[nagdu] A unique program for sending dogs back to the school

[Jenine Stanley]

Just and FYI and nothing more here. 

GDF has a unique program, a partnership with US Air, called Puppies in
Flight. US Air crews or other staff who are traveling, deadheading or who
can do so, take our puppies and/or retiring dogs in the cabin with them if
the puppy walker or grad cannot accompany the dog back to GDF. 

I think a few of the other schools, like GDB, also have such programs with
other airlines. 

>From the airports, our "Taxi Team" of volunteers pick up puppies and
retiring or ill dogs returning to GDF for adoption or care. 

I have to say that like Tracy, putting the dog in that crate was an
emotional nightmare. Parting with a dog under any circumstances is highly
emotional. My poor Jerry Lee though went back to GDF in 1994. I couldn't
take her with me and couldn't keep her at the time as a pet in my apartment.
The people at US Air were wonderful. We took her to the depot and they were
all set to keep her crate behind the counter until her flight left a couple
hours later. We got home and about half and hour later got a call saying
that her flight had been cancelled due to a snow storm in New York and
LaGuardia being closed. They were not sure when the flight would go out
again. 

We went back, collected her, got another recommended tranquilizer from the
vet, something that was necessary for flying at that time, and were told to
come back early the next morning. 

The tranquilizer was a very low dose of Valium. We also had to include with
her crate 1 dish of food and an empty dish for water. These went on top of
the crate and were to be used if she was stuck somewhere. 

We took her back and I said goodbye again. By this time, she thought this
was great fun. Since her flight had not yet been scheduled but they knew it
would go out that day, they took her behind the counter out of the crate.
They had a blanket back there and laid it out for her. The staff said she
was great. It was about 4 hours before her flight left. I gave them some of
her commands, explained how busy-busy works and that she would go on
concrete. They loved having her back there. She was friendly with several
small dogs who stayed in their cages, and a couple cats who were also
flying. 

This all was way more than I'd probably ever do again though and I agree
with Tracy about taking the dog back yourself. That said, I made special
trips to do so with two of mine. One I brought back right before receiving
another and I have to say that for me, that did not work well at all. I was
so emotional after parting with him at the kennels then getting my new dog
only a couple hours later that it was just not worth it. Though I'd kept him
and walked him as a pet, I did have him work through the airports to get
back to the school. I never should have done that. 

This whole thing is never, ever easy. 

Truly, Laura, if Myrtle's house behavior is OK and you trust her as a house
pet, even when you are gone, maybe keeping her is best, but I think if it's
a straight flight and you have all the details worked out, it shouldn't be
too horrible for her to travel to Leader via crate. If they want to work
with her with an eye toward retraining or putting her out again with someone
else, they may not want you to keep her as a pet that long though. 

 Jenine Stanley
jeninems at wowway.com