brussels Griffin
• Bull Terrier
• Dutch Pug
• Shih Tzu
• English Bulldog
• English Toy Spaniel
• French Bulldog
• Japanese Chin
• Japanese Pug
• Pekinese

Sometimes, the situation requires that snub-nosed breeds be flown. These are the recommendations for flying any of the animals listed above:

Use 1 size larger kennel than is normally required
Use a kennel with ventilation on 4 sides. (If the kennel does not have ventilation on 4 sides, modify the kennel by drilling 7 holes in the rear top and 7 holes in the rear bottom of the kennel using a 3/4 inch keyhole bit).
Acclimate the animal to the kennel by letting the animal spend time in the kennel for several days before its departure
Do not place food in the kennel during the flight, just water
Provide plenty of water to the animal. Frozen water bottles with tiny holes punched in the sides make a great watering tool for several hours when placed in the kennel's watering dish.