So what's the plan now?  Is Henry traveling by plane or pony-express via RT & Ratbones volunteers?  I hope whatever method of travel gets used, he gets to be moved soon.

Just let me know if you need me, ok?

I think we're going to have to go on the road. I think its just going to be too cold to fly him in cargo on the plane. I'm pretty sure we just have two legs left, the Galesburg, Il to Bloomburg, Il and the Bloomburg, Il to Dansville, Il. I am going to repost these and hopefully we can get these filled. Then we can start setting a date and get him out of there!!!

Well, I can be available to drive the 'leg' I signed up for with very little advance notice, so if this comes together for next weekend, or any day before then, someone PLEASE let me know. 

Leg #1 : Maquoketa, Iowa to Galesburg, Illinios --- 92.3 miles, 1 hour 34 min.

Leg #2: Galesburg, IL to Bloomington, IL --- 84.2 miles, 1 hour 29 min.

Leg #3: Bloomington, IL to Danville, IL --- 90.0 miles, 1 hour 34 min.

Leg #4: Danville, IL to Indianapolis, IN --- 91.3 miles, 1 hour 40 min.(Paul)

Leg #5: Indianapolis, IN to Richmond, IN --- 73.7 miles, 1 hour 16 min.  (John - Ski)

Leg #6: Richmond, IN to Springfield, OH --- 61.3 miles, 1 hour 8 min. (John - Ski)

Leg #7: Springfield, OH to Columbus, OH --- 47.7 miles, 52 min. (John - Ski)

Leg #8: Columbus, OH to Zanesville, OH --- 55.8 miles, 58 min. (Valerie - alice4512)

Leg #9: Zanesville, OH to St. Clairsville, OH --- 62.0 miles, 1 hour 2 min.

Leg #10: St. Clairsville, OH to Washington, PA --- 40.9 miles, 44 minutes (Tracey - DaisysMom)

Leg #11: Washington, PA to Morgantown, WV --- 45.6 miles, 53 minutes (Patricia - Nickle's Mom)

Leg #12: Morgantown, WV to Cumberland, MD --- 78.2 miles, 1 hour 18 min. (Patricia - Nickle's Mom)

Leg #13: Cumberland, MD to Baltimore, MD --- 139 miles, 2 hours 21 min. (Dawn - dschauber)

I'm working on a good map

I think we only need one leg to be filled is there anyone available out there????

What day are we thinking on this?? I have an adoption event this Sat for Russell Rescue, I am one of those pain's that needs advance notice. Unless there is a back up for me and my legg.......I scheduled things becuase I was not sure where we were with this......last I thought he was flying? Is there someone that can fill in as my back up in case the day decided is not good for me? I don't want to be the only one not able to fill my legg

Well we still need those two legs (#2 and 3) filled in IL. I think that's whats holding us up. I am contacting different pet transportation companies for estimates.

I need your thoughts, do you think we should try to arrange the transport company to just do the two legs or the whole trip. Either way it looks like its going to be expensive (between 300 and 600). But I was thinking it might be less stressful for Henry if he just rides in one vehicle with one set of people for the whole trip instead of like ten. But I really don't know much about transporting dogs cross-country. Please tell me what you think.

If I do decide to go this route (transport comany for whole trip) I think I will have to put it on a credit card, and even though its REALLY expensive, its seems like a good thing. Any thoughts????

Okay, UPDATE UPDATE!!

I've contacted many ground pet transporters and this seems to be very expensive and takes a long time. So I did contact Continental Airlines and spoke with the Live Animal Desk and she has eased my fears about flying Henry.

She told me that they have flights from the Mid-west to Baltimore mon-friday and that it would be about 200 dollars. The only problem is, animal flights have to leave out of Omaha, Nebraska!! I mapped it out its about 6 hours from Maquoketa, Iowa. I wonder if we can get him transported to Omaha instead of cross-country?

This is how the plan would look:

Maquoketa, Ia to Waterloo, Ia approx 1hr 57min and 113.64 miles

Waterloo, Ia to Marshalltown, Ia   approx 1hr 6min and 59.13 miles

Marshalltown, Ia to Des Moines, Ia approx 56min and 51.72 miles

Des Moines, Ia to Omaha, Ne approx 2hr 5min and 135.09 miles

The last leg could be split up, I just don't know any little towns around there.

The flight that Henry would have to be on leaves at 0700 and he would have to be there at 0600. So I am imaging that the person who would volunteer to take him to the airport would want to keep him overnight and then get an early start.

It seems like this will be Henry's biggest chance to get out of there and into my arms. I hope maybe this will work. He's just so far from where I am.

OK Now your in my territory. We could probably do the Des Moines to Omaha or even one step farther and get him on the plane but it would have to be a weekend thing. let me know if you can make it work this way and hopefully we can get Henry home.

That's about 6 hours and 360 miles.  Would it be easier to get volunteers if the route went along I-80?  It cuts off 30 miles and is an hour faster if you go Maquoketa / Davenport / Iowa City / Des Moines / Omaha.    (According to google maps.)  I wish Henry would hurry up and get home too.

We could probably do either and get to the halfway point. (Either Marshalltown or Iowa City). Whatever would work best for the first two legs of the journey.

I know you said you posted the transport on a yahoo group, but I forgot which one... and I was looking for transport options and came along this listing on a website.  Have you tried any of these to fill the needed spots?  I have never used one of these, so I can't vouch for them, I just found them by searching online....

Transport Volunteer groups

Pet Transport Net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PetTransportNet/
Pet Transport Net is a National List for requesting or volunteering to
transport rescued animals to their new forever homes.

PetTravel
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pettravel/
This is a list where you can post if you are trying to set up transportation
for a rescue trying to make it to their forever home.

Rescue Angels On Wheels
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueAngelsonWheels/
A group comprised of rescuers who transport, transporters who rescue, or big
hearted animal loving volunteers willing to help with both. The primary
topic of this list is All Breed Rescue Transport. We are in the process of
building a National Network of APPROVED Transporters to minimize the time,
stress, and over-all aggravation currently associated with moving a rescue
furkid from one place to another.

Rescue Transport
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RescueTransport/
This list is dedicated to the transportation of rescue animals.

Rolling Rescue
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rollingrescue/
Rolling Rescue is a place for rescues needing transport and transport
volunteers to find each other. Their mission is to recruit truckers, Rivers,
commuters and anyone else who travels to the network that helps to move
rescued animals to safety, in a rescue or from a rescue. to their new
adoptive homes. Most of their transports involve dogs, but all are welcome.

And then there are the commercial ones I found, some offer discounts for rescues:

Commercial Services

TRANSPORT RESOURCES - maintains list of resourses to help rescues get transported in US.

Flying Paws
http://www.flyingpaws.org/
Any organized rescue group, veterinarian or recognized animal care organization may contact Flying Paws concerning transport of their special needs animal. Flying Paws will NOT transport to any KILL, PET STORE, RESEARCH or BREEDING facility.

Sky Ark
http://www.skyark.org/
As our mission statement says, Sky Ark arranges free air transportation o­n either Sky Ark-owned aircraft or with other pilots and aircraft owners. Our free air transport service is for the transportation of injured or sick animals in need of health care, rescued animals from shelters, delivery/transport of service animals and for other compelling needs. Many of our volunteer members are pilots who use their own aircraft when we are unable to provide transportation in Sky Ark aircraft.

Pet Air
http://www.flypets.com/
Pet Air provides affordable, professional animal transportation in the most
convenient way possible for their customers and their pets.

Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA)
http://www.ipata.com/
An International Trade Association of animal handlers, pet moving providers,
kennel operators, veterinarians and others who are dedicated to the care and
welfare of pets and small animals during transport locally . . . nationwide
. . . worldwide.

Pro-Pet-Transports
http://www.pro-pet-transports.com/
Currently the largest pet transportation company in the continental United
States, operating from nine branch offices located throughout the nation.
Dedicated to providing the safest and most reliable transportation for
animals nationwide. Licensed by the USDA-APHIS program under the federal
Health and Welfare Transport Act and is a standing member of the Independent
Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). All driver/attendants are
licensed, bonded and qualified in their professional experience with animal
care.

Feathers and Fur Van Lines
http://www.pupcentral.com/Transport/
Feathers and Furs - now supplies crates at no cost runs twice monthly need 12 day advanced order. Was about $230 per dog with rescue discount depends on size of crate - slight discount if you can get two per crate but only goes to a 500 crate size (so more likely for puppies)
Nationwide ground animal transport service. Safe, fast and secure. (Licensed
& Insured) All animals closely supervised and cared for during transport.
All drivers personally trained and hand picked from breeders and those
experienced with animal care. (15% discount to rescue groups)

Wow, that'd be great!  Iowa City is practically the whole route.  Surely we can find a ride to there from the shelter.

You guys I am so happy, Henry has been in there way to long. I can't wait for him to get to his home. This has been quite the journey already.  Everyone on this site has such amazing hearts.

I can probably get him to the airport on a weekday morning no problem and can keep him for a night or two if needed. (Note: if we fall in love with the little guy he may miss his flight ) (Just Kidding) Just the pickup would need to be done on a Sat or Sun)

I hope that you guys can work it out.  Henry will be so happy to go home.

We could prob do the pickup in Marshalltown on Sunday get him back to Omaha and get him on his flight home on Mon or Tues. Lets wait for Dawn to reply to see if she can get the flight plans arranged and I need to double check with my other half to see if shes still game for a road trip. (Sure she wont mind, she tells me I never take her anyplace anyway!)  Looks like a plan is coming together.

I'm so excited that you guys are geting it worked out.