Can anyone help me figure out how to transport?

[dogsnkiddos]

My college friends formed a mothers group and we include a few members that are neighbors, relatives, etc. Last month one of the mom's lost her home and she, her hubby, 2 year old, and dog were forced to seek shelter in a "well house" (not a house at all, but a structure designed to cover the well). She asked me if I would take her GSD. It was not possible for me to take the dog, but after much help from members here (they gave me wonderful tips and resources) I have found a place for her at an all breed rescue (for whom I have fostered in the the past and occasionally help with fundraising/grant writing but hadn't thought to ask). The problem is the dog is in arkansas and the rescue is in NJ. They were going to have a space for the GSD next week, but called today saying bring her over! YIKES! I hadn't even figured out HOW to get her here! Can anyone tell me how you move a dog across the country?

I have her info (the dog's) and the rescue she would go to...and would obviously be willing to drive some of it...but how do I get started?

Any information would be most appreciated-

Thanks
-J

[dogsnkiddos]

I looked at mapquest- it says it takes 19 hours 51 minutes to go 1212.87 miles Does that sound correct?

[LadyHawk]

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=53&PHPSESSID=

Try starting here- also call a local rescue and see if they (maybe) will/can help arrange a transport schedule and contacts.......
HIt this board up if you need helpI am sure someone will have grand ideas.......there are also some agencies that specifically transport animals- via trains planes and automobiles...........

here too

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...=66&PHPSESSID=

[ellen366]

you can also try "uship"; it's like ebay; you put the info on the board and transporters bid; some prices are high, but not all are

you can see their references and ratings by folks who've used them previously

[dogsnkiddos]

Thanks so much for such prompt replies! I have been running this round and round in my head trying to figure out how to help. I feel so close to helping the poor dog, yet so far from succeeding....

I am not sure the rescue can pay much to move the dog- and since the people who HAVE the dog can't even afford housing I highly doubt they can pay to ship her! They are essentially homeless living in a four walled structure that houses a pump and well- not actually a house- with a two year old child.

While our mom's group can/does fund raise- it is not that quick a result. I need to try to keep the cost pretty low if I am going to try to pay for this (which would seem like the only option to move her that quickly). Most of us live in the same general locations- so we have clusters of us, but not enough to stretch out and make a transport chain of our own (that was my first thought!). I thought about hopping in my car and driving the 1200 miles...but I don't think I could be back in time for my husband to get to work on Monday....
I will check out the links in the first thread and see what I can figure out.... at this point I am leaning toward offering to pay her gas to meet me half way in Tennesse somewhere- at least then I would know the dog was safe and sound- and that she would not lose her spot at the rescue!

I wonder what is in TN......

[dd]

The easiest way to get a dog from AR to NJ is by paid transport.

I have used Peterson's often, as have many members of the board here. They take great care of the dogs, make sure they are exercised and watered and pottied en route.
http://www.petsllc.net/

They pick up in TN and go right to New England with PA, MD, NY and NJ stops. I would highly recommend them.

[Jazy's mom]

I second what DD said.

But you will need the owners to take their dog to the vet and get a health certificate and the dog must be UTD on all vacs. With their financial position this might be difficult. If the women's group raised a few hundred dollars that would cover the cost of the health certificate and transport.

Your second option would be a volunteer transport. Due to the distance this would need to be a two day transport. Two day transports take even longer to organize and right now with the economy and gas prices less and less people are volunteering for transports.

[dd]

Yes, a couple of hundred dollars should do it, and the Rescue will be getting an adoption fee which shuold cover most of their costs. So they should be willing to make an investment in getting him.

[dogsnkiddos]

Thanks for the responses. After my last post here I didn't even wait for replies. Since the family who has this dog is so very hard to reach (due to no phone/housing etc) when I did get a neighbor to reach her I decided to paypal her some money to drive the dog to TN and I hopped in my car and met her. It was 10 hours to get the dog and over 13 to bring her to NJ and to the rescue that was taking her.

The photos she had shared of the dog were nothing like the dog I picked up. I brought a friend with me on the ride and the entire way back I kept asking if the dog was dead. It was awful and heartbreaking. I took a lot of photos and have rasied some concerns within our group about this woman. I am stunned and saddened by the condition of the dog. I worry for her child...

This has been an eye opening experience. The woman asked me to take her dog since she knows I have my own GSDs. Though I could not, I really wanted to help. Through trying to help her and her dog I think I have become less trusting and more skeptical of humans beings!

Thank you to all of you who took the time to answer me. I really appreciate it.

[Prinzsalpha]

Thank goodness you have the dog now.