Flying with Mice

Last week I moved from Ottawa, Canada to San Jose, California. The
toughest part was trying to bring my pet mouse with me.

Air Canada will accept mice as checked luggage (not carry on). I
booked with them. Then they told me that that particular plane didn't
have heating in the cargo hold and therefore they won't carry any pets
during winter months.

United Airlines accept small pets as carry on. I changed my booking to
them. But when I got to the check-in counter I was told that mice and
rats are not allowed. Only gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. Had I
said she was a gerbil, everything would have been fine.

With the clock ticking, I ran across the airport to the Air Canada
cargo building and hastily booked my mouse in for one of their cargo
flights for $155. They didn't fly to San Jose, the closest they came
was San Francisco.

With my bags already heading for San Jose, I changed flights to San
Francisco so that I could pick up my mouse. The woman at the San
Francisco cargo counter gave me a heart attack when she said "Your
mouse didn't make it." What she meant was that my mouse had been
embargoed in Toronto. Apparently they can't fly pets out on the last
flight of any day.

After 36 hours of travelling, she finally arrived in California. A big
thumbs up to Air Canada Cargo for feeding and watering her during the
unscheduled stop. She was happy and her normal self. I was a bit
frazzled.

And finally, when the housing agency in California heard about her,
they demanded a $500 deposit against any damage which she might cause.

The things us silly humans will do for a $2.95 feeder mouse.