OMG!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday I went to the airport to pick up my new glider Nico and his flight was late, so I waited around in the office, and the next thing I hear and see is this man walk in and slam down the plastic crate!!!!!!!!! My friend and I went off!!!!!!! I threw my ID at the lady and grabbed the crate and opened it as fast as I could to make sure he was ok, I opened the crate and took out the pouch and opened it up to check on Nico and I stuck my hand in and of course he bit down and didn’t let go. Poor guy was so scared. His tail was all wet from probably peeing on himself and his tail was full of poop, that man must have scared him so badly; god knows how they must have treated that crate the whole time. The man claimed to not have seen the live animal label on the crate, which is BS!!!!!! I have called the airline and made a complaint, there were two other employees there who saw it and really didn’t say anything about it. When we got home yesterday and I placed him in his cage he didn’t know what to do he was in a panic, but I spoke at him and offered him mealies and it seemed to calm him down, then after 2 mealies in ran into his pouch and didn’t come out till 10pm, when he came out he explored his whole cage, and boy is he quick and hyper LOL

That is so horrible!!!! :( That is why I decided not to have my babies shipped to me and am driving 6 hrs to pick them up! :) What you have to assume here with airlines they are ran by human beings and to be quite honest I don't have much faith in us so I wouldn't dare put my babies in anyone elses care! Such a horrible thing for me to say... sorry for the negative attitude towards our own kind but it's very difficult to feel any other way... of course their are a few people on here who have helped tip the scale just a little bit (on the positive side not the neg.)... they know who they are.

Poor Guy! I can't believe that people are so inconsiderate and cruel sometimes.

Yeah I dont have much faith in us either, their are many bad apples out there, but of course there are many good ones also, but nowadays thoses are hard to find.

Any kind of shipment should be treated with care no matter what it is, whether it be a letter, box or plastic crate. I just cant stop wondering what all they did to the crate while he was in it. My poor baby. I am letting him rest up before I try to bond with him or do tent time. I feel he is very stressed out at the moment with the flight and the huge change. I dont want to add anymore stress on him. He ate very well lastnight though from what I saw this morning. So he must be feeling ok.

I Don't think I would want to eat after being swung around all over the place! I guess some people do not care about their jobs either, did the guy atleast apologize? Or was it all excuses?

Once he slammed the crate down on the counter he left and didn’t say a word to me or the women there, but the ladies I think called his walkie and said something to him, because all I heard was he didn’t know there was a live animal in the crate. I didn’t pay attention to anything going on around me; I was focused on making sure Nico was ok. They did come over to me and look at him, but really didn’t say much, I then just walked out, I was in shock and didn’t know what to say to them, well I knew what all I wanted to say, but I didn’t want to start any drama in an airport full of police. That’s why I waited till I got home to make my complaint, they told me on the phone they were sorry and that they would look into it, wonder what they will do? Nothing probably.

This was the same place I picked up Mici and this didn’t happen then, but who knows what did before she came to the counter.

Atleast the little guy is ok :) I would be so ticked off if that happened to Manny or Lola!

First of all, let me tell you how sorry I am that you went through that. I don't know if I could have kept my cool.

Secondly, that is why I think people SHOULD NOT ship any glider...or any other animal anywhere. It is not natural, safe, or good for the animal by any means. That is why I think any breeder that is willing to ship, is not that good of a breeder. Yep, I said it. I feel like if your willing to put a little baby glider or any other animal in a crate and send them across the country in the heat or the freezing cold, all alone, being handled by underpaid men to move boxes from one place to another and being tossed around.. just to make money..you are not a ligitmate breeder.

Sorry for rambling guys, I just hate hearing those stories. I'm glad your baby is healthy and okay now. I guess it could have been so much worse.

thats sad!!
I think someone should make a really safe airport for only animals! And caring serious people could work their! uhg this makes me sad!!
hopefully karma will hit that guy!!

congrats on the new sugar baby!!

Bree

Was very hard to keep my cool, my friend however went off and I had to stop her, I didn’t want to make a seen, or end up being arrested and etc, plus I had my kids with me. I am seriously reconsidering ever having gliders shipped to me or ever shipping any of my joeys that come from Nico & Mici in the future.

It's not worth it. It would be fine if the airline employee's took their job seriously. But you can't expect an underpaid man that has to carry boxes and luggage around all day to be respectful of anyones things. And yes Bree Bree, I agree. Some sort of UPS thing...But it just wouldnt work. With weather and everything else. Getting a poor glider shipped (or any other animal is just a terrible idea). These days you can't even hardly ship a lamp or anything breakable (even though there are big signs on the box that say FRAGILE)...so how are you supposed to ship something that is alive, and keep it alive.

yeah i am the same way, and i agree that NO animal shouldnt be shipped but if that had to happen i guess it would still be okay if they made an animal airport but only for manditory (sorry my spelling sucks lol) uses only!

actually I do agree about the shipping but some airlines actually have a special carry on for pets where they sit with a person the whole fight and it is climate controlled just like if we were to fly. Priscilla Price does this with her gliders and personally knows the carrier so she knows her gliders aren't tossed around etc. And she charges extra if you don't live near that specific airline just to discourage it. So not all shipping is bad it just depends on the breeder and the airline. Just thought I would state that so you knew the other shipping options though I still wouldn't have my babies shipped...but that's just how I feel about it.

Oh yes I know that you can take a pet as carry on...but that's not really shipping in my opinion. Well, I guess it is, but it's not what I was refering to. I had to take my dog carry on one time...NIGHTMARE!!!

I just called the airport again and spoke with the general manager of the cargo department, but he told me I had to talk to the airport manager so he gave me that number which I called but he just rang and rang so I called back the other manager and asked him to forward my complaint and gave him my contact info, he said he would pass it on and also look into it all. At first I called continental airlines and made my complaint but then I was told I needed to call the airport and blah blah. I really don’t think anything is going to come of my complaint but I can at least try and save another animal from going through what Nico went through yesterday. UGH!!! I’m so frustrated!!!!!

wow poor little guy. I hope he settles down. If you haven't already thought of, I would take him in to have a vet check. Let his system settle and run a fecal check. There have been situations when severe stress like that brings out things like giardia and such. So better to be safe then sorry. I also wouldn't introduce him to your little girl till you KNOW for sure his system isn't compromised from the stress. He was removed from his parents, tossed in a crate all by himself and then shaken up from the airline, so he's been under some great stress.

I've only had one shipping experience & it was with continental. It was a positive one. They left a little late but were able to catch a connecting flight that stil got them home at the same arrival time. The boys did great, the shipper did great and the airline did great.

I hope you have better luck next time.

Yeah I don’t plan on introducing them for 30 days, He came with a health cert. but I will have him checked out before any introductions are done. I hope and pray he doesn’t develop giardia.

There really is no alternative for shipping animals by air. I have pondered the idea of starting up some sort of official railroad kind of web site where truckers and road trippers could partake and pick up and drop off animals along their route. But, I havent found a way to eliminate or deal with fraud and theft. If you pay $1000 for some animal and some trucker decides to run off with it, what do ya do? Most folks who keep animals can not afford a managed approach. If they could, they would most likely drive or fly out themselves and pick up the animal.

Albeit rough, I dont think there is any replacement for air freight.

There does exist a site http://www.uship.com/pets/ where you can post a pickup and drop off and let people offer and bid down on it. Lots of animals show up there. If I roadtrip, I check there first to see if anything like that is along my route. So that is always an option.

I'm sorry, but every time I fly its Traumatic. Besides not trusting anyone that works on the planes,flies the planes(**hick-up** i need a drink),or loads anything into the planes.Being 30,000 feet above the ground doing 350 mph is not natural or fun for me(i HATE to fly). Then you have to deal with all the employees at the airport who have to deal with jerks from all over the world,all day long,every day(did anyone else watch "Airport" the reality show? It was funny).

What did you expect?

Why anyone would buy an animal,have it flown to them,and expect better care than a person would get, I just don't get it. If you really wanted something that bad, and really cared about how its being treated,go pick it up!

THANK YOU CATMAN. THANK YOU!!!! Haha and I dont think you had to add that (I hate to fly comment)..I'm sure we all already cought on to that one! LOl. I was watching a comedian on tv the other day and he was saying "who goes and applys for a job at the Lost luggage section of the Air port". LOL...I just don't understand it. Nearly every airport employee is an underpaid #%%^$@#@$%%!! (I dont know what that word is supposed to be...just make your own one up). I definately agree with Catman and I don't think it could have been said better.

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Originally posted by Kazko

There really is no alternative for shipping animals by air. I have pondered the idea of starting up some sort of official railroad kind of web site where truckers and road trippers could partake and pick up and drop off animals along their route. But, I havent found a way to eliminate or deal with fraud and theft. If you pay $1000 for some animal and some trucker decides to run off with it, what do ya do? Most folks who keep animals can not afford a managed approach. If they could, they would most likely drive or fly out themselves and pick up the animal.

Albeit rough, I dont think there is any replacement for air freight.

There does exist a site ubid.com where you can post a pickup and drop off and let people offer and bid down on it. Lots of animals show up there. If I roadtrip, I check there first to see if anything like that is along my route. So that is always an option.

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My husband is a Trucker & has flat out said DONT ASK! lol..he has a full plate worrying about his freight he is carrying..The suggie wouldnt ever be able to get the attention & care it needs. Alot of people have made mention of using a Trucker transport as a way to save money, but I have also heard the nightmares & it, (like you said) theft & mistreatment isnt worth the gamble. There are folks who do animal transport but you usually pay out the teeth.. there is one guy I know of through GC that a couple of reputable people have used & he is reasonable, If your interested I can get his contact information for you, but I myself have never used this individual, he has came highly recommended as a caring & responsible person..PM me if you would like his name & number. I am checking with that person that has the contact info for a complete updated report on this person & there contact info to give to whomever needs it.

Kazko - I got on ubid.com but couldnt find where you could bid on transportation. What is it under? Thanks in advance

i feel the same way about flying any type of animal or anyone for that matter. the way i see it, all types of roads have a breakdown lane. planes do too, like 30,000 miles under them. an airplane is nothing but an extra large coffin with wings. i wouldn't want to be in one if i was dead, i am terrified of heights. 6ft of the ground and i freeze like a deer in a headlight. i know, i tried it before. not fun!!

The website I meant to refer to is www.uship.com/pets/. If you are going on a roadtrip, you can find a shipment on your route to take on. It's a great idea.

well the guy I was talking about has since had a situation come up & for the time being stop transporting, but theres others that do do it for suggies, its just getting connected up with those that have the connections.. it was a suggestion, wish it did pan out..I tried at least lol..

Ugh yeah I agree, flying is no fun at all, especially in bad weather. When I fly I have to take something to calm me or I'm in a panic the whole way. Being that high just doesnt make me feel safe at all, even though most accidents happen in a car.