transport of dog

Question
QUESTION: what are the documents required to transfer my irish setter from bangalore in india to california?and which is the best airlines to take my dog from bangalore to california?

ANSWER: Dear Megha
For entry into USA, only need a health cert issued within 10 days of
travel, and a valid rabies vac.  Highly recommend dog be current on
ALL vacs.
Best Airline???? Where in Calif are you going?  I always recommend
Lufthansa if possible.  KLM and Air France are great as well.
Try to bring dog as excess baggage rather than cargo.  MUCH cheaper
and he would clear customs with you.  They travel in the same area
of the plane, however.  Cargo area is VERY safe although you might
hear differently.
Avoid British Air, only because they require pets to transit UK ONLY
as cargo, NOT ex bag..... Great airline, However.
Regards, Jerry Mishler

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I recently came to know from my friend that it is rather unsafe to put the dog in cargo as the appropriate temperature will not be set.So would it be better to choose a flight which has transit in between? and is it possible for a dog as big as an irish setter to travel in the same area as us?is there a possibility for the dog to die if put in the cargo section?

Answer
Dear Megha
Air Cargo is VERY  VERY safe...  There is no problem.  The temperature is nearly the same as passenger cabin, at ALL times.  Also pressurized at all times.
I have been doing this for 40 years with NO incidents.  Other pet
shippers the same.
There are at times some higher risks involved.  Dogs and cats who
are brachiocephalic, that is, the snub nosed ones.  They always have
breathing problems.  To ship them, be sure the kennel is larger than
normal with plenty of ventilation all the way around the kennel.
With these type pets, I highly recommend NO food for at least 15 hrs
before travel and nothing during travel.  Of course, water should be
available.  Other dogs and cats should have NO food for at least
8 hrs before flight.
Some 12,000 to 15,000 pets fly each month domestically in the USA
Airlines are required to report all incidents: deaths, loss and
injury.  An average of about 5 incidents are reported monthly.
You can search the internet for these reports: Airline Incident
Reports    and    Commercial Airline Incident Reports
When a human dies, they perform an autopsy.  On animals it is called
a necropsy.  Nearly all deaths are related to either brachiocephalic
pets; or to congenital or pre-existing health conditions.  Not to
any failures of the airlines or cargo area.  Injuries are related
usually to the pet clawing at the door or trying to bite the door.
Pre conditioning of the pet to the shipping kennel many days in
advance of travel is certainly recommended.
The use of inappropriate kennels for travel often leads to escape.
Often they are not latched properly.  Many airlines are now
requiring the use of nuts and bolts to fasten the two halves.
We also always reinforce all connections with cable ties.  Also,
the door should be secured with cable ties.
There is another pet shipping expert (?) on this system that
continues to knock air cargo shipping.  They simply do not have a
clue to the real facts.  They are indeed promoting their own business
using charter flights that hardly anyone can afford, and is totally
unnecessary.  They mention that the reason humans are not allowed
into the cargo section is that it is unsafe, so why ship animals
there?  The real reason humans are not down in the cargo section is
due to security reasons.  TSA and others would never allow this
Horses are often shipped on planes and they MUST have a groom in
attendance.  So, it must be safe.  These grooms are highly trained
to care for horses and also meet high security standards.
Please visit:  www.ipata.com   and get the opinion of other pet
shippers, and the airlines themselves.
Please put your mind at ease.  Air cargo travel for pets is VERY
safe.
Best Regards, Jerry Mishler
p.s.  Let me add that the pet should NEVER be sedated......