We've all heard the stories about pets being flown on commercial aircraft dying en route because of a lack of oxygen or extreme temperatures. Believe me, as professional shippers, we hear the concern oozing from every word as we discuss shipping arrangements with worried owners. So, let's take a moment to dispel this and other common "old wives tales."

Myth: The cargo holds aren't pressurized. My pet will die from a lack of air!

Truth: An aircraft is somewhat like a balloon. It is impossible to inflate part of a balloon and not the rest, right? So how do you suppose they would pressurize part of the aircraft and not the rest? They can't. It defies the laws of physics.

The air in the cargo hold and in the cabin are the same. In fact, an airline will not accept a pet that has fouled its carrier for just that reason -- they don't want passengers complaining about the odor.

Myth: Airlines won't take pets in the winter because the cargo hold isn't temperature controlled and the pets will freeze.

Truth: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has strict guidelines that govern when an airline can or cannot accept pets. Those guidelines help protect your pet in times of extreme temperatures, whether it be heat or cold. But the fact is, the problem is not when the aircraft is in flight, but rather when it is on the ground. This is partly because of the time it takes to load and off-load the cargo holds, but also -- especially in hot weather -- because the cargo area heats up faster from the reflective heat off the tarmac.

Myth: My pet will be happier if I take her in the cabin with me!

Truth: If your pet goes in the cabin, she has to be stuffed in a carrier that is 7" high -- and stay there for the duration of the flight. Even worse, she gets to hear you, see you, smell you -- not to mention the food -- but can't be "with" you. Regulations prohibit you from taking your pet out of the carrier while on the aircraft. For a pet, that's a fate worse than taking a nap in a comfortable position. Your pet's discomfort could end up an extended situation were you to be bumped to a different flight because someone in the cabin was allergic to animals.

Myth: My pet is afraid of loud noises, so I'm sure that the jet sounds will terrify him.

Truth: It's usually sudden noises, such as thunder, gunshots or backfires that scare a pet. The noise from within the aircraft is more of a steady rumble; it gradually gets louder, then stabilizes for the flight.

Myth: Pets should be tranquilized before shipping because it will be so traumatic.

Truth: Picture two children going to summer camp. The parents of one are happy and excited to see their child taking off on a wonderful new adventure. The parents of the other are fussing and fidgeting, just certain that their child will not like it and reassuring him/her that they can call to come home whenever they want. Which child is going to have fun? Which one will see camp as the adventure

When clients ask if they should get tranquilizers from their veterinarian we simply respond, "If you have tranquilizers and feel you need them, you should take them, but don't give them to your pet!" The truth is, of the "horror stories" you hear, the majority can be directly attributed to the use of tranquilizers.

If we could shout just one thing from the rooftop of every airport to be heard by pet owners all over the world, it would be "Don't tranquilize your pet! In fact, most professional pet shippers will refuse to handle a shipment should the owner demand that their pet be given tranquilizers. Why?

Because:

- Tranquilizers suppress the respiratory system, which makes it hard for a pet to cope with the changes in altitude and temperature. This is particularly true in "pug nosed" breeds.

- Aircraft are pressurized to an altitude of 8,000 feet or higher. No studies have been done to determine the effect of tranquilizers at such high altitudes.

- A pet may react differently to the same drug, in the same dose, depending on its state of excitement.

- Pets are more resilient and adaptable than most people give them credit for, and when properly handled, are no more traumatized by traveling by air than by taking a ride in a car.

A pet that has been acclimated to an airline carrier or "crate" will have little concern when flying. The greatest fear for a pet that has not been trained to accept the enclosure as his special place is the fear of the confinement itself. By simply feeding and sleeping the pet in its crate for a week or so before the trip, you will make the trip much more enjoyable.

What it all comes down to is this: Thousands of animals are shipped by air every year, but the only ones you hear about are the ones that went wrong - for whatever reason. The truth is, horror sells! In years with the pet shipping industry we've never lost a pet! Are we unusually good? We'd like to think so, but no, that's not it. Traveling by air is just as safe for your pet as it is for you. Is that to say nothing can happen? No, that's unrealistic. But a healthy pet, traveling on a well-planned itinerary, is as safe as walking with you in the park.

So what's the trick? Use a professional. You don't expect the same results from a "home perm" that you'd get from one that's professionally done, would you? Would you expect to frame a house, lay a brick wall or build a bridge if you weren't trained for that task? Of course not. Shipping regulations can be complex, especially when traveling overseas. Airline ticket agents are trained to sell tickets, not ship pets.

A professional pet shipper will make sure all arrangements comply with regulations and provide optimum safety for your pet. They can counsel you on how to help prepare your pet for departure and how to prevent "jet lag" upon arrival at its destination. In turn, you will be able to concentrate your energies on the other tasks at hand.