Requirements
Please pay close attention to the following transport requirements. We have done this long enough to know what works and what doesn't, so please respect our decisions.
P.E.T.S. LLC reserves the right at anytime to refuse to transport a dog/puppy for any reason.
**Keep in mind that this is a very long transport for the animals and they have already gone through so much change in their lives. The guidelines below are all preventative measures to help ensure the dog or puppy is healthy before, during and after transport. However, since most of the health backgrounds of the animals are unknown, stress from the transport, change in climate, change in food, etc. may still bring out a cold or kennel cough once they arrive up north. Just like people, some animals are more sensitive to change and more susceptible to come down with something. Please be patient with your new family member during the first few days.**
INTERSTATE HEALTH CERTIFICATE
Please attach the HC to the outside of the paperwork envelope via tape, paperclip or staple.
Every dog or puppy that boards our transport MUST have an interstate Health Certificate. A print out of the dog's shot record from your vet is NOT an interstate Health Certificate....if your vet says it is, please call Kyle at 615-218-1589 immediately. All health certificates, regardless of each state's requirements, are only good for 10 days from delivery, as required by the USDA…. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/manuals/dealer/healthcert.pdf
Click here to view samples of AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, MS and TN health certificates. Nothing but one of these forms will be accepted. This is required by law and also protects everyone involved…the person sending the dog, ourselves and the adopter or receiving rescue to help ensure the dog is healthy and up to date on shots.
TWO WEEK QUARRANTINE
Every dog or puppy has to have been away from the shelter/pound/animal control for a minimum of 2 weeks...it can be at a vet's, a kennel or a foster home. We have an average of 50 dogs on every transport, so we cannot risk having dogs that come straight from a shelter/pound/animal control because some do not give shots until the day the dog or puppy leaves the facility and we all know how horrendous some of these places are. Please respect this requirement as we take everyone on their word that the 2 week quarantine has been followed. Remember, it is ultimately for the health and safety of the dog or puppy.
SPAYED / NEUTERED!!!!!!
All dogs and puppies must be spayed or neutered at least 7 days or more prior to boarding the transport. We will not accept dogs/puppies that were 'fixed' the day before transport…it is not safe and think how you would feel if you just had major surgery and then got in the car with a bunch of other people for a long road trip to start a new life. Also, we prefer that the stitches have been removed before transport. We have had an incident in the past where the dog tore out her stitches and ate part of her intestine…luckily we got to her to the vet quick enough and her surgery and recovery was a complete success, but with a $1000 vet bill.
AGE
Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old and have had 2 rounds of shots. We prefer puppies to be 10 weeks old, especially if they are small, under 10 lbs, but USDA regulations allows puppies to be transported at 8 weeks.
SHOTS
Every dog or puppy needs a copy of their medical records, along with the interstate health certificate, to accompany the animal on transport and to be up to date on shots, which include...
DA2PPv Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus Vaccine (MLV), also called the 5 way shot.
(Maine requires the Leptospira Bacterin vaccine, which is in the 7 way shot, DA2PPvL)
Bordetella (kennel cough vaccine). During the change of seasons it is especially important to have this vaccine give at least 7 days prior to transport.
Negative fecal for worms, coccidia and giardia
Heartworm negative
Rabies (if old enough)
Flea/tick preventative
SPAYED / NEUTERED!!!!!!
PREGNANT DOGS
We do NOT transport pregnant dogs at any time. Please don't ask us to make an exception, we won't do it.
MEDICATION
We cannot transport a dog or puppy that is on antibiotic medication (which includes Cephalexin, Doxycycline, Albon, Baytril, etc). Meds for a chronic medical condition, such as thyroid medicine, glaucoma, anxiety or seizures, is acceptable. Heartworm and flea/tick prevention is okay too. Dogs or puppies with an upper-respiratory infection, kennel cough, coccidia, giardia, ringworms, sarcoptic mange or any other contagious conditions are not considered healthy and should not be issued a health certificate and therefore cannot travel on our transport.
SPAYED / NEUTERED!!!!!!
ID
Dogs and puppies need to have a collar with legible ID on it. Include the animal's name, the phone of who it is going to (adopter/foster/rescue) OR the phone of who it is coming from (adopter/foster/rescue). What seems to work the best and is the least expensive is white athletic tape, written with permanent magic marker. We walk all the dogs with slip leads, so an actually collar is not necessary, though it does help the adopter when picking up the dog to have a collar to attach the leash to.
FEEDING
Please do not feed your dog or puppy at least 6 hours before dropping it off at transport. The animals are fed lightly both Thursday and Friday evenings, so they will have food during transport.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Due to the number of animals we transport, we cannot take any size bags of food to the new adopters. Please just let them know what the dog or puppy has been eating, or send a sample that will fit in a small, sandwich size Ziploc bag, which you can include in the envelope with the paperwork. No beds, unless they fit in the crate with the dog or puppy. No bags, boxes, suitcases, etc. unless it fits in a 1 gallon or smaller Ziploc bag with dog's name and adopter's info…we are spending a small fortune mailing things that don't get picked up on Saturday. You may send a favorite toy, blanket, bone, or treat as long as it fits in the crate with the dog or puppy.
SPAYED / NEUTERED!!!!!!
As you can see, having each and every animal we transport spayed/neutered is very important to us. We don't want to create the over-population problem we have down here in the south up in the north, especially since it can easily be prevented. We know of numerous vets and clinics we can recommend that will perform pediatric surgeries as young as 6 weeks. Please contact us for more information.