General Moving 3,000 miles away - how to transport pigs

[sbadaracco]

i will be moving cross country - 3,000+ miles - and debating the best way to bring 12 piggies and 3 cats. If i drive it will take 4-5 days minimum, if i fly i risk the airlines not handling animals right. Any suggestions? Experiences?

 

[grace&piggies]

Well I think getting help from friends or family is definitely step one! Of course plan ahead for food, water, changes to bedding in carriers and a quick set up when you arrive at your destination.
If you're driving my concerns would be comfort in the carriers and keeping everyone eating/healthy. Plan out where you can stop and have the animals get out of their travel carriers. It might be worth training the cats to work with a leash so they can stretch their legs more often. Have a small collapsable run on hand for the pigs so they can move around on stops. Important for them to move around, burn energy and keep their digestive systems moving.
Not sure if you have access to pet friendly hotels or air bnbs, though that would be an easier way to make sure all your animal are able to have a reprieve from the confines of a carrier.

 

[sbadaracco]

Well I think getting help from friends or family is definitely step one! Of course plan ahead for food, water, changes to bedding in carriers and a quick set up when you arrive at your destination.
If you're driving my concerns would be comfort in the carriers and keeping everyone eating/healthy. Plan out where you can stop and have the animals get out of their travel carriers. It might be worth training the cats to work with a leash so they can stretch their legs more often. Have a small collapsable run on hand for the pigs so they can move around on stops. Important for them to move around, burn energy and keep their digestive systems moving.
Not sure if you have access to pet friendly hotels or air bnbs, though that would be an easier way to make sure all your animal are able to have a reprieve from the confines of a carrier.

 

[sbadaracco]

yes that is great advice! I have traveled with 2 other cats years ago on (2) 10 day cross country trips. I had a friend come with and we took a week to train the cats to be let out of their carriers in the car but to stay behind the front seats so they could roam the back seats and trunk they had access to and we also had a kitty box for them. When we would stop during the day we did not open the car doors until we had both cats back in their carriers. Then, during each 10 day trip, when we wanted to see something touristy along the way we would call ahead to the sites gift shop and ask if they would babysit the cats to get them out of the car and heat. We even had a construction crew babysit them on the Hoover Dam, a bank in Texas sat them, and we bought them a ticket to go on a cruise in the Wisconsin Dells one afternoon.
With piggies, I am part of the Portland Guinea Pig Rescue and we have experience with outfitting a van with 2x2 cage sets when we had to do a 70 pig - pig exchange with 2 other rescues in CA. it was a 10 hour drive for us one way.
If I had to choose I would fly them all instead of drive, just terrified of putting them in cargo. I have read it is of course best to get a non stop flight but the city I am going to - there are no non stop flights so would have to change planes. Another option would be to fly them to the closest city possible then drive the rest of the way. The whole thing is so stressful but rehoming them is just not an option - those damn pigs and cats are coming with me one way or another, LOL!

 

[grace&piggies]

Then, during each 10 day trip, when we wanted to see something touristy along the way we would call ahead to the sites gift shop and ask if they would babysit the cats to get them out of the car and heat. We even had a construction crew babysit them on the Hoover Dam, a bank in Texas sat them, and we bought them a ticket to go on a cruise in the Wisconsin Dells one afternoon.

That is hilarious! Your cats know how to holiday!

Someone posted recently about a US airline that allow pets in the cabin but it was only one pet per carrier per person - not exactly going to measure up for your tribe. Are there any US companies that specialise in transporting pets? There are companies like this here: https://www.jetpets.com.au/ and https://www.petflyers.com.au/domestic-transportation/ I have no experience with them, but if you can find a positively reviewed service maybe that's an option?