Traveling With Your Pet

United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Traveling With Your Pet

Dogs, cats, and most other warm-blooded animals transported in commerceare protected by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The U.S. Department ofAgriculture?s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)enforces this law. APHIS? shipping regulations help ensure that people whotransport and handle animals covered under the AWA treat them humanely.Airlines and other shippers are affected by regulations established toprotect the well­being of animals in transit.

Trip Preparation for Air Transportation

Before taking a flight with your animal, have your veterinarian examineyour pet to ensure that it is healthy enough to make the trip. Airlines andState health officials generally require health certificates for all animalstransported by air. In most cases, health certificates must be issued by alicensed veterinarian who examined the animal within 10 days of transport.Ask your veterinarian to provide any required vaccinations or treatments.Administer tranquilizers only if specifically prescribed by your veterinarianand only in the prescribed dosage.

Trips Outside the Continental United States

Hawaii, U.S. territories, and certain foreign governments have quarantineor health requirements for arriving pets. For information on Hawaii?srequirements, contact your State Veterinarian?s office. For U.S. territoriesand foreign countries, contact the appropriate embassy, governmental agency,or consulate at least 4 weeks in advance. You may also contact a full-servicetravel agency for assistance. Additional airline requirements also exist forinter-national flights. These rules may require additional ventilation,labeling, and a shipper?s certification. Contact your airline for informationabout these requirements.

Bird Travel Abroad

Bird owners who take their pets with them while traveling abroad aregenerally exempted from some of the USDA quarantine and foreign certificationrequirements for imported birds. This exception applies only to U.S.-originbirds and is permitted as long as the owner makes special arrangements inadvance. If you wish to take your bird abroad, you must obtain all necessarydocuments from USDA and the Department of the Interior?s U.S. Fish andWildlife Service before departing the United States. Such preparation isespecially critical for birds covered by the treaty known as the Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species. You should get a healthcertificate endorsed by a USDA­APHIS veterinarian. This endorsement issubject to a user fee. U.S.-origin birds may reenter the United Statesthrough any international airport that can be serviced by a USDA veterinaryofficial. For more information on traveling abroad with your bird, contactUSDA­APHIS Veterinary Services at 4700 River Road, Unit 39, Riverdale, MD20737­1231. The telephone number is (301) 734­5097.

Airline Procedures

No airline will guarantee acceptance of an animal it has not seen.Important considerations for acceptance of animals include the health anddisposition of the animal, proper health certificates, and kennel markingsand sizing. Airlines also require that, if wheels are installed as part of akennel, they be removed or rendered inoperable prior to transport. Thisaction prevents kennels from rolling, protecting both the animals and airlineemployees. USDA assigns airlines the final responsibility for determining thesafety and compliance of the kennels they accept. Airlines generallytransport animals in the cargo compartment of a plane. In doing so, theairlines advise the flight crew that animals are onboard the aircraft. Someairlines allow passengers to carry their pets in the cabin of a plane if theanimals are capable of fitting under the passengers? seat. Carryon pets arenot protected under the AWA. Certain animals are accepted as baggage atpassenger check-in locations, and others are accepted as cargo at theairlines? cargo facilities. For the specific requirements pertaining to youranimal, make advance arrangements with the airline you are using. Airlinesmust ensure that they have facilities to handle animals at the airports oftransfer and final destination. Airlines must comply with USDA­APHISguidelines on allowable temperature limits for animal-holding areas. Finally,airlines are not required to carry live animals, and they reserve the rightto refuse to carry an animal for any reason.

Pet Travel Requirements

Age. Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and must have beenweaned before traveling by air.

Kennels. Kennels must meet minimum standards for size, strength,sanitation, and ventilation.

• Size and StrengthKennels must be enclosed and allow room for theanimal to stand, sit, and lie in a natural position. They must be easy toopen, strong enough to withstand the normal rigors of transportation, andfree of objects that could injure the animal.
  
• SanitationKennels must have a solid, leakproof floor that iscovered with litter or absorbent lining. Wire or other ventilated subfloorsare generally allowed; pegboard flooring is prohibited. These requirementsprovide the maximum cleanliness for the animal in travel.
  
• VentilationKennels must be well ventilated with openings that makeup at least 14 percent of the total wall space. At least one-third of theopenings must be located in the top half of the kennel. Kennels also musthave rims to prevent ventilation openings from being blocked by other cargo.These rimsusually placed on the sides of the kennelmust provide at leastthree-quarters of an inch clearance.
  
• Grips and MarkingsKennels must have grips or handlesfor lifting to prevent cargo personnel from having to place their fingersinside the kennel and risk being bitten. Kennels also must be marked ?liveanimals? or ?wild animals? on the top and one side with directional arrowsindicating proper position of the kennel. Lettering must be at least 1 inchhigh.
  
• Animals per KennelEach species must have its ownkennel with the exception of compatible cats and dogs of similar size.Maximum numbers include 2 puppies or kittens under 6 months old and 20 poundseach and of similar size, 15 guinea pigs or rabbits, and 50 hamsters.Airlines may have more restrictive requirements, such as allowing only oneadult animal per kennel. Be sure to check with the airline you are using.

Feeding and Watering While Traveling

Instructions for feeding and watering the animal over a 24-hour periodmust be attached to the kennel. The 24-hour schedule will assist the airlinein providing care for your animal in case it is diverted from its originaldestination. You as a pet owner or shipper are required to document that theanimal was offered food and water within 4 hours of transport, and thedocumentation must include the time and date of feeding.

Food and water dishes must be securely attached and be accessible tocaretakers without opening the kennel. Food and water must be provided topuppies and kittens every 12 hours if they are 8 to 16 weeks old. Mature animalsmust be fed every 24 hours and given water every 12 hours.

Other Helpful Hints

• As far in advance of the trip as possible, let your pet get to know theflight kennel. Veterinarians recommend leaving it open in the house with anold sock or other familiar object in it.
  
• At the time you make your trip reservations, advise the airline directlythat you will have an animal with you. Be sure to reconfirm with the airline24­48 hours before departure that you will be bringing your pet. Advancearrangements are not a guarantee that your animal will travel on a specificflight.
  
• Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare. If your animal istraveling as a carryon pet or by the special expedited delivery service,check-in will usually be at the passenger terminal.
  
• If you are sending your pet through the cargo sys- tem, you will need to goto the airline cargo terminal, which is usually located in a separate part ofthe airport. Be sure to check with your airline for the acceptance cutofftime for your flight. Note that by regulation an animal may be presented fortransport no more than 4 hours before flight time (6 hours by specialarrangement).
  
• Use direct flights whenever possible to avoid accidental transfers ordelays.
  
• Travel on the same flight as your pet whenever possible.
  
• Remember that pug-nosed dogs, such as boxers and bulldogs, are more likelyto experience breathing problems during transport. n In the summer, chooseearly morning or late evening flights to avoid temperature extremes that mayaffect your pet. Avoid holiday traveling whenever possible.
  
• Carry a leash with you so that you may walk your pet before check-in andafter arrival. Do not place the leash inside the kennel or attach it to theoutside of the kennel.
  
• Do not take your pet out of its kennel inside the airport. In keeping withairport regulations and courtesy for other passengers, let your pet out onlyafter you leave the terminal building.
  
• Outfit your pet with a sturdy collar and two identification tags. The tagsshould have both your permanent address and telephone number and an addressand telephone number where you can be reached while traveling.
  
• Attach a label on the pet carrier with your permanent and travel addressesand telephone numbers.
  
• Make sure your pet?s nails have been recently clipped to prevent them fromhooking onto the carrier door or other openings.
  
• Carry a current photograph of your pet. If your pet is accidentally lost,having a current photograph will make the search easier.
  
• If you need to file a complaint regarding the care of your pet duringtransport, contact USDA­APHIS.

If Your Pet Gets Lost...

If your pet should turn up missing during transport, immediately speak toairline personnel. Many airlines have computer tracking systems that cantrace a pet transferred to an incorrect flight. Should there be no report ofyour animal, proceed with the following steps:

• Contact animal control agencies and humane societies in the local andsurrounding areas. Check with them daily.
  
• Contact the APHIS Animal Care regional office closest to where your pet waslost.
  
• Provide descriptions and photographs to the airline, local animal controlagencies, and humane societies. Help can also be sought from radio stations.Leave telephone numbers and addresses with all these people or businessesshould you have to return home.

APHIS Contacts

For further information, call 1­800­545­USDA, visit our World Wide Website at www.aphis.usda.gov/ac, or write to:

Deputy Administrator
USDA­APHIS­Animal Care
4700 River Road, Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737­1234
(301) 734­4981

or local regional offices at:

Eastern Region
USDA­APHIS­Animal Care
2568­A Riva Rd., #302
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 571­8692

Central Region
USDA­APHIS­Animal Care
P.O. Box 6258 Fort Worth Federal Center, Bldg. #11
Fort Worth, TX 76115
(817) 885­6910

Western Region
USDA­APHIS­Animal Care
9580 Micron Ave., Suite J
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 857­6205

You may send us e-mail at: ace@usda.gov

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in allits programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, ormarital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication ofprogram information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contactUSDA?s TARGET Center at (202) 720­2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office ofCivil Rights, Room 326­W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW,Washington, DC 20250­9410 or call (202) 720­5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is anequal employment opportunity provider and employer. Issued August 1997Slightly revised October 1998

United States Department of Agriculture

News

USDA announces $400 million in bank guarantees for Russia

Russian HRI Sector Growth Fueled by Rising Incomes

Developments in the Russian Organics Market

Meat Customs Clearance in Vladivostok

RUSSIA ALLOWS FOR IMPORTATION OF U.S. LIVESTOCK

Search

Site map