Traveling With Your Pet
Over 50% of pet owners vacation or travel with their pet. In many cases that means airplane rides for your animal. Keep in mind – some ill or physically impaired pets cannot withstand the rigors of travel. Before undertaking any trip, consult your veterinarian – the age and size of your pet, time and distance of the flight/ride must be considered. If traveling to friends, a hotel, parks, campgrounds – make sure pets are allowed, bring a portable kennel and notify front desk/maid service.
- Be sure your pet is properly identified with a current tag or microchip
- Properly groom your pet before travel
- Pack your pet’s favorite food, toy(s), and dishes
- Have both proof of rabies vaccination and a current health certificate with you when traveling, especially when crossing state or international borders
Travel by Air
Security procedures do not prohibit you from bringing a pet on your flight. You should contact your airline or travel agent, however, before arriving at the airport to determine your airline's policy on traveling with pets. Major airlines require that the pet be examined by a veterinarian no more than ten days prior to the date of travel so be sure to bring current health and rabies vaccination certificates. If you are planning to bring an animal on-board the plane with you, you will need to present the animal to the security checkpoint screeners for screening.
- Book a nonstop, midweek flight and avoid plane changes if possible
- During warm weather periods choose early morning or late evening flights
- In colder months, choose mid-day flights
- Arrive at the airport early, exercise your pet and personally place it in its crate
- Ask your veterinarian for specific feeding instructions for your pet during travel
- Promptly pick up your pet upon arrival
Note: Pet owners who are considering air transportation for the family pet are cautioned to carefully consider the use of tranquilizers or sedatives.
Transport crates are available from most airlines or pet shops, and should be purchased in advance so your pet can become acclimated to the crate prior to travel. The crate must:
- Be large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down
- Have a leak proof bottom that is covered with plenty of absorbent material
- Be ventilated on opposite sides, with exterior rims and knobs so that airflow is not impeded
- Be strong and free of interior protrusions, with handle or grips
- Be appropriately and clearly labeled - Include your name, home address, home phone and destination contact information
- Clearly indicate on the crate “Live Animal”, with arrows indicating the crate’s upright position
NOTE: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows each airline to decide if they will allow you to travel with your pet in the passenger cabin. If an airline does allow you to bring your pet into the cabin, the FAA considers your pet container to be carry-on baggage and you must follow all carry on baggage rules. Travelers should also be aware that if the final destination is a foreign country or even Hawaii, there may be quarantine or other health requirements to consider.
Travel by Car
When traveling by car, be aware of weather conditions. Do not leave your pet in the car when the temperature and/or humidity are high or when temperatures are near or below freezing. Your pet should be confined to a cage or crate to allow them to feel secure and to avoid having a pet under your feet while driving. Pets should not be allowed to ride with their heads outside car windows – particles of dirt can enter their eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infection.
- Plan to stop every two hours for exercise and give small portions of food and water at each stop
- Stick to the regular feeding routine and give the main meal at the end of the day
- Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated
- Remember to bring a leash
- Pack a first aid kit
- Be sure to take along a large container of cold water in case other reliable water sources
are not available
- Make sure your pet has an ID tag (with both your home and travel destination information) should your pet get loose/lost while traveling
Travel Container
Many injuries, deaths, and escapes can be attributed to either the pet trying to escape the kennel and as a result hurting its paws and/or gums, or due to actual escape. Escapes can be due to a variety of causes. For example a dog can chew its way out of the kennel if it can get its upper and lower teeth between slits or holes in the plastic sufficient enough to apply force; dogs and cats may be able to push the door open or partially open and escape; the kennel lock is broken or not properly latched; or the kennel itself is not properly and securely assembled.
Tips on Selecting a Travel Container For Your Pet
- Look for one that is put together securely, e.g., locking bolts
- Look for metal doors instead of plastic (pets may be able to chew through or bend/buckle plastic doors
- Stronger doors have 4 metal rods that fasten the door to the container
- Ensure door lock mechanism is strong and effective
- No wheels -- most - if not all - airlines will not accept a container with wheels
- Airlines or Air transport organizations do not certify containers. Statements such as "airline accepted" or "IATA Approved" are misleading.
Acclimate Your Pet To The Kennel
Be sure to "acclimate" your pet to the kennel it will be traveling in. Let it spend varying lengths of time in the kennel several days before travel so that it is familiar with it. Some pets are stressed severely by being placed in a strange cage. Also, you may wish to put some article of clothing that you have worn into the kennel during transportation. This may help calm the pet. An old T-shirt that you have slept in for one or more nights will work well.
Before Traveling Abroad With Your Pet
Before you take your pet across the border, or back, please be aware of requirements and regulations that may affect you and your pet.
- Before taking a pet to another country, contact that country's consulate or embassy for information about their requirements.
- Travelers are advised to also contact the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for additional information and advice.
Driving Over The U.S. Border
The regulations about bringing a pet into the United States are the same whether you drive over the U.S. border with your pet in your car, fly, or travel by other means. All animals entering (or reentering) the United States are subject to the same laws, regardless of the port or method of entry.
Traveling By Air
Many pet owners wonder whether they pick up their pet at the international airport or only at their final destination. Since pets are generally transported as baggage, they go through the same procedures as baggage. If a pet does not require quarantine at the port of entry, then an international traveler would pick up both luggage and the pet at international baggage claim. They would then go through customs and re-check both luggage and the pet for the domestic flight to their final destination.
Customs and Declaring Pets
When travelers fill out their customs declaration cards, they must declare any animals traveling with them on the card.
Interstate and Intrastate Movement of Animals
The USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and various states may impose restrictions, depending on the animal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, working in concert with CDC, has enacted regulations restricting the movement of African rodents.
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