Q:
Hello! So great to have somewhere to ask some piggy?'s! I'm writing
in regards to my 300 pound (UGH!) pot bellied piggy "Mr. Wilby Never
Bacon" He is the love of my life and I need to have him transported
to Montana from Alpine,Ca (outside San Diego). He is currently in CA.
with his grandparents, but I miss him so. I've done some research via the
web on a few places that ship via airline and on land. Would it be better
if I try to do the shipping by myself or pay a company? I do have a horse
trailer. I realize it will be very stressful either way but it needs to
be done.
Do you know
of anyone who has used such places or done a cross country trip themselves?
He is soooo big and is also fat blind so I don't trust him with just anyone,
as you know being a fellow pig owner. He has a valid vet cert. and blood
work ready to go. I heard you should not tranq. either. I'm so worried....I
am making a deluxe insulated place for him to live here. Thanks so much
for your time, I'd love to get some feed back! Megan
A:
Hi Megan, always nice to hear from pig moms! As for your travel plans.
It has been my experience that it's always better to do it yourself cause
no one knows your pig like you do. I assume your horse trailer has rubber
mats for non skid traction and he will do fine in the trailer. It would
be best for him for you to do this before the really hot weather hits
if possible.
Airlines
are almost out of the question for a boy his size. They demand a crate
large enough for him to stand and turn around...yuk yuk and by the time
you have a crate like that it won't fit through the airliner cargo door!!
Dept. of Ag made that a law....thinking about dogs that can bend in the
middle...not fat pigs that can't turn corners. We have a couple of pigs
here that came via a van line service called Fin, Fur and Feather....I
wasn't impressed too much with them when they thought the pigs should
"jump" out of the van themselves upon arrival.
For the trip
you have in mind I would think the horse trailer would be the best route
to go and be less stressful than being in a crate. Most pigs settle down
after a couple of hours on the road and if it gets too warm during the
day you can travel at night when these guys are sleeping anyway. I know
many people that used to show and they hauled pigs from Indiana to TX
and left early evening so the pigs wouldn't have to be let out all night
when they would be sleeping.
If your
boy has the trailer to himself he should be just fine...he may be a
little sore the first couple of days after you get him home but that
will wear off quickly. Some tips on loading....try to back trailer against
a fence or solid wall and make a runway to herd him up. Doing it right
the first time will save a lot of stress on both of you. Hope this helps
and let me hear from you.
Q:
We have to move and it would be about 4 hour drive or even more and
we have a nearly 2 year old pig, what would be the best way of "transporting"
him the pig?
A:
The best and safest method is to put him in a large size pet carrier.
A four hour drive isn't really that long and even if he can't turn around
in it he will do fine.
