HELP! Cat needs a new home

[Fabe]

id be glad to foster her . but like i said , need to get the cet to me. im a 2 hout bus ride . or from constitucion , u take a train either to alejandro korm or glew . from there its a local bus or a 12 dollar remise. people are too convenience oriented when it comes to pets

 

[Fabe]

continental blows monkey ass ! PERIOD. the argentine maffia that runs continental petcare cargo , makes sure to forget what u paid for in the states and "sells" you the form they should give you as part of the service u contracted for upwards of 100 dollars , as was in my case . the form is what you need to fill out and hand to customs in eze to get your cat out of there. scumbags.
i will never fly continental again , ever , they can colectively blow me

 

[razal]

If you can't find a home for her before you need to leave on the 27th, we'd be happy to foster her (in Palermo).

 

[Sutterek]

Thank you to all for your support and offers to adopt Persephone. I truly am thankful for the chance to give a good home to my cat when I felt that there was no hope after asking everyone I knew and having them ask their family and friends also. I should have known to turn to BAexpats earlier. I have sent PMs to many of you and really hope that we can get Persephone settled into her new home this week with fostering and then with the offers for mid-march to adopt long term. I can't say enough what a great cat she is.

Please everyone research everything possible about transporting animals BEFORE you take one into your homes in Buenos Aires and keep up with the latest updates. Do not make my mistake, for you and your cats sake. I thought getting two cats was a good idea so they could keep each other company while I was at work everyday. I truly never wanted to separate them in this way as they are sisters and litter mates. I really thought Continental was going to be a good company for transporting the cats but international travel is different then domestic and besides the cost I was told that not all planes have the proper cargo areas to support comfortable and safe areas for animals. If I had a partner, we could bring both home in the plane but it is just me. Only one pet per person in the cabin under the seat.

I can't thank you all enough and I ensure you that I am not a heartless person but when I wrote the first post, I felt I was out of options so thank you all for your suggestions and especially your offers for a new life for Persephone.

 

[Sutterek]

For shipping, I was given two companies to contact so they will hopefully be helpful to others:
Worldwide Dogs 4788-8106 (They have a website and facebook page and were very easy to work with in English. They need 10 days at least to prepare paper work and will pick your animal up at your house, provide a cage, work with customs, get the international health certificate, all for a fee of course. Ask them to send you a quote and start saving.)
Other contact:
Christopherson 4314-0678

I also recommended before but do so again:
Dr. Federico Curra - Movilvet (comes to your home and speaks english)
15-5887-9861 (website - http://www.movilvet.com.ar)
You need a health certificate from a veterinarian here in BA one week or less before the travel and then you need to go to Sensasa for an international health certificate (I haven't done that part yet so I can tell about it when I go this week.)

Start making your plans now

 

[Jcyordenana]

I have to admit that I jumped to pass judgment on someone giving up their pet, but I can't thank you enough for alerting me to this, as I'll be needing to bring my two cats home on Continental in July. We are a family of three so perhaps we'll be able to go in the cabin if the cargo thing is too expensive.
thanks for making the effort to get your cat a good home
good luck
thanks to everyone who offered to help

 

[mcaffa]

More bad news that I came across today:

New United Airlines pet travel policy - No more pets flying in cabin or checked as luggage!
As of March 3, 2012, United, which is merging with Continental, is adopting Continental's pet transport program known as "PetSafe."
All pets will be shipping as cargo. Thats mean different process and cost significantly greater.
https://www.facebook.com/pet.relocation.solutions

 

[Sutterek]

Things are looking very good that there is a wonderful new home for Persephone with all the great offers. Thank you all so much. I will post when she is fully settled. Good news also that my other cat, Maria, is confirmed to fly in the cabin still for my flight on Monday night. I called Continental to confirm so at least for now (Feb 27th) there is still the possibility to bring a cat in the cabin. There is a Continental office near the PanAmericano hotel on Av. 9 de Julio and I found the reservations number for BA very easy to work with. 0800-333-0425. There is an option for English. Make sure to keep informed if you are planning to travel with pets and check the airlines rules BEFORE you buy your tickets if possible. Muchisimas gracias to all.

 

[Crema Americana]

If you need help with the transportation of the cat from your home to its new home, I may be able to help with that if you can't find a remis or taxi that will take her. We have a car. Unfortunately we don't have room for any more pets.

 

[Sutterek]

Hi to anyone who checks this thread, I really appreciate the offers to take Persephone. I tried to introduce her to a home with another cat but that did not work as she just hissed the whole time. I have reconsidered the costs to send her as cargo to the US. It will take about 2 weeks to get her to me but I know that for her temporary relocation and shipping it may be traumatic but hopefully in the end she will be happy to be with her sister/littermate in a new country. (Did you know that in Argentina people say that cats have 7 lives and in the US it is 9 lives? Persephone will gain 2 more lives in the trip!!)


Here is a run down of the approximate costs for incabin and for shipping:

In Cabin:
Vet visit for health certificate $130 pesos (5 days in advance)
Carrying case (I bought a soft case by a brand called Argo. It had a tag that it was airline approved) About $450 pesos
Going to Senasa for International Health certificate and fees (near Puerto Madero casino) $129 pesos
Continental Airline charge for bringing cat in cabin $125 USD
There will probably be a charge for customs in the US but don't know that part yet for sure.

As Cargo: total quote for shipping $1184 plus $130 for vet visit
Vet visit for health certificate as above which you are responsible for.
The following costs were in the quote from Worldwide dogs (worldwidedogs.biz) with approximate prices in US dollars. They will do most everything else for you except the vet visit 5 days in advance. You can save some money if you do some of this yourself like buy a kennel, transport to Ezezia and go to SENASA and possibly to Cargo handling directly.
Case/Kennel $104 USD
Customs paperwork - Duties and Taxes $260 USD
Paperwork at SENASA for International Health Certificate as above: $73 USD
Pick up - Buenos Aires to Ezezia airport $66 USD
Handling and Cargo warehouse gate fee: $200 USD
Airwaybill issue: $45 USD
Continental Air Shipping cost $423

It is a bigger expense then I anticipated but in the end it is the right thing to do.