Terrible experience with Delta...Advice needed

Well I've check with the actual airport we will be going to and the only added cost will be about 130 more give or take for currency exchange. From what I'm budgeting I think I will stick with Delta as the other airlines are much more expensive to use.

Oh goodness-this makes me very nervous.  My dog is flying from Detroit to London on delta next Saturday.  I spent over an hour on the phone to a delta representative-who sounded very confused the whole time.  Constantly putting me on hold to check and see if he was doing it right He quoted me for the plane ride and then 730 dollars for the clearance fee in London.  Is that 730 for handling the dog to arc?  Can I call Dephra and tell them myself the dog is coming?? I may try...
I am super nervous that something is going to go wrong-as this process is very frustrating and detailed

Can I call Dephra and tell them myself the dog is coming?? I may try...

As far as I know, DEFRA/ARC only deal with pet agents, not owners directly (until you show up to collect your pet). Some airlines (British Airways, whom I used) include the agent's fee in their price. Others (Virgin, Delta, etc) tack it on as extra.

$730 sounds a bit high, though - Virgin quoted me ~£300 as a handling fee on the London end for my 2 pets. This was back in 2009, though, so prices may have gone up.

When I called a few months ago to get quotes, it was $730 for the ARC handling fee.