Today, PetRelocation.com was featured in our local newspaper, The Austin American Statesman, on not only our business, but also the industry on pet moving as whole... You can find the article here.
It was great to get the local press, but I must admit the best part of this story was an email we received from a local reader who sent us his personal story on his pet moving experience and why, at the end of it all, he sure wished he hired a pet moving company to help with his cat's move!
Read the story below, unedited, and if you need photography work done... his company seems great!
Hi Pet Relocators,
Congrats on the Statesman story. Great idea! Had I known about your service last year, I might have used it. If I ever have to move our cat again, I will defiantly call. Here's why:
After selling our home in Leander, Tx, we decided that since we were empty Nester's and my wife Karen was flying to the west coast to work every week, why not move to Sacramento and take up that offer to live in Karen's brother's guest house. Napa, Tahoe, San Fran, more Napa. What the heck? Let's go.
After loading the moving truck to over capacity, we soon realized the cat wouldn't fit (just kidding) and we thought about how to get Mico, our tabby across country. Having a cat in the car for 5 days (we were going to take our time getting there) was not an option, so I volunteered to fly the cat with me from Austin to Sacramento. Piece of cake.
I had a week of work to finish up in Austin before I left so we put the cat in the good hands of Brushy Creek Veterinary in Cedar Park. Time for shots, a chip implant thing and some time for the cat to reflect how lucky he is to have us as owners.
On the day of departure, I stop by PetSmart and buy a kitty transport mesh style bag with little paw prints decorating the trim. I arrive at the vet full of anticipation. This is where the story gets_________. You fill in the blank.
Mico is in a state of turbo panic when I arrive. I guess the whole pet spa treatment / stick a chip in my neck thing was not to his liking. I paid the bill and made my way to the car with Mico is in the complimentary cardboard tote that resembles a Build-A-Bear box with 1 inch diameter breathing hole just big enough for the cat to reach through and sink the claws into my hand that is attached to the carry handles. Once in the car, I release Mico to roam around the car. Big mistake. He doesn't care much for the car ride and shows his displeasure by leaving some smelly "tootsie rolls" on the floor board. After a stressful drive to the Austin airport, I finally pull into the Budget car return and start looking for something to scoop up and hide the tootsie rolls in. Luck would have it that the Budget rental agreement holder has a nice little pouch and I was able to remove the offending stick missiles from the car just before the rental person approached the car to check it in. While I am stuffing the cat into the carrier and getting my luggage out, the Budget opens the drivers door to check mileage. I know he can smell the stink bomb, but doesn't say anything about it, but does roll all the windows down. I make my way to the terminal with cat, 2 roller bags and 1 carry on.
While in line, I realize the the budget pouch is still in my pocket and the smell is starting to return. I slip out of line and ditch the pouch. On my way back to line, I can see the cat carrier violently moving in all directions. It is if I have put the Tasmanian Devil in the bag. Mico is going nuts and making bizarre cat noises usually only heard in horror movies.
After check in I headed to security. The TSA guy tell me to take the already freaked cat out of the bag and walk through the metal detector. Out of the bag? Are you sure? Yup. As I am passing through the metal detector, the microwaves must have set off something in Mico's brain that said "spray, spray, spray all over him!" I was then covered with cat spray. Now, if you haven't been sprayed lately, it resembles rancid fish fertilizer with just a hint of leftover Mexican food. I stuff the cat back in the carrier and make my way to gate 13 (a sign) and try to find a place to calm the cat down. Did I think to buy some "kitty Valium" at the vet? Nope.
When I board the flight from Austin to DFW, I am met with different reactions that run from "isn't that cute" to "what the hell is making that terrible noise?" to "Don't you dare sit next to me looks". At this point Mico is going crazy in the carrier and is using his claws to tear through the mesh. This goes on the entire trip to DFW. I stink, the cat is making siren noises and is slowing turning the carrier to pulp.
After landing at DFW, I am totally stressed out. The flight to Sacramento is 3 hours long. I don't think I can do this. I decide to take a later flight and then jump into a cab and head to see a friend, who is a vet just north of the airport, to get some drugs to knock Mico out. I know the vet well enough that he will give me the drugs without question and I can head back to the airport. I arrive at the vet and my friend Jim, is off that day. I have to go through the whole examination, stool sample (If I had only known, I could have brought them one) and blood test. 2 hours later, I am on my way back to the airport and hoping the drugs kick in soon.
I soon notice that the drugs are having little effect on Mico. Maybe he had built up a tolerance while at the vet / spa in Austin. His secondary eyelids were only partially closed so I shoved another half a pill down his throat and hoped for the best. My 9pm departure was about to board. Should I try this flight of secretly drop the bag in the bathroom and run?
I find my seat and announce to the passengers already sitting that "In advance, I want to apologize for any offending smells, sounds or muffled cuss words that come from me or my cat". My stand up routine bombs. I ask the kid in the isle seat if he wouldn't mind taking the window seat, giving me more access to the bathroom, band aids, etc... His mother, who is sitting across the isle, rudely states that her son will NOT take the window due to him needing more "legroom". OK, thanks for that (muffled cussing)! As soon as I take the window seat, a couple behind me flags down the flight attendant and tell her that they are allergic to cats and want to move. NOW!. I turn and try to apologize while trying to plug holes in the carrier with the airline blanket.
A few minutes pass and the flight attendant comes to me and says. "Mr. Peary, after we get airborne, we are going to move you to 5A. My wife is Executive Platinum on American and I knew instantly that I was heading to first class. Somehow the kid next to me knew that too and stated "Hey man, that's first class". I looked at him and his mom, smiled and said "Yup, more legroom!"
The first class passengers had been polled about me coming up to first class and they all were OK with it. It almost brought me to tears. I would have bought them all a drink if they didn't give them out for free already.
Mico spent the next 3 hours in and out of conscious and would periodically rip some more of the mesh just to let me know he had not completely given up. I spent the entire flight staring at the bag trying to prevent escape.
We landed in Sacramento and I was met by my brother in law and his son. I handed the carriers to them without a word. They could tell by the way I looked that I needed a moment away from the cat.
We got to their house and I released Mico in the guest house and marveled at his drug induced sideways walk and how calm he seemed. I got in the shower and soon poured a BIG glass of Cabernet. Never again, never again.
We stayed 9 months in Sacramento. It was time to come back to Austin. What about Mico? We drove two - 15 hour days with only one stop in Tucson where we had to sneek Mico into the hotel. Only later that night did we realize that they was a cat show at the hotel and our efforts were in vain. Mico did pretty good on the drive. He got a little car sike once but the strange thing is they naturally shut down on their own. They don't eat or go to the bathroom. He slept most of the trip. He has adjusted to our new home in Southwest Austin.
Let me break it down for you:
Airline ticket for Mico: 88.00
Vet bill( boarding, shots, chip) in Austin: 419.00
Pet carrier: 40.00
Cab fare to and from vet in Dallas: 40.00 x 2 = 80.00
Vet bill in Dallas: 90.00
Over 700.00.
If any of your customers are considering flying on a plane with a cat in the cabin, send them this story.
Take care,
Bill Peary
www.pearyphotography.com
It was great to get the local press, but I must admit the best part of this story was an email we received from a local reader who sent us his personal story on his pet moving experience and why, at the end of it all, he sure wished he hired a pet moving company to help with his cat's move!
Read the story below, unedited, and if you need photography work done... his company seems great!
Hi Pet Relocators,
Congrats on the Statesman story. Great idea! Had I known about your service last year, I might have used it. If I ever have to move our cat again, I will defiantly call. Here's why:
After selling our home in Leander, Tx, we decided that since we were empty Nester's and my wife Karen was flying to the west coast to work every week, why not move to Sacramento and take up that offer to live in Karen's brother's guest house. Napa, Tahoe, San Fran, more Napa. What the heck? Let's go.
After loading the moving truck to over capacity, we soon realized the cat wouldn't fit (just kidding) and we thought about how to get Mico, our tabby across country. Having a cat in the car for 5 days (we were going to take our time getting there) was not an option, so I volunteered to fly the cat with me from Austin to Sacramento. Piece of cake.
I had a week of work to finish up in Austin before I left so we put the cat in the good hands of Brushy Creek Veterinary in Cedar Park. Time for shots, a chip implant thing and some time for the cat to reflect how lucky he is to have us as owners.
On the day of departure, I stop by PetSmart and buy a kitty transport mesh style bag with little paw prints decorating the trim. I arrive at the vet full of anticipation. This is where the story gets_________. You fill in the blank.
Mico is in a state of turbo panic when I arrive. I guess the whole pet spa treatment / stick a chip in my neck thing was not to his liking. I paid the bill and made my way to the car with Mico is in the complimentary cardboard tote that resembles a Build-A-Bear box with 1 inch diameter breathing hole just big enough for the cat to reach through and sink the claws into my hand that is attached to the carry handles. Once in the car, I release Mico to roam around the car. Big mistake. He doesn't care much for the car ride and shows his displeasure by leaving some smelly "tootsie rolls" on the floor board. After a stressful drive to the Austin airport, I finally pull into the Budget car return and start looking for something to scoop up and hide the tootsie rolls in. Luck would have it that the Budget rental agreement holder has a nice little pouch and I was able to remove the offending stick missiles from the car just before the rental person approached the car to check it in. While I am stuffing the cat into the carrier and getting my luggage out, the Budget opens the drivers door to check mileage. I know he can smell the stink bomb, but doesn't say anything about it, but does roll all the windows down. I make my way to the terminal with cat, 2 roller bags and 1 carry on.
While in line, I realize the the budget pouch is still in my pocket and the smell is starting to return. I slip out of line and ditch the pouch. On my way back to line, I can see the cat carrier violently moving in all directions. It is if I have put the Tasmanian Devil in the bag. Mico is going nuts and making bizarre cat noises usually only heard in horror movies.
After check in I headed to security. The TSA guy tell me to take the already freaked cat out of the bag and walk through the metal detector. Out of the bag? Are you sure? Yup. As I am passing through the metal detector, the microwaves must have set off something in Mico's brain that said "spray, spray, spray all over him!" I was then covered with cat spray. Now, if you haven't been sprayed lately, it resembles rancid fish fertilizer with just a hint of leftover Mexican food. I stuff the cat back in the carrier and make my way to gate 13 (a sign) and try to find a place to calm the cat down. Did I think to buy some "kitty Valium" at the vet? Nope.
When I board the flight from Austin to DFW, I am met with different reactions that run from "isn't that cute" to "what the hell is making that terrible noise?" to "Don't you dare sit next to me looks". At this point Mico is going crazy in the carrier and is using his claws to tear through the mesh. This goes on the entire trip to DFW. I stink, the cat is making siren noises and is slowing turning the carrier to pulp.
After landing at DFW, I am totally stressed out. The flight to Sacramento is 3 hours long. I don't think I can do this. I decide to take a later flight and then jump into a cab and head to see a friend, who is a vet just north of the airport, to get some drugs to knock Mico out. I know the vet well enough that he will give me the drugs without question and I can head back to the airport. I arrive at the vet and my friend Jim, is off that day. I have to go through the whole examination, stool sample (If I had only known, I could have brought them one) and blood test. 2 hours later, I am on my way back to the airport and hoping the drugs kick in soon.
I soon notice that the drugs are having little effect on Mico. Maybe he had built up a tolerance while at the vet / spa in Austin. His secondary eyelids were only partially closed so I shoved another half a pill down his throat and hoped for the best. My 9pm departure was about to board. Should I try this flight of secretly drop the bag in the bathroom and run?
I find my seat and announce to the passengers already sitting that "In advance, I want to apologize for any offending smells, sounds or muffled cuss words that come from me or my cat". My stand up routine bombs. I ask the kid in the isle seat if he wouldn't mind taking the window seat, giving me more access to the bathroom, band aids, etc... His mother, who is sitting across the isle, rudely states that her son will NOT take the window due to him needing more "legroom". OK, thanks for that (muffled cussing)! As soon as I take the window seat, a couple behind me flags down the flight attendant and tell her that they are allergic to cats and want to move. NOW!. I turn and try to apologize while trying to plug holes in the carrier with the airline blanket.
A few minutes pass and the flight attendant comes to me and says. "Mr. Peary, after we get airborne, we are going to move you to 5A. My wife is Executive Platinum on American and I knew instantly that I was heading to first class. Somehow the kid next to me knew that too and stated "Hey man, that's first class". I looked at him and his mom, smiled and said "Yup, more legroom!"
The first class passengers had been polled about me coming up to first class and they all were OK with it. It almost brought me to tears. I would have bought them all a drink if they didn't give them out for free already.
Mico spent the next 3 hours in and out of conscious and would periodically rip some more of the mesh just to let me know he had not completely given up. I spent the entire flight staring at the bag trying to prevent escape.
We landed in Sacramento and I was met by my brother in law and his son. I handed the carriers to them without a word. They could tell by the way I looked that I needed a moment away from the cat.
We got to their house and I released Mico in the guest house and marveled at his drug induced sideways walk and how calm he seemed. I got in the shower and soon poured a BIG glass of Cabernet. Never again, never again.
We stayed 9 months in Sacramento. It was time to come back to Austin. What about Mico? We drove two - 15 hour days with only one stop in Tucson where we had to sneek Mico into the hotel. Only later that night did we realize that they was a cat show at the hotel and our efforts were in vain. Mico did pretty good on the drive. He got a little car sike once but the strange thing is they naturally shut down on their own. They don't eat or go to the bathroom. He slept most of the trip. He has adjusted to our new home in Southwest Austin.
Let me break it down for you:
Airline ticket for Mico: 88.00
Vet bill( boarding, shots, chip) in Austin: 419.00
Pet carrier: 40.00
Cab fare to and from vet in Dallas: 40.00 x 2 = 80.00
Vet bill in Dallas: 90.00
Over 700.00.
If any of your customers are considering flying on a plane with a cat in the cabin, send them this story.
Take care,
Bill Peary
www.pearyphotography.com
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