Originally Posted by LilyOfTheValley  I am writing to ask you wonderful Yorkie lovers if you could please provide any advice, feedback, help, personal experiences, anything on our situation.
A dear friend of mine in Arizona had a stroke and has decided she can no longer care for her Yorkie named Yogi. Since my hubby and I are experienced Yorkie parents, and she and I have known each other for several years, she wants more than anything for us to take Yogi. (Of course, if she ever wanted him back, we would return him.) He is currently with a wonderful rescue lady in Tucson, but he must be out of her home by Aug. 13.
We have put a rescue plan into place where my hubby will fly out out of DFW to Tucson to get Yogi and fly back with him the same day. When I called airline reservations, on two occasions, and talked with a different reservations agent each time, I was given the same generous dimensions under for his pet carrier to go under the seat. However, when I called this week, it was an entirely different story. Now they say that the height of the carrier can be no more than nine inches, and that he must be able to stand up and turn around comfortably. Yogi is a super-sized Yorkie, about 12 pounds, and he measures 14 inches from floor to top of head, and 10 inches from tummy to top of head (laying down measurements). My Celltei bag is 11 3/4 inches but soft sided so we could get it to fit the nine inch requirement. Yogi will be lightly sedated, and probably sleeping, and it is only a two-hour flight. Our worst fear is that my husband might encounter a problem at the counter when he gets Yogi's ticket (which must be done in person so they can see the dog), or at the security checkpoint, or at the gate if he encounters someone who is a "by-the-book" type of employee. He will have Yogi's proof of rabies and his 10-day medical certificate, but if they will not let him board with Yogi, he will have to give him back to the rescue person and fly back dogless.
I've talked to someone who flies a lot with her Yorkies for dog shows, and she feels he will not have a problem as long as Den keeps a low profile. (That will be a trick for a six-foot man with a short grey beard and a cute Yorkie under his arm.) Someone on another board who had been a stewardess for 12 years said she had never seen this rule enforced, that she thought it would be fine. After all, it's only a two-hour flight.
So if any of you could please give a moment of your time with a quick response regarding any experience or personal story you have had with taking a Yorkie on an airline flight in the passenger cabin, please pass it along. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks to you all.
Sandy |