Transport Guidelines

Homes Fur Hounds, Inc. Transport Guidelines

●       Charge your cell phone the night before. Be sure that your phone is fully charged when you start your transport. It is important that the rescue, and the drivers meeting you, can communicate any changes by phone.

●       Have all numbers easily available. Have the phone numbers of the Transport Coordinator, the shelter and any drivers who you are meeting easily accessible.

●       Read the bio about the dog before transporting. Get as much information as you can.

●       Puppies who have not been fully vaccinated must be transported NPOG-No Paws On Ground. All NPOG must be crated and carried when transferring between crates.

●       Bring supplies: water, bowl, blanket, towels, wipes, treats, plastic bag, slip collar, leash and maybe a stuffed animal to make the dog feel secure. Many dogs will chew through a tether enroute, please have one available for your leg even if leashes are being sent.

●       Leave your own animals at home.  Check with Homes Fur Hounds for permission to bring your pet beforehand.

●       Make sure you leave with paperwork. Be sure to obtain the shelter/owner release forms if not completed electronically & other vet, vaccine, registration papers if available.

●       Stow all food and other items sent with the dog, out of sight in case dog guards. Be sure to pass items on to the next transport person.

●       Identification of dog. Be sure the dog has collar & tag with HFH contact info.

●       Walk the dog before transport. If you can, walk before transport so that the dog can stretch his legs, eliminate, and sniff freedom before you put him into a crate.

●       Double Leash. Be sure to double leash while loading or unloading a dog into car, kennel & at pit stops. One clip on lead and a slip-on lead. ASSUME ALL DOGS ARE A FLIGHT RISK.

●       Keep Leash on in the crate. Keep a leash on and if needed you can close the end of the leash in the car door to keep the dog secure.

●       Secure and Safe Vehicles.  Doors, windows and canopy hatches should be closed and secure, and have effective climate control and ventilation. Make sure that windows and car doors are closed if you step away from the vehicle.

●       Secure dog before opening the door: Before opening a car door, make sure that the dogs are secured, either by tether or crate. Wait until the next driver is available to assist with the transfer, this is a buddy system activity.

●       Stops: at least once every four hours to check on dogs, feed, water and clean as necessary.  Hang on tight in case the dog tries to bolt.

●       Never leave animals unattended in a parked vehicle.

●       Please notify us once transport is completed.

●       Questions or Problems? Call if you have any concerns along the way.

●       Take precautions: When you arrive home after transport, take precautions not to expose any transmissible disease or fleas to your own pet. After each run, all bedding, crates and crate pans should be cleaned with bleach

HELPFUL TIPS

Dogs can be hyper, stressed, nervous and anxious and may cry with nervousness, or with sadness upon separation.  Talk firmly and gently so he learns your voice and hears that it will be okay.

Remember this dog doesn't know you, so you may not be able to grab a collar or pick it up to load into the vehicle. Slip leads are much easier and safer to use when trying to catch a dog that is head shy.  Always have a slip lead within reach, just in case.

DO NOT LEAVE AN UNCRATED ANIMAL UNSUPERVISED IN YOUR VEHICLE, EVER! Tragedies occur daily.

NEVER TRANSPORT A DOG IN A TRUCK BED! Covered, uncovered, just NO!

A retractable leash should not be used on transport, it's easy to drop it if a dog wants to suddenly chase something. The safest thing is to put your hand through a leash handle and have a leash in both hands.

When you get out of your vehicle TAKE YOUR CAR KEYS! There have been several instances of a dog locking itself into a car by stepping on a door lock to look out.

If you have window/door locks, please use them, very disconcerting when a tethered dog stands on the power window control while you are on the highway.

Please be considerate of all drivers on a run, be at the meeting location on time. Please pick up any trash, and 'output' from the dogs.

Do NOT allow a child to be in control of a dog outside of your vehicle, that could result in disaster.

Overnighters need to be fully prepared to keep their guests in a safe place, usually away from resident animals, when taken outside, a double leash should be used.

Do NOT feed in the morning before transport, unless you have a severely emaciated dog.

If a run is identified as NPOG, No Paws On Ground, this means that the dogs have not received all of the vaccinations necessary to fully protect them from disease. They MUST be placed on a ground cover, preferably in an XPen, they must be carried to the ground cover. Ground covers could be shower curtain liners or vinyl table clothes, many of us who do 'puppy breaks' regularly, buy shower curtain liners at a dollar store, use them once and throw them away. If the puppies are large, we use a slipcollar and hold it while in the XPen. ALL NPOG MUST BE CRATED!!! I also put a shower curtain liner under every crate that has a NPOG puppy, makes cleaning MUCH easier if there is 'output' in your crate/vehicle. Please don't sign up for NPOG if you are unable to follow the protocol, puppies lives could be endangered, it is more work than an adult, but ...puppy breath!

TRANSFER 1 DOG AT A TIME! There have been several fights during transport, resulting in both medical attention needed for a driver and a dog and in one case a dog escaped, do NOT allow dogs to interact.

**Always pay attention to the dog when he is out of your vehicle.  This means no cell phone use or any other kind of inattention when a dog is not secured in your vehicle. **

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Enjoy your trip and remember how important this journey is for the dog.