Take Me Home Pet Transports Policy And Special Conditions Regarding The Transport Of Brachycephalic Breeds:
Your pet’s safety and wellbeing are our highest priorities.
By booking with Take Me Home Pet Transport, the owner, sender, and receiver confirm that the animal(s) presented for travel have not shown signs of, nor previously required treatment for, BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome), respiratory conditions, or heat stress.
For the welfare of all animals in our care, our driver may conduct a visual health check at the time of collection. If an animal appears unwell or shows symptoms that may place it at risk during transport, we may respectfully decline travel. Acceptance of a booking or collection does not remove the owner’s responsibility for ensuring their pet is fit to travel.
We kindly ask owners to assess their pet’s health and suitability prior to transport. If you have any concerns, particularly for flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds, we strongly recommend consulting your veterinarian before travel.
If an animal is unable to travel at collection, prepaid transport fees are generally non-refundable. However, refunds or credits may be considered at our discretion, especially where reasonable notice of cancellation has been provided.
During periods of extreme heat, we may postpone or reschedule trips, particularly for breeds more sensitive to temperature. Where possible, we will contact you in advance to discuss options, including rebooking or refunds.
BOAS can be unpredictable, and affected animals may develop breathing difficulties or heat stress even in air-conditioned or mild conditions. While we take every reasonable precaution, pets cannot be individually monitored at every moment, and immediate veterinary access may not always be possible depending on location.
If veterinary care becomes necessary during transport, all associated costs remain the owner’s responsibility. We will always attempt to contact you first. If we are unable to reach you, you authorise us to act on veterinary advice in your pet’s best interests.
If an animal requires veterinary treatment or passes away due to an underlying medical condition such as BOAS, transport fees are not refundable. This does not affect our duty of care or liability where negligence is established.
In some cases, veterinary treatment may require your pet to remain at the clinic, and we may be unable to wait. Additional costs for ongoing care, boarding, or alternative transport may apply.
Symptoms Or Signs Associated With BAOS In These Breeds:
Noisy breathing
Snoring
Coughing
Reverse sneezing
Nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
High blood pressure
Low oxygen concentration in blood
Fainting or collapsing
Excessive flatulence (from gulping air)
Exercise Intolerance
Symptoms of this condition do not seem to be an issue in young puppies. Symptoms should be watched for in mature animals from approximately 9 months of age.
Specific additional risk factors for these animals include:
Hot conditions
Obesity
Over excitement
Stress
Separation Anxiety
Previous respiratory issues
Previous incidences of heat stress
Signs Or Symptoms That May Cause Refusal of Transport:
Loud or unusual breathing
Nasal congestion
Shortness of breath
Obesity
Unusually hot weather conditions
Signs of over excitement or stress
If your pet is or does at times show any of the above signs of this problem, you must seriously consider whether it is appropriate to transport your animal. Please note that all major transporters within Australia and internationally have some form of limitation or waiver regarding the transport of Brachycephalic breeds and in the case your pet is severely affected even private transport by car may not be recommended. We suggest that you consult your veterinarian for further advice.
Additional Information Regarding Transport Of Brachycephalic Breeds:
Collars / Harnesses
Dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome should be fitted with a harness that does not tug at the neck area. It is not advisable to use a regular neck collar or choker chain for these dogs, since the collar can put undue pressure on the neck. We ask that owners provide an appropriate harness that fits the dog properly and that the dog is used to wearing. In the event that our drivers/handlers feel that your dog is pulling insistently and that this may be affecting your animals breathing they will limit the animals walks as much as is practical under the circumstances.
Insurance
Take Me Home Pet Transport is fully insured but our insurance policy does not cover veterinary bills, death or loss associated with BOAS or any other Pre-existing physical condition that an animal may have. Such insurance is not available in Australia and to the best of our knowledge no pet carrier in Australia offers such insurance. It may be possible for individuals to obtain cover for their personal companion animals through other insurance providers but it is possible that this condition would not be covered as it would be classed as a pre-existing condition.
Does BOAS affect all brachycephalic animals?
As previously stated not all Brachycephalic breeds are affected to the same degree and not all dogs within a breed are affected. It is more common to affect young animals from about 9 months on.
However we have seen it affect otherwise healthy seeming animals with no typical symptoms. We are aware of animals with symptoms of BOAS being found deceased when no other apparent risk factors were present, autopsies have indicated heat stress as a factor even when heat was not considered to be an issue or the animal was in an air conditioned vehicle.
Air Conditioning
It is important to note that while heat is an exacerbating factor in this condition it is not the cause. Any form of anxiety, stress or over excitement may cause issues in an affected animal.
Specifically affected Brachycephalic breed animals being transported in Air Conditioning may be unable to adequately regulate/adjust their body temperature when taken out for walks and sudden changes in temperature may quickly cause an episode of heat stress resulting in death. The higher the temperature difference the greater the risk. When we do use Air Conditioning in our vehicles, we are careful to ensure that the temperatures are not excessively low to avoid these issues.