MATCHING AN ANIMAL WITH THE PROPER CRATE SIZE
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 5:02 pm
On my last transport, there were several animals that could have been rescued at the same time and been transported on the same flight. However, because they were all listed as "large" dogs, I thought I only had room for one "large" dog in my large kennel. Instead of a Dalmation mix, it turned out to be a smallish pointer mix which would have fit nicely in a medium kennel thereby allowing me to fit in an additional medium kennel and saving an additional dog.
As a pilot who has a plane with limited space,(even though I have removed the backseat) I am continually trying to fit the proper size carrier with the animal I have volunteered to transport. If the carrier is too small, the animal will be too cramped up inside even for a few hours flight. If the carrier is too large for the animal, that may mean it could have ridden in a smaller carrier thereby allowing me to fit in another carrier and save an additional animal that needs transport. I guess what I am trying to say is, when someone is requesting transport, especially if it involves more than one animal, please be accurate about the size of the animal. Sometimes a picture will help, but a lot of times even a picture can be misleading . . . maybe taking measurements of the dog if possible. I know from now on, I am going to be more persistent about the actual size so I can match the proper size animal with the proper size carrier in hopes of being able to transport and help more animals at the same time.
We are all working for the same purpose . . . saving animals. And I know a lot of times the wonderful people who put together these transports are working long distance and never actually see the animal they are working so hard to save. We all do the best we can under the circumstances.
As a pilot who has a plane with limited space,(even though I have removed the backseat) I am continually trying to fit the proper size carrier with the animal I have volunteered to transport. If the carrier is too small, the animal will be too cramped up inside even for a few hours flight. If the carrier is too large for the animal, that may mean it could have ridden in a smaller carrier thereby allowing me to fit in another carrier and save an additional animal that needs transport. I guess what I am trying to say is, when someone is requesting transport, especially if it involves more than one animal, please be accurate about the size of the animal. Sometimes a picture will help, but a lot of times even a picture can be misleading . . . maybe taking measurements of the dog if possible. I know from now on, I am going to be more persistent about the actual size so I can match the proper size animal with the proper size carrier in hopes of being able to transport and help more animals at the same time.
We are all working for the same purpose . . . saving animals. And I know a lot of times the wonderful people who put together these transports are working long distance and never actually see the animal they are working so hard to save. We all do the best we can under the circumstances.