Pet Travel

Tips and Facts

Important: 

Many injuries, deaths, and escapes can be attributed to either the pet trying to escape the kennel and as a result hurts its paws and/or gums, or due to actual escape. Escapes can be due to a variety of causes such as:  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 are 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.  For further  information on the  types of injuries of  transported pets, please go to the Department of Transportation consumer report page at:  http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm  Go down the long report to the very last page for animals incidents. The reports are by month and year.

Tips on Selecting a Travel Container for your pet:

• Look for one that is put together securely, i.e, locking bolts
• Look for metal doors instead of plastic (pets can either chew through or bend/buckle plastic doors
• The strongest doors have 4 metal rods that fasten the door to the container
• Ensure lock mechanism is strong and effective
• No wheels -- most if not all airlines will not accept a container with wheels
• Air lines do not certify containers. The statement "air line accepted" is misleading.
• Look for the strength of the container overall. Does it appear flimsy? Does it look like the bolts holding the container together can become loose easily? Does the door appear strong enough to hold you pet?

Acclimate: 

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 familar 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.

Sedation:

Sedation of your pet is not generally recommended for air travel. The pets safety is at risk. Please refer to a statement from the American Veterinary Medial Association (AVMA)

Travel Abroad:

Always check with the country your pet is going to. Each country has their own set of rules, some simple, some complex. Please Go to this page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/

Don't Forget:

Many Animal Welfare Organizations have information on pet travel on their websites. It is easy to find these organizations through a web search on such words as "pet travel" etc.

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