Common questions
CAN I CLEAR CUSTOMS MYSELF?
It depends on your destination. Some countries require you to have a custom agent, and other countries like the EU it is fairly easy to clear a pet.
MICROCHIPS CALL US FIRST!!
For pets with preexisting microchips, we advise you purchase a microchip reader/scanner. Enter your pet's microchip number into an online search engine to pull up scanner brands associated with your pet's individual chip. We recommend the "Halo" brand found on Amazon which tends to be a more inclusive and trusted brand:
If , for whatever reason, you would still like to have a second microchip inserted (they have a tendency to migrate in the body after a few years and become difficult to detect), it is important to ensure all Rabies and other vaccines are current and associated with the correct chip number prior to travel or you risk your pet being quarantined (short or long-term).
DO YOU TRANSPORT PIT-BULL BREEDS?
Yes, we can ship your breed by air but they require a special kennel type per airline regulations. The cost of this kennel is $600 with shipping plus additional charges like our agency fee of $350. We can take your information and have our quotes department get back to you within 24 hours.
DO YOU TRANSPORT GREAT DANES / MASTIFF BREEDS?
Yes, we offer ground and air transport. Please complete a quote request through our website so we can determine the best fit for you.
DO YOU TRANSPORT BULLDOG BREEDS?
Yes. All of our ground jobs are for one family's pets at a time, we do not do shared rides. Our private ground transports let us bond with your pet and provide the best available service. We stay with your pet in pet-friendly hotels, take rest stops with your pet every 3-4 hours, and provide daily photo and text updates. If you are shopping for ground by price - we are NOT the most economical choice.
I'VE HEARD HORROR STORIES ABOUT PETS FLYING ON COMMERCIAL AIRLINES.
WILL MY PET BE SAFE?
Dog Gone Taxi uses only airlines with extensive experience in transporting animals. Your pet will fly in a separate compartment from non-live cargo, one that is under the same atmospheric conditions as the cabin. Most of the time under the first-class cabin. We try to book the most direct route whenever possible.
CAN MY PET FLY IN COLD / HOT WEATHER?
The "too cold to fly" myth confuses many pet owners - no one wants to see their beloved family member suffer from cold or overheating. The airlines that we use are experienced in animal transport, and your pet rides in a climate-controlled section with the same atmospheric conditions (including pressure and temperature) as the cabin. While waiting for their flight (once checked in), your pet waits in an indoor area, out of the elements, where airline cargo staff keeps tabs on them.
CURRENT AIRLINE REGULATIONS LISTED BY LOCATION:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel
CAN MY SNUB NOSE PET FLY?
Brachycephalic animals, commonly known as snub-nose breeds, include dogs such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Mastiffs, Pekingese, Lhasa Apsos, and Shih Tzus and cats such as Himalayan, Burmese, and Persian. We fly snub-nose breeds all over the world. Bulldogs are restricted from all commercial flights domestically in USA. We can move bulldogs internationally and to/from Hawaii by air.
Otherwise this breed domestically must travel by ground (car).
IS MY PET TOO LARGE TO TRANSPORT?
For very large breeds, you have the option of custom ground transportation or flying. We can custom-build airline-approved kennels for very large dogs, but only major airports (Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle) will accept them.
IS MY PET TOO SMALL TO TRANSPORT?
No pet is too small.
DO I NEED TO GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT?
Yes, we need a 5 day minimum advance notice for international bookings. Each country has separate rules and requirements -we will include this in our quote.
WHAT IF I'M SHIPPING MY PET FROM OUTSIDE THE USA?
Please find a pet shipper located in your country of origin at
www.ipata.org/ipata-pet-shippers-air-and-ground
Quote related QUESTIONS
Q U E S T I O N S
HOW ARE RATES CALCULATED?
Our rates are based on the weight on the animal and kennel size. We can take your information and have our quotes department provide you with a rate for travel.
WHAT IF I'M SHIPPING MY PET FROM OUTSIDE THE USA?
Please find a pet shipper located in your country of origin at:
www.ipata.org/ipata-pet-shippers-air-and-ground
HOW ARE AGENCY FEES CALCULATED?
Agency fees are calculated by the projected service(s) to be rendered (full service, booking only, international, domestic or ground delivery, customs clearing, custom kennel build...) as well as the details you provide about your pet who will be traveling (height, weight, breed and whether or not they fall into the "strong breed" or "snub nose pet" category).
WHAT DO EACH OF YOUR SERVICES INCLUDE?
FULL SERVICE
Includes door-to-door service and we take care of booking all travel , acquiring an IPATA Agent (required for int'l travel) and confirm all certifications and vaccines are current for the location your pet will be traveling. We pickup in person and drive your pet to the airport to stay with us in cabin (depending on size) or to the cargo area to board the same flight as our transporter. We allow frequent breaks (potty, walk, food, water) and remain in contact with you and our team by sending text updates with photos to ensure you and your pet are comfortable during the move! We stay in pet-friendly hotels, as you would and treat your pet as one of our own!
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
Yes, all of our ground jobs are for one family's pets at a time, we do not do shared rides. Our private ground transports let us bond with your pet and provide the best available service. We stay with your pet in pet-friendly hotels, take rest stops with your pet every 3-4 hrs, and provide you daily photo and text updates. If you are shopping for ground by price - we are NOT the most economical choice.
PET NANNY
We fly with your pet to their destination on the same flight. If the pet is small enough we can take in cabin which allows continuity for your pet and communication from 1 person start to end.
Available domestic service and International.
Including home pick up from origin city and home drop off at destination.
We can also combine services with domestic pet nanny - to get to major airport and handle export requirements. Then tender final journey as international cargo.
BOOKING ONLY
We handle all of the flight bookings for you along with creating your pet 's Air Way Bill (AWB) and provide you with a full itinerary. This service includes a kennel assembly consult, and for local services (between Seattle and Portland) the Agency Fee will remain the same.
KENNEL ONLY
Dog Gone Taxi is well-known for their kennels built to code specifications. W're happy to build you a custom kennel and deliver it to most major AIRPORTS!
DO I NEED TO ORDER A CUSTOM KENNEL? WHAT IS AN "I82 KENNEL? WHY DOES MY DOG NEED THIS?
See our "Custom Crates" page for details.
WHERE CAN I FIND CURRENT HAWAII SHIPPING REGULATIONS?
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2018/09/Checklist-1.pdf
OTHER AIRLINE REGULATIONS:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel
WHAT IF MY PET HAS SPECIAL NEEDS?
Dog Gone Taxi employees are trained to accommodate pets with special needs and/or physical limitations and can administer medication.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR PET TO ALIGN WITH AIRLINE REQUIREMENTS
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR PET
1. Hold your pet against a flat wall while they're standing up in normal position.
2. Place a post-it (or any marker) along the top of your pets ears (bottom edge of marker aligning with top of ears).
3. Place the next marker aligning with your pets rump / backside.
Send us these basic measurements and we can start there to figure out kennel size.
Once you have agreed to have us move your pet, we can send you a matrix chart to print for more exact measurements.
