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Transportation Services

Driver requirements, vehicle setup, crating and loading, and the kennel-system paperwork behind every dog transport.

Purpose

Any employee who transports dogs for the school does so in a company vehicle only, with the dog crated for the entire trip. This SOP covers who can drive, how the vehicle is set up, how a dog gets loaded and unloaded, and the paperwork required before a transport happens.

At a Glance

  • Designated drivers need a valid license, a passed drug test, and a passed criminal background check.
  • Dogs travel in company vehicles only, always crated.
  • The vehicle carries small, medium, large, and extra-large crates, secured with tie-downs or bungee cords.
  • The owner completes address and access information in the kennel system before any pickup or delivery.
  • Crates and supplies get cleaned and disinfected after every transport session.

Steps

Driver Requirements and Training

  1. A designated employee driver must have a valid driver's license, a passed drug test, and a passed criminal background check.
  2. Drivers are trained on checking the fit of a dog's collar or harness so it cannot come loose on the way to or from the vehicle.
  3. Drivers are trained on how to securely load and unload dogs from the vehicle.
  4. Drivers are trained on how to keep client information safe and secure.
  5. Drivers are trained on how to operate each vehicle.

Vehicle Setup and Supplies

  1. Keep small, medium, large, and extra-large crates secured inside the vehicle.
  2. Keep appropriate tie-downs or bungee cords on hand to secure any additional crates.
  3. Do not remove transportation crates from the vehicle except in an emergency that requires it.
  4. Keep extra slip leads in the vehicle.
  5. Keep bags or containers on hand for a dog's personal belongings during transport.
  6. Keep labels and permanent markers on hand to label crates and belongings.

Loading and Transporting a Dog

  1. Walk the dog to the vehicle on a secure leash.
  2. Assist the dog into an appropriately sized crate.
  3. Secure every dog in the vehicle; no dog rides unsecured.
  4. Remove the dog's leash once it's crated, and place it with the dog's other personal belongings.
  5. Label belongings with the dog's name if more than one dog is being transported.

Before and After Transport

  1. Before any pet is transported, the owner completes the required information in the kennel system: the address, and any security codes needed to enter or exit the home, along with instructions on how to use them.
  2. Clean and disinfect all crates and supplies after every transport session.

Edge Cases

What is the standard for which vehicle a dog can be transported in?

A company vehicle only, never a personal vehicle, and the dog stays crated for the entire trip.

What if the crate size on hand doesn't fit the dog?

Use the closest appropriately sized crate the vehicle carries: small, medium, large, or extra-large. Transportation crates otherwise stay in the vehicle.

Do I need the owner's home access information before I leave, or can I get it on the way?

Before. The owner completes address and access information, including any security codes, in the kennel system ahead of the transport.

How is a multi-dog transport labeled differently from a single-dog one?

Label each dog's belongings with a name tag using the labels and markers kept in the vehicle, so nothing gets mixed up between crates.

Who to Ask

In-Person Vet Appointments covers what gets documented before and during a vet visit specifically, for a dog being transported there.