I'm just curious if you don't mind telling us, how much was it to ship them by air and where are they gonna be in? Cargo area? What did they say when you told them you wanted to ship your rats? Besides the health certificate from your vet, did they require anything else? I just wanted to get an idea *just in case*. Thanks!
Since you asked... (sorry this might ba a little long)
I go to school in a tiny town in Missouri, so calling our airport small is a wild understatement. It consists of one room, three small couches and a vending machine. Only American Airlines flies from it.
I called the airline first to see if I could carry them on, but oh no, only cats and dogs can be taken in the cabin or as checked baggage. I was told flatly that there was no way my rats could fly home with me. Needless to say I was crushed and started hatching a plan to take the bus home (some 25 hours) as I thought I might be able to smuggle them in a backpack.
I did some research and found out that some ratteries ship rats and found out that there's a catch with the airlines. Although you can't take the rat as part of their regular services, shipping them as "cargo" is somehow different. (I think it's Delta that will actually let you carry any rodent on except rats or mice
I considered trying to find a ride to a city with a major airport and trying to pass them off as exotic gerbils). After many online searches I found that American Airlines Cargo does indeed ship rats via something called Priority Parcel Service, and while the Kirksville airport perform any other cargo services, they do have PPS. So I think any airline actually does ship rats, but you have to let them know it's as cargo rather than baggage.
I carefully read their website. You need a container that complies with the IATA's specifications. You need the words "Live Animals" on at least 3 sides in one inch high letters, you need directional "this end up" arrows, you need to attach food and feeding instructions to the outside, you need your full address & phone number, as well as those of the person to whom you're sending them. You need a health certificate from a vet that's no more than 10 days old, you need their names on it, and you need two forms of ID.
I bought a container online from one of the laboratories, and I boght a pouch of hydrating gel as well, since you're not actually allowed to put water in, I think.
So I decided to ship them today because I was afraid there might be a glitch, especially knowing the Kirksville Airport. I walk in the door carrying them and the manager (or the woman who always seems to be in charge) asks right away, "There aren't live animals in there, are there?" I told her that there were. She immeadiately told me that they don't do that, and that there's no way I could fly with them. I asked if they were a member of Amerian Airline Cargo. She said that they were, but I couldn't ship them unless I was a "known shipper." I told her that you don't need to be a known shipper to ship personal pets. She asked what was in there and I told her that they were my rats. I got the "EEEEEEEW I hate rats" Then she and both the other airline workers dissappeared into the back office for at least half an hour. They finally came out and she asked where I was going. To make a long story short they had no idea what they were doing. She came over and said she had to look in their container. I took the lid off and she said, "They're actually kind of cute." Then she asked if she could put one!
It took all three of the AA employees, all on different phones to different people over an hour to get them checked in. Then one of the TSA (the people in charge of security after Sept. 11) people had to inspect the carrier. He put on gloves, then asked me to open it (Like 'Lendel and Cluny were going to launch themselves at his eyes as soon as the lid was cracked) and he didn't touch a thing. He made me move everything to inspect around them. Then he left and when he reappeared he was drying his hands as though he had just washed them! Hmph. To make matters worse he asked if they were alergic to anything. I said that cedar and pine weren't good for them and he asked, "How about cats?" Grrr.
Anyway, they seem to have gotten off well enough. I'm anxiously awaiting news of their safe arrival in Baltimore. (One hour 56 minutes and counting...)
Sorry, back to your question. You typically need a rabies vaccination certificate for shipping animals, but if your vet writes "no vaccinations neccessary" I think all you need is the health certificate. The airlines supposedly pride themselves on keeping the animals safe and healthy, but I do think they're in the cargo area, which is supposedly temperature and pressure controlled... it had better be. And it's like $170 for American Airlines, but I think it was only $100 on either Continental or Delta. (So much for my cheap pets. Even on a college student budget, they're worth it, though
)I'd definitely gone with one of them if any other airlines flew out of Kirksville. I guess that's it. Sorry this was so long, I am trying to kill time until I know they're safe.
