Survial Guide and Tips for the Transport Angels!

[gsd1234]

believe it or not.... I keep a few saltines in the car for upset tummies (just a few as to not overdo the salt).
I have a tape/cd of mellow music in case you hit a stretch of a no-music area - helps to calm doggies too!
give your vehicle a quick check - water, oil, tires.

Post deleted by cid

[NWS_Haven]

I like to put a tarp under the crate (especially with pups) in case someone vomits or defecates through the crate. This will cut down on the chance that parvo, distemper, etc. gets embedded into your car carpeting.

[sunnygirl272]

Bumping this up.

[JaneGael]

Always print out the run sheet with dogs listed and MOST IMPORTANT - names and cell numbers of the legs before and after yours. You WILL need them. Arrange meeting places ahead of time and try to scope them out if you can. We found the McDonald's was an urban one with no parking. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twitch.gif[/img] Fortunately there was a little park in the next block.

Find out EXACTLY how many dogs in the transport. I signed on for 2, was told it was 4 and 5 + a crate of puppies arrived! If we had not called the leg ahead just to check in we would have been in deep doggy doo. As it was we needed to take both cars.

Pack everything you think you could possibly need and then some. ALWAYS pack chocolate -- for the driver. Take two Excedrin followed by a Hershey bar and hit the road... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rotflmao.gif[/img]

Peace,
Jane

[JanH]

Exact directions.
Maps.

Driving tip (not everyone knows this) if driving in rain or snowy roads DO NOT use cruise control. If you hydroplane or hit ice you need to let off the gas and with cruise you can't - it ends up increasing your speed towards an accident.

A slip collar or leash that can be fashioned to one...it helped with a transport that the dog tried slipping his collar off...once he saw he couldn't get the collar off he was fine. Chasing a loose unfamilar sometimes scared dog is not fun. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/02_frown.gif[/img]

[LuvsDieter]

[I posted this last year after I did my first transport. Very nice for anyone traveling the I-75 corridor]

I just found this site when looking for a meeting site for a transport in Kentucky.

This site is a listing of every exit on I-75 organized by state. It lists each exit and what ammenities there are off the exit (restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc).

http://www.i75exitguide.com/index.htm

[butterfingers]

Here is a link to the PA Turnpike map showing all exits and any construction.

http://www.paturnpike.com/webmap/PTCIE.htm

[fuzzmom]

Cell phones are a MUST but more than that...CHARGE THEM AND TURN THEM ON! Or bring a charger that plugs into the cig lighter. I have a transport this weekend and one of the drivers doesn't have a cell...<argh>.

Know your state's (county etc.) law on driving while talking on cells. In CT you will be ticketed if caught talking on a cell unless it's a handless device. (I learned this as a driver told me (on the cell) as a cop passed by )

Know your state's (county etc) law on dogs with heads out the window. I don't think I need to say that NO dog should have their head out the window since we are all driving highways, but if they are, you can be ticketed depending on laws for restraint.

Do NOT post meeting locations or any personal info on public boards (including this one)!! Only coordinators and drivers should know meeting locations and vehicle info via private emails. While transferring dogs, drivers are very vulnerable as all our attention are on the dogs and not so much what is going on around us. I do keep an eye to make certain people don't approach the dogs, but not so much on my vehicle. Keep wallets and purses in a safe place.

When leaving your vehicle KEEP YOUR KEYS ON YOU and NOT in the car. I was coordinating a transport where the driver got locked out of her vehicle when the dog stepped on the button. Thank goodness the windows were slightly down or it could have turned bad as it was during the summer.

I'm sure there are other things I've come across but nothing more comes to mind right now or have already been mentioned.

[LadyHawk]

Originally Posted By: NWS_HavenI like to put a tarp under the crate (especially with pups) in case someone vomits or defecates through the crate. This will cut down on the chance that parvo, distemper, etc. gets embedded into your car carpeting.

AWESOME IDEA- I used to use just a blanket//large towel- this is way better ....no permeation!!!!!!!!!