02/25/2023
To all our customers: The last two transports we did (February 10, 2023 and January 27, 2023) were very difficult on the drivers. We did not get pick up points, drop off points, names of the people at the drop off points or phone numbers for drop off people. Therefore, we are implementing the following procedures immediately. These procedures will be strictly enforced or we will not pick up your pet for transport.
Item #1
The boarding pass will be completely filled out. There will be no notations on it such as, will coordinate with drivers once the animal is boarded on bus. We require: the name of the rescue, the name of the person responsible for payment of transport fee; the pick-up area (these are going out so everyone knows where we pick up); drop off address (again there will be designated areas the bus can get to); the name and phone number of the person picking up animal at drop off location. There will be no catering to people without cars. If the adopter does not have a vehicle, they must arrange to get to the drop off area. The bus is a large and long bus. We follow the rules of the states we travel to on each trip, therefore we cannot deliver to; Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire. All communication vital to transport must come through the [email protected]. Messages that go to Danielle’s phone will not necessarily be returned in a timely manner as she has other commitments.
Item #2
There will be no last-minute bookings. The latest we will take a dog being booked will be close of business (6PM CST) Tuesday before transport. To book a dog, the dog must be vetted. This means the dog has a clear health certificate and proof of vaccinations sent to [email protected] again, by the close of business the Tuesday before transport. If we do not get the health certificate and the proof of vaccination the dog is considered “dirty” and WILL NOT BE TRANSPORTED per FDA Regulations. Health certs must have the address of the drop off point. So please make sure you contact us for the drop off points. Dogs must be out of shelter at least 14 days prior to transport. If the dog will be out of shelter 14 days by the Friday of transport, that will be acceptable. So, if you need to book a dog, Tuesday of transport week is the deadline and the dog has till Friday of transport to be out of the shelter the required 14 days. NO DOGS WILL LEAVE TEXAS BE WITHOUT THE HEALTH CERTIFICATE AND PROOF OF VACCINATIONS. If you need to replace a dog on a transport, it must be of the same size. If the dog is not, we will not permit the swap. (For example, cannot take a chihuahua off transport to exchange it for a German Shephard or anything bigger than 15 lbs. Kennels are assigned by the weights and breeds of dogs.)
Item #3
It is against FDA Regulations for us to provide medications for the animals we transport. Medications prescribed with the original bottle for a particular animal can be given on transport. We are a transport company and not a mobile vet clinic. We will have items on the bus to help keep the pups healthy and in good condition. We do not have things as sub-q fluids, antibiotics, de-wormer. If you suspect a pup might have worms, please have it checked before boarding. The vets can administer medication before the pup gets onto the bus. Usually, three to five doses of de-wormer are sufficient. The drivers have enough responsibility of making sure the trip is safe and that everyone arrives at their destination in one piece. And again, it is against FDA rules to transport a “dirty” (see Item #2) animal. We will NOT transport “dirty” animals. And we will not work with a rescue/foster that has been found to be sending “dirty” animals.
Item #4
We will institute the Life360 for everyone to follow the progress of the bus on each trip. Therefore, we will require cell phone numbers for those people that will be following the progress of transport. The Facebook chat for each run has turned into complaining sessions. Too many important items are missed when the chat gets cluttered with non-essential information/comments. Therefore, the previous chat will be eliminated and replaced with a chat will be started on the Tuesday before transports. This new chat will be for the rescue representatives and the company owner only. This will be the appropriate place to request updates which the representatives can pass along to their clients.
Item #5
The drivers will not answer their phones while driving. This is against the law in all states; covered under the distracted driver laws in each state a driver will not be texting or talking on the phone while in transit. We realize that each and every person that is involved in a transport is saying good bye and hello to animals that have caught their heart strings. But we are in safety mode on these transports and will not be distracted.
Item #6
Proof of payment must be sent before the dog is loaded.
These items are hard and fast rules for Iron Paws Pet Transport, LLC to maintain the safety of the animals we move and our employees. If you cannot abide by these rules, we respectfully suggest you find alternate transport.
We are working very hard to grow as a company to find the most effective way to complete our transport service. Please understand that each trip from Texas to the East Coast (or wherever we are transporting to) and back can average 4000 miles or more and the drivers are in charge of the care and safety of around 45 dogs each trip. Our goals are safety, speed and organization to get these babies home. This is a growing and evolving business and will we continue to adjust our procedures as needed to meet our goals to provided safe and reliable transport that complies with all state and federal laws and regulations. Feedback and suggestions are always welcomed. Please send them to the company email, [email protected].
