[Dobies 71]

When I was a kid, my father made his living via traveling. He took us, school or not, with him. Many, many, times I have been accross the entire United States. In some way I am glad for that, in that when we went, it was just U.S. Highway system no interstates. I saw the Country when it was young. And, now I know it well.

But I vowed as an adult that I would never cross via car again. Actually, in the old days we did it via truck. I have been accross every route East and West and many of the North. I have not been in the Far North East however.

So today I'm on the phone with the private airline that just transports pets. Guess what...The charge 1 way from Los Angles to Chicago is $1,050 + tax. The airline goes from LA to Phoenix, stops in Denver overnight and then on to Chicago. So they keep my dog overnight. No thanks!

So my azz will be on the road again as I vowed to never again do it.

Seeing the County has no appeal to me. I saw it before it was ruiened sort of in its Frontier days. In those days all highways went into all the towns. So you saw the entire thing. And, it did take longer.

But my memories of being stranded all over the Country...but I got to see the South when it was in its early days of progression. It was quite interesting...the old Jim Crow law days. I was so stupid then, I could not figure it out.

Out of stupidity, I could not figure out the ways down there. So we stopped at a laundermat as in those days. They had washers on two sides of the laundermat. One side said "White only" The other side said, "Colored only." So I put the colored clothes in the colored only washers, and the white clothes in the white only washers.

My mom got scared and said, "You're going to get us in trouble." But she was so relieved because via using all the washers available, we got our laundry done quicker. I was so stupid as a kid.

Then I remember the drinking fountains. I kept going back and forth between the fountians. I was trying to figure out why one was different. I thought maybe one was chocolate flavored. (wishful thinking as a kid)

Funny how kids try and figure things out. That stuff did not make any sense then. Now I know what was going on. But in Ohio, where we came from, we never had that stuff so I didn't know anything about it.

Well...like it or not...airlines do not fly dogs when it is under 45 or over 85 so I am driving.

If I can help it, I still prefer the Northern route as it is about 335 miles shorter.

Oh the things we do for our dogs! But I'm too old for this!

I still think this breeding is well worth it. So out goes a major spend. I am living like a paulper right now saving money for this trip. Gas went up since we traveled when I was a kid too by the way! And, we never stayed in a motel. We stayed alongside the road or at a gas station parking lot and used their facilities. Now you can't do that either. Its not safe!

 

[ssgharkness020147]

Did you check in to Continental Airlines at all? I've brought some dogs over from Europe that way, they ship straight to O'hare from Germany no layovers. The dogs are kept in a climate controlled area on the plane and are the last thing on the plane, the first off. The dogs are then immediately taken in to the terminal (out of any possible weather/heat/cold). As far is I know (not much ) they ship within the US as well. Good luck.

 

[Dobies 71]

Thank You!

I tangled with American Airlines to get her into Dallas this Summer. That Federal law is what they quoted me. So I read up on it on the internet and found the guidelines to be 45 to 85.

But then I found this privite airline that does just pets doesn't go by it.

My handler recommended first United, then Continential then I think American. I haven't called them because of the temp restriciton. So I will call them and ask.

It sure would be better to fly her. I have shipping coats. And, I think if they were vigilant, it could be done. I would go with her to squack and make sure. It sure would be easier. The whole thought of this makes me tired in itself. So I appreciate any one's experience.

I'll make more calls I guess.

 

[thea2003]

Make it a mini vacation! Grab a friend then you can split costs and have a buddy to talk to on the long drive! How long is the drive?

 

[RottenVonSpotten]

A couple of great books on tape always make a boring car ride fun! I drove from Virginia to Colorado with Water for Elephants and Sh*t My Dad Says. Great road trip

 

[HarvestMoon]

Oh man, what a bummer! And driving that in the winter does not sound like any fun.

I would also recommend checking into Continental. I shipped Lucy on there (I was also on same flight) when we moved from NJ to LA. That was in Feb and it was not too cold/hot. I think it was about $300 one way but don't recall exactly.

I also shipped my last Dobe to the UK and back to US on British Air (i think that was the airline we used) when we lived there for a while - again, I was on same flight as he was; but all times I shipped my dogs they were in climate controlled cargo areas.

I personally really don't like shipping my dogs. I tend to get very nervous and find it so stressful. But LA to Chicago and back would hopefully not be too bad.

Good luck on your planning!

 

[Dobies 71]

Thanks all.

The kicker is the temp in Chicago that time of year. Flying a dog to LA in the Winter does not have that restriction since Southern California does not dip below that mark usually.

I think some dogs have died due to heat on the tarmack or froze due to the cold. Of course I would not want that.

This is a long road trip. It would take about 5 days. I know the drive from here to Cleveland, where I'm originally from was always 6 days. So its about a day difference from Chicago to Cleveland. My truck driver cousin says I could do it in 3 days but I'd have to really drive. Like leave at 4 in the morning and drive till 8 at night. But then its hard to find a motel with a dog too; so you'd have to start looking earlier.

The bad part is this drive would be in the Winter. I've driven in those conditions ice snow and sometimes blizzards but it is not easy. Here's another piece to that, motels fill up real fast when the Interstates go down. To have a dog with you is also less selection on rooms.

Insodently, a couple of years ago I was traveleing and met some nice people with dogs. I was not with dogs. So I went to their room invited to see the dogs they had with them. MAJOR difference in the quality of the room given them in the same motel.

So people with dogs do not get the best of rooms. I've seen it many times, but that time was real telling.

I'm going to do some checking today when I get a chance. I'll let you know the latest findings.

 

[Australdi]

Would hiring a camper (winebago style), rather than a car/motel be a better option? It means you are a free agent...no check out times and a place to rest wherever you stop, with the ability to cook a meal or just a hot cuppa when you feel like it. Could work out less expensive and certainly more convienient all up and turn it into an enjoyable holiday.

 

[Dobies 71]

Well...I'm thinking of many things.

Here's is something I am thinking about and worrying some too about.

Last Spring my bitch started coughing. I was scared stiff. I feared cardio. So I was to the vet's in a flash.

X-Rays were taken of course. Her heart was fine. But her lungs were not.

She was flown from Edmenton, Alberta Canada to me when she was 9 weeks old.

Along the way, she must have been set somewhere where she was exposed to inhaling some sort of polution. I suspect she was stuck away somewhere were diesel exhaust was. She went to Seattle, Washington then Portland, Oregon, then to LA where I picked her up. However, she did not travel alone. I know from setting around the airline cargo ports what happens. Trucks pull up and leave their engines on. The fumes just build up in those holds.

So I took her to my specialist vet who confirmed what happened. He approved of her flying again. But now she can get bronchitis easily. I have to keep her warm at night. I put a sweater on her at home. But she does not get this with the handlers and survives.

So I work to keep her from getting cold and thus not getting bronchitis easily. So a worry wort I am and I don't want her cold.

She has "dusty looking" lungs. They are like a 10 year old now, but don't affect her except that she is more prone to getting bronchitis.

I got some real planning and thinking to do.

Well...I'm still working on this.