Shipping a Puppy - Utopia Poodles

Phone numbers for airline pet shipping departments are listed in the lower section of this page. You can make the initial call to make sure pet shipping from Jacksonville, FL to your destination is available, or I can call for you. If shipping a puppy to you presents no complications, you may send your deposit or payment for a puppy. Upon receipt of payment in full (including all shipping related charges), I will make the reservation and email you the flight info and confirmation number.

When shipping a puppy, I limit the transit time to no more than 6 hours, including any layover. There are direct flights to Houston, Atlanta, and Cleveland. I ship out of Jacksonville, Florida.

Continental is the airline I normally use. They have counter-to-counter shipping, and a very dedicated pet shipping department. Puppies are at all times kept in a climate controlled area. The shipping charges are based on the combined weight of the puppy and the pet carrier. Most of my 8-9 week old puppies can be shipped at the lower rate (approx. $170.) Two puppies flying together in the same carrier would be at the higher rate (approx. $215.), and so would a larger puppy (which would require a larger pet carrier). I always get flight insurance with a declared value for your puppy.

Please call an airline's pet shipping department rather than checking for available flights online. Many of the flights listed online are "commuter flights", and are not equiped to carry live animals. Major airline pet shipping department phone numbers are listed below for your convenience. Unless their policy has changed, JetBlue will allow a small pet in a small carrier in the cabin with you for $50., but they don't have accomodations for pets to be sent unaccompanied as cargo. JetBlue sells soft-sided Sherpa bags for $60.; these are made especially for JetBlue.

Airlines other than Continental have temperature restrictions in the summer and winter. They will not take a puppy if the temperature will be above 80 degrees anywhere along the flight. In the winter, some airlines require a certificate of acclimation if the temperature will drop below 45 degrees. If the temperature is predicted to be 25 or less, pet shipping is suspended.

If you're considering flying to pick up your puppy, I can meet you at the airport, or you're welcome to rent a car and drive here. If you need to purchase a pet shoulder bag, try Wal-Mart for the best price or PetSmart for greater selection.

If I will be shipping your puppy to you, I will need the balance due for the baby and related shipping costs in my hand at least three business days before the estimated shipping date. Ask me to weigh your puppy so you'll know how much to send. If your puppy will be traveling on Continental, and you send the minimal shipping cost early, it is possible that your puppy's weight will exceed the 9 pound limit (when added to the weight of the carrier and bag of food) at the time of shipping. You will be responsible for the additional charge. Delta allows c.o.d.'s, so you may pay the shipping cost when you pick up your puppy at the cargo building.

The original travel/health certificate ($35. vet charge) is only good for 10 days for the purpose of shipping. I take all the puppies in a litter to the vet on the same day. If the travel certificate needs to be updated, there will be an additional vet charge.

If you have any questions about having a puppy shipped, please call me (912 337-0705). DO NOT send a deposit on a puppy until one of us has made sure shipping arrangements can be made to your destination. Please check your calendar to verify you'll be able to pick up your puppy when it's 8 weeks of age, or the following weekend. If the arrangement is for you to pick up your puppy at my home, please do not change to shipping at the last minute. I will have other commitments, and won't have time to take your puppy to the airport. Sorry, no exceptions.

Suitable flight carrier All airlines require the puppy to be in an "airline approved" pet carrier with food and water cups attached to the gate. If you already have one, you can mail it to me - allow at least a week for it to arrive here. Continental does not permit the use of the following types of carriers: Nylabone brand, Petzazz brand, or any "fold down" carrier. If you don't have one, I can buy it here and add it to the price of the puppy. The cost of the carrier and cups I would get is $28. for a small or $40. for a large. The smaller carrier is suitable for one, medium sized, 8 week old puppy. The larger carrier is suitable for larger or older puppies, two puppies flying together, or an adult miniature poodle.

-- SIX HOUR TRANSIT LIMIT --

Example:
$450. puppy
$170. shipping
$50. Jacksonville airport trip fee
$35. travel certificate from vet
$28. small pet carrier
$733. total cost of puppy and related shipping expenses.

AIRLINE PET SHIPPING PHONE NUMBERS

Continental toll free: 1 800 575-3335 This is a 24 hour number. Counter-to-counter, no temperature restrictions to most cities, flights from Jacksonville, Florida. Puppy must arrive at cargo office two hours prior to flight time. Hub is Houston, TX.
Delta toll free: 1 888 736-3738 Temperature restrictions, puppies must arrive at cargo building 2 hours before flight time, flights from Jacksonville. Shipping cost: $175. and up. Hub is Atlanta, GA.
Northwest (if you're traveling with the puppy): 1 800 225-2525.
Northwest (if the puppy is being shipped to you): 1 800 692-2746 option 7, then pound sign. They stop answering their phone at 8pm. Temperature restrictions (no more than 80 degrees or less than 10 degrees), certificate of acclimation NOT needed, puppies must arrive at cargo building 90 minutes before flight time, flights from Jacksonville. Average cost: $170.
U S Airways: 1 888-300-0099 Temperature restrictions, approximate cost $170.
United Airlines: Used them once, will NEVER use them again. They had no record of my reservation to send a puppy from Orlando to L.A. I was told to have the puppy at the cargo office by 4:45pm for a 6:45pm flight. When I arrived, I was told the flight wasn't going to leave until 9:20pm, which meant the puppy would arrive in L.A. 3am my time. As it turned out, the 9:20 flight was cancelled, the puppy was taken home by a kind cargo office employee for the night, and was sent on an 8am flight the next morning.
American Airlines: bad experience with them - I will not use them.

Available through WalMart.com $19.97
pet shoulder bag

Here's a jewel of a webpage. It's a United States time zone map, which, if you call airlines for flight schedules, you'll find very helpful. The url is www.worldtimezone.com/time-us24.html.

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Last updated 7.23.2009