No system is f00lproof and anyone who tells you theirs is, simply isn't telling the truth. However there are ways to eliminate risks when transporting animals and that is our goal. 
 
     Out of the 1800 animals moved by SAP Rescue we have had very few health issues. When something has gone wrong over the last few years we have learned from it and have taken measures to prevent it  from happening again.  
 
     SAP has a program which primarily moves animals from  Gloucester County in Virginia.  This county has a program called Puppy Transport that has been in place for 7 years now, and they have a great program. They pull dogs and puppies, cats and kittens from their facilities that encompass 6 counties and place them in one of their 20+ foster homes. 
 
     Some dogs live in outside pens, others live right in houses with families. During their stays with these families several things happen. The family gets a real feel for the animal, its behavior and its personality. This allows us to not only know who we are getting, but to match up descriptions pretty well for adopters, with the kind of dog they are looking for. This time spent in foster is a minimum of 2 weeks and can be as long as several months for some animals. This two week holding allows us to be sure that the animals are healthy and that no transmittable diseases are hiding their symptoms until later.  
 
     Although it is rare for our shelters here in New England to have a case of rabies, parvo or distemper these diseases kill thousands in shelters in other parts of the country every year.  Parvo is very prominent in young puppies in shelters and puppies die from it more than 50% of the time when exposed to it.  
 
     A lot of the puppies we transport are born in foster homes and remain there until they are transported to New England. That eliminates even more of the risk and also allows the foster homes time to give them love, and socialization.  A good percentage of the pups that travel here are crate trained and on their way to being housebroken. They are happy and healthy.  
 
     Each animal is vaccinated age appropriately. Adult dogs are just given one DHLPP booster, as well as a rabies shot, and Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccines. 
 
     Puppies are given at least two DHLPP vaccines, and three if age appropriate, as well as kennel cough vaccine and rabies shot if over 12 weeks of age. In order to stick to this rule though, it does mean that we rarely transport puppies under the age of 10 weeks. If they have 2 vaccines it simply eliminates a lot of the risk of disease. 
 
     All animals are also wormed, although we suggest each foster home take a stool sample to their veterinarian on arrival and be sure that they do not need to be wormed again.  
 
     Fleas are prevalent in the warmer climate of Virginia, consult with your veterinarian on the best age appropriate treatment if your animal arrives with extra passengers.
 
     All dogs over 6 months are also tested for heartworm to be sure they are negative. Heartworm is very prevalent in the south, and can be very costly to treat. So, we also suggest strongly that all animals (puppies & dogs) are put on heartworm preventative as soon as they arrive in Vermont, regardless of time of year. This may sound extreme, but even though a dog tests negative for heartworm, if they are exposed to it before they leave they can still get the condition and it can take up to 6 months to show up. So, for cost reasons and for your animal's health they should continue on treatment. 
 
     Last but not least, each dog is given a health certificate within a couple days of the transport by a vet to show they are healthy and clear to travel. Cats and kittens follow the same protocol but with feline appropriate vaccinations.  They are not tested for heartworm, but they are tested for feline leukemia and proven to be negative before traveling.