How much did it cost you to ship your pet?

Just curious how much it cost you to ship your pet. Most airlines we've looked at don't give a general price and the one that did give a price quoted around 1500 US. Our dog is around 50 lbs. That just seems like a lot, its more than a plane ticket would cost and the dog weighs less than I do (plus luggage). This is flying direct from JFK to London, so we still have to factor in other transportation costs.

We did 2 american cocker spaniels (about 20 and 30 pounds each) and the airline charged about $700 per dog.  Its because they have to be shipped as cargo and therefore the cargo rates apply.  I found this out because we are looking to ship them back to the US and if we fly with them they can go as excess baggage but if they go alone it is the cargo rate which is what we paid to bring them here.  Its because of the PETS scheme that they have to go as cargo. 

After the vet bills and everything we estimated it cost us about $1000 per dog total.

Something over $500 for the ticket, plus $175 handling on the US side and £235 handling on the UK side. That was Virgin, this November, 13 pound cat.

Boston --> Heathrow in late November 2008 for 2 cats (22lbs and 8lbs) on Virgin: $1500 (for tickets and US fees) + 235GBP (fees on the UK side).

Buying them each a ticket for their own coach seat would have been cheaper, but alas, not allowed.

3 cats in (3) 28x18x18 crates on BA from Atlanta to Gatwick was $1600 all inclusive.

I flew each of mine over on NWA (the first July 2006 and the other April 2007) and the airline accepted all the fees, so it depends on who you fly if you have to pay more when you get to the UK or all at once.  We also had to pay for a handler to pick the dogs up from animal reception and give them to us (just down the road).  The airline dictated this so the only additional thing we paid when we got here was this fee which was about 35 GBP.

I have a quote from Continental for $1659 for my 65lb dog in a Giant kennel.  If she had been able to fit in the X-large kennel, it would have been $1059.  Continental has three prices for three tiers, and we were right on the edge.  Your dog could probably fit in the X-large kennel (but be careful about clearances!) and go for the $1059 price.  Those prices are exclusive of customs fees, etc, which vary from airport to airport.  Continental has quoted me a price of $659 for each cat as well. Continental is supposed to have a very nice pet service, and they fly out of Newark.