Blog - MWZ Pet Transport

Why Ruffland Crates?

With a few exceptions for some of our larger passengers, we transport all dogs in Ruffland Brand crates

When you get into a car, you put on your seatbelt. Safe and secure crates do the same thing for your pet that you seatbelt does for you. A pet who is loose in a vehicle can be thrown and injured in the event of an accident, or even sudden braking due to road hazards. Not all crates are created equal, and there are some that are far safer for roadtrips. We choose RuffLand crates for our pet transports.

Material

Dog crates are available in a variety of materials. Wire crates are the ones most people are familiar with. These crates are designed for in-home use, and are great for potty training puppies. They are not suitable for vehicle use as they will collapse under pressure, and your pet can stick limbs out of them if they want. These are not USDA approved crates for transport.

Cloth crates are also not appropriate. While these are great for things like hotel stays, they are difficult to sanitize, making them a poor option for use in a transport vehicle. Cloth and fabric crates can also limit ventilation, and are easy for dogs to damage.

Crates made of solid, safe plastic or aluminum are the gold standard for car transport. The RuffLand crates are made of rotomolded plastic, with round edges, plenty of ventilation, and doors that do not allow paws to reach through. Furthermore, they are available in a variety of sizes to make sure that every pet has a good fit.

RuffLand Crates versus Vari-Kennels

There are other types of plastic crates on the market. Vari-kennels or Sky Kennels are commonly chosen for air travel. These crates generally have a top and bottom half secured by screws, and a wire door. The plastic used to make Vari-kennels is not as sturdy as the RuffLand plastic, and can crack easily. In addition, the joint between the top and bottom has been a weak point that has been documented in car accidents. We prefer to use a solid crate, with tougher plastic and a solid body. The RuffLand kennels meet these criteria.

Ease of Cleaning

In between each transport, we pull every crate out and power wash them with a kennel cleaner that is a favorite with vet clinics. Doors on RuffLand crates can be completely removed. This is a great feature, and allow us to really clean in every nook and cranny so that each new guest has a sparkling clean cabin to ride in.

Avoiding Pet Transport Scams

Did you know that scams are increasingly common in the pet transport world?

We have all had a scam phone call, or an e-mail from royal prince looking for financial aid. In today’s digital world, it is increasingly easy for scammers to contact you, and to look like the real deal. It is impossible to stop all of the pet shipping scams, but you can absolutely avoid them when selecting a transport company. Here are the things to watch for, and the red flags to avoid when selecting a pet shipper.

Double Check USDA Numbers

One of the fastest ways to make sure that you have found a legitimate company is to double check their USDA registration number. You can go onto the USDA website and search for your transporter’s business name or USDA number, and verify that they are who they say they are. Unfortunately some scammers give out false numbers, or use someone else’s number. By verifying their information on the USDA site, you can make sure that you are not dealing with someone who is trying to manipulate you with fake information.

Acting Professional

When you start communicating with a transporter you are looking to hire, you should notice pretty quick if they act in a professional manner. Your transporter should require more from you than just a payment. They should let you know that you need required vaccinations and a valid health certificate for transport. They should tell you their policies, how your pet will be transported, and they should verify ID on pick up and drop off. A reputable transporter will get your contact information, an emergency contact’s information, details about your pet, their breed and age, their size, and their feeding routine. You will also likely sign a contract verifying expectations for both parties. If you contact someone and they just say, “Yep, pay your deposit and your pet is booked”, you are likely not dealing with someone legitimate.

Online Presence of a Real Person

When you look at the social media or website of a transporter, it should be evident if they are a real person, or someone trying to pull a scam. You should see clear evidence of successful transports, pets should look clean, vehicles should look clean, and the transporter in the photos should match the person you have been talking to. Reviews should be from people who have legitimate accounts with a history of being active, and not from a bunch of accounts that were started on the same day (fake accounts to farm fake reviews). Everything should look consistent between the shipper’s social media, website, and any profiles on sites such as UShip or CitizenShipper.

Preferred Form of Payment

Western Union, MoneyGram, and similar services should NOT be used to pay a pet shipper or transporter. These are non-refundable, and you will receive no support if a scammer takes off with your money. Credit cards and PayPal give some protection to both you and the shipper, and give you some recourse if the shipper does not follow through with providing service.

There are many established, verified businesses out there who can provide you with excellent customer service and great pet care. Checking out a few things can help you ensure that you are working with a legitimate company, and avoiding the scammers out there.

What Does it Mean to be a USDA Transporter?

The USDA License Difference

You may have seen transporters advertising themselves as “USDA Transporter”, but what exactly does that mean for your pet? The USDA is responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations set forth by the federal Animal Welfare Act. This act gives rules for what conditions are required for transport vehicles, how often pets should be given food and water in transit, how old a pet should be before being booked for transport, and what health documents transporters should always carry with them.

The USDA also does unannounced inspections of their registered transporters. This is a level of accountability that you will not get with an unregistered transporter. These inspections check that the paperwork the transporter has is all in order, and also makes sure that the transport vehicle, crates, and pets are clean and in excellent condition.

Let’s take a look at what a few of these regulations are.

Crate Requirements

There are safety regulations about what type of crates can be used in transport. Crates should be large enough for pets to stand, lay down, and turn around comfortably, and pets should not be able to put any body parts outside of the crate. Crate materials should be sturdy, with a solid floor and good ventilation, and the crate should be easy to access and open in the event of an emergency.

Primary enclosures used to transport dogs and cats must be constructed so that: (1) The primary enclosure is strong enough to contain the dogs and cats securely and comfortably and to withstand the normal rigors of transportation; (2) The interior of the primary enclosure has no sharp points or edges and no protrusions that could injure the animal contained in it; (3) The dog or cat is at all times securely contained within the enclosure and cannot put any part of its body outside the enclosure in a way that could result in injury to itself, to handlers, or to persons or animals nearby; (4) The dog or cat can be easily and quickly removed from the enclosure in an emergency;
Animal Welfare Act

While traditional Vari-Kennels do meet the requirements for the USDA transport enclosures, they do not hold up well in an accident, and dog’s have been known to open the doors. We utilize RuffLand Kennels as they are a much sturdier plastic, with stronger doors that have material that doesn’t bend like a Vari-Kennel door. Wire crates, fabric crates, and dogs riding loose or with a seatbelt are NOT acceptable under USDA regulations.

USDA Transporter Age Requirements

The minimum age for a dog or cat to be transported by a professional is 8 weeks old, and all puppies and kittens must be fully weaned. If your puppy or kitten is traveling with any of their littermates, they can hang out with each other in the same kennel. If not, they will be solo in their own kennel. While not a requirement from USDA, we also have a “No Paws On Ground” policy for younger pets. Instead of being leash walked at stops, puppies will play in a fully sanitized X-Pen, with a barrier keeping them from touching grass or soil. This is done with any puppy who has not finished their vaccine series.

Paperwork and Health Requirements

All pets who travel with a USDA transporter need a health certificate from a veterinarian. The USDA requirement says that this certificate should be issued within 10 days of travel, but we have a policy of 7 days. By having the 7 day requirement, your certificate will still be valid in the unlikely event of a weather or mechanical delay, and you can avoid a last minute trip back to the vet. When picking up your pet, I will ask you when the last time was that your pet had food or water, and add that information to my record. Any medication your pet needs will also be documented.

Trust But Verify

If you are interviewing a transporter for your pet, and they claim that they are USDA licensed, you can double check that information. You can look up your transporter on the USDA website, and make sure that their license is valid. Unfortunately, some scammers have lied to people about being licensed, but you can easily verify things in just a few minutes.