hi janie,
tell us again, what did you say?
gay

SJ-I thought maybe ya'll e-mailed each other privately, but I did notice ur reply wasn't on the board. See U Soon!!!!

Why transport dogs? Any trash can here in San Pedro has a cat, dog, and maybe a raccoon. Adopt a pet.

Bill, are you suggesting leaving our children here, and adopt new ones???? Even the thought breaks my heart!! NO WAY!!!! I told Bron we could probably "foster" a dog or two. If we didn't already have these, then yes-would adopt.....but hell will freeze over before i leave my dogs or let anything happen to them!!! Mary/Rick-wow...what an exciting trip you are going to have!!! Angel Blessings to all of you and a travel safe!! SJ-what post was deleted???? C I remember-the one with the old threads on it???!!

[This message has been edited by rickcheri (edited 05-24-2002).]

Rick: Continental will accept animals both in the cabin (maximum of two in coach and one in first class and each passenger can have only one) BUT they must be small enough to fit into an under the seat carrier..no way your chows will make it!
There are companies that will "express ship" animals for you. They interface with the airline and make sure that the dogs get the right kennels, with food and water properly attached, that the kennels are loaded properly, etc. Izzy adopted a homeless puppy at the marina where his boat was being worked on and shipped her to his daughter, who wanted a dog. She weighed 30 pounds and was too big to travel in cabin. She was fine when she arrived. This was in April.
BUT: They will not ship between mid-May and September due to heat worries.
If you are concerned about the drive, one option is to wait til October and ship them on a direct flight that way. You are in Texas, aren't you? It really might be better for the dogs to go that way. Drive them to Houston and then its only a two and a half hour flight (though they will be confined during the pre flight wait as well..) I would not do this with my cats or even with a tiny lap type dog but with two large dogs (assuming they are healthy) it might be less traumatic for them (and for you) than that long long drive. You would need to make sure you are at the airport to greet the plane on arrival.

rickcheri

I travel all over mex. all the time and have worked for the major airlines as well,the dogs will travel ok if they do the car thing well, the time of the year is important as with any country has regions which may be dry and hot and areas that may be cold and or wet.Hopefully you have airline cages for the critters and would recommend use them before the checkpoints or when arriving at them offer to put the dogs in them or do!! what ever is requested.The War on Drugs effects all countries in the form of U.S. $'s and there are all kinds of checkpoints some military and some local and federales of course.

As for the airlines i would send my dirty lundry or a fuel pump for a downded airplane some where in the bagage compartments,B.C.s are known in the industry as being leaky noisey and not allways warm/ pass compartment is the only place for my critters was does have its size limits rumors/stories down on the ramp areas have told of people buying ajoining seats under family surname ie rover jones and has worked and is really up to the carrier. you heard about shipping them as with a exporter which is not a bad idea if push comes to shove/ cargo does stay warm and pressurized think fed ex and tom hanks pilots aint going to freezzzzzzzzze and some one can during the flight and look in on them just for the break from sitting for hours in the cockpit.

Go to www.mexconnect.com and check their sources for traveling in/to/through Mexico. They also have a bulletin board which you can search for recent discussion about traveling Mexico by car with pets and what you need paperwork-wise for them, yourself and your vehicle.

You'll have a very hard time finding comfortable lodging for yourself that will allow the dogs inside. Mexicans don't think that dogs are people. But with a little plotting and planning you can make the trip with them. For chows, I would think you'd want to wait until it's a little cooler, like maybe January/February.

Cheri: I'm very envious of yo pets. They got I GOOD!! Bill

Yes, Bill, they have it VERY GOOD!!! Thanks for all the info...our vet knows our dogs well...she suggests to drive them vs. flying, unless i want to sedate them, and i don't. She says it will be best to keep them near us to lessen the stress. If they have to sleep in a vehicle, then i will sleep there with them. Is there anyone who has done this with dogs/pets?? For the couple driving to Placencia-try and keep us posted about your journey!!!

We've done it several times, but with a Min Pin. He just wants to go with us, he doesn't care where we're going.