How do you PCS with pets?

2018-08-08T06:24:57-04:00

I recently had a horrific experience when I moved to Midwest with transport of my labs. I hired a company that was “military verified”. They didn’t show up (I intercepted them in Indiana from Iowa). I got to my dogs, one needed emergancy care and was admitted to a clinic on oxygen and the other needed medical attention as well and medication. This was traumatic and expensive and I wanted to share.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Aug 8 at 2018 6:28 AM

2018-08-08T06:28:06-04:00

Driving or flying?

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Aug 8 at 2018 8:19 AM

2018-08-08T08:19:09-04:00

They ride in the car with the rest of the family.

Response by MSG Johnathan Mathes made Aug 8 at 2018 8:28 AM

2018-08-08T08:28:12-04:00

SIr
this actually happened to me in Italy.... i flew ahead and had my sis in law send them after we were there ...the cargo crew saw them getting hot on a cart and sprayed them down with water.. but when i got them one of my dogs was in a daze. and when he saw me and finally snapped out off it he ran right to me.. and i scooped him up and put him in the trucks ac. my advice travel with your pets... when you stop for a layover ask to walk them.. check on them... especially if your transferring.. you can see their condition and make sure they get their bathroom breaks as well as water them.. don't fly without them..

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Aug 8 at 2018 8:35 AM

2018-08-08T08:35:30-04:00

Ours have always riden inthe car with us. I made room for them and then packed the car around their stuff. That way I could stop and walk them when I needed to. When we stopped for a bathroom break they got one too with water and snacks. That way I had an eye on them.

Response by CW5 John M. made Aug 8 at 2018 8:39 AM

2018-08-08T08:39:38-04:00

We brought our pets along with us when stateside, and gave them away to loving families for overseas moves. We obtained a wonderful watchdog in the ROC (Republic of China) from a PCS-ing family; a dog who served us well, but when it became time to go, the dog was passed on to a loving new family arriving on their 2-year tour.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 8:54 AM

2018-08-08T08:54:32-04:00

I am sure a lot of service members who have moved cross county have had good experiences with hiring companies to transport via air or pet vans. If you have please share, I used a company called All paws headed Home Inc out of TN and I wouldn’t let them move a pet rock.

Response by SGT Everett M. Cheney made Aug 8 at 2018 10:28 AM

2018-08-08T10:28:04-04:00

That is unacceptable and the company in question needs to be made unable to do such a thing again. Can you share a name and address ? I am a state certified inspector and as such know many health and human services folks around INDIANA and all the other state inspectors . We could shine a light up places these folks never realized they had.
So sorry for what your pups and you went through. Being a dog Dad I completely identify with you.

Response by SSG Donald H "Don" Bates made Aug 8 at 2018 10:57 AM

2018-08-08T10:57:09-04:00

The only way my dog(s) travel is with me, if they cannot be with me, we don't go. I can see the problems with PCS though. My daughter breeds and trains Labradors and know she would have an answer. Sorry to hear of your troubles.

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 8 at 2018 12:51 PM

2018-08-08T12:51:34-04:00

We've always took them in the car with us, except for my tour on Embassy duty. My experience is nothing like the unpleasant stories I've heard from anyone else who took pets international.

When I received short notice (10 day) orders for an accompanied tour at the US Embassy in Nairobi Kenya. Believe it or not we took our dogs. We took them to the airport, American Airlines allowed me and other pet owners to accompany our pets from check-in to loading (same plane as my family was on.) When we landed in London, I was escorted off the plane to the tarmac where they were handed off to British Airways. One of the dogs had crapped all over herself. British Airways removed her from her travel crate, cleaned her and her crate. We were allowed to stay with the dogs in an exercise yard during the layover. When time came to board the flight to Nairobi, I was once again allowed to accompany them through loading. In Nairobi, the Embassy's USDA rep paid a "in-home quarantine" fee (read bribe) equivalent to about $20, and we walked right out of the airport with them.

On the flight back at the end of the tour, the Lufthansa flight was almost empty into Frankfort. Our dogs were the only pets on the flight. The Captain of the plane met me and my dogs on the tarmac and asked if the dogs were docile. They were. So he had them removed from the crates and they flew in the cabin with us. Into New York and the transfer to Raleigh Durham, American Air Lines gave us the same superior treatment they did on the flight to London. A veterinarian was allowed to keep the dogs in quarantine outside of Camp LeJeune for 60 days and my wife took the kids to see them for a couple hours everyday but Sunday.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 3:57 PM

2018-08-08T15:57:06-04:00

I am sorry to read this, pets are like family to me and I see them as little babies that don’t have a voice of their own. I hope they are doing better now.