[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 9, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 9CFR3.14]

[Page 55-58]
 
                  TITLE 9--ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
 
  CHAPTER I--ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 3_STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart A_Specifications for the Humane Handling, Care, Treatment, and 
                   Transportation of Dogs and Cats \1\
 
Sec. 3.14  Primary enclosures used to transport live dogs and cats.

    Any person subject to the Animal Welfare regulations (9 CFR parts 1, 
2, and 3) must not transport or deliver for transport in commerce a dog 
or cat unless the following requirements are met:
    (a) Construction of primary enclosures. The dog or cat must be 
contained in a primary enclosure such as a compartment, transport cage, 
carton, or crate. Primary enclosures used to transport dogs and cats 
must be constructed so that:

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    (1) The primary enclosure is strong enough to contain the dogs and 
cats securely and comfortably and to withstand the normal rigors of 
transportation;
    (2) The interior of the primary enclosure has no sharp points or 
edges and no protrusions that could injure the animal contained in it;
    (3) The dog or cat is at all times securely contained within the 
enclosure and cannot put any part of its body outside the enclosure in a 
way that could result in injury to itself, to handlers, or to persons or 
animals nearby;
    (4) The dog or cat can be easily and quickly removed from the 
enclosure in an emergency;
    (5) Unless the enclosure is permanently affixed to the conveyance, 
adequate devices such as handles or handholds are provided on its 
exterior, and enable the enclosure to be lifted without tilting it, and 
ensure that anyone handling the enclosure will not come into physical 
contact with the animal contained inside;
    (6) Unless the enclosure is permanently affixed to the conveyance, 
it is clearly marked on top and on one or more sides with the words 
``Live Animals,'' in letters at least 1 inch (2.5 cm.) high, and with 
arrows or other markings to indicate the correct upright position of the 
primary enclosure;
    (7) Any material, treatment, paint, preservative, or other chemical 
used in or on the enclosure is nontoxic to the animal and not harmful to 
the health or well-being of the animal;
    (8) Proper ventilation is provided to the animal in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this section; and
    (9) The primary enclosure has a solid, leak-proof bottom or a 
removable, leak-proof collection tray under a slatted or mesh floor that 
prevents seepage of waste products, such as excreta and body fluids, 
outside of the enclosure. If a slatted or mesh floor is used in the 
enclosure, it must be designed and constructed so that the animal cannot 
put any part of its body between the slats or through the holes in the 
mesh. Unless the dogs and cats are on raised slatted floors or raised 
floors made of mesh, the primary enclosure must contain enough 
previously unused litter to absorb and cover excreta. The litter must be 
of a suitably absorbent material that is safe and nontoxic to the dogs 
and cats.
    (b) Cleaning of primary enclosures. A primary enclosure used to hold 
or transport dogs or cats in commerce must be cleaned and sanitized 
before each use in accordance with the methods provided in Sec. 
3.11(b)(3) of this subpart. If the dogs or cats are in transit for more 
than 24 hours, the enclosures must be cleaned and any litter replaced, 
or other methods, such as moving the animals to another enclosure, must 
be utilized to prevent the soiling of the dogs or cats by body wastes. 
If it becomes necessary to remove the dog or cat from the enclosure in 
order to clean, or to move the dog or cat to another enclosure, this 
procedure must be completed in a way that safeguards the dog or cat from 
injury and prevents escape.
    (c) Ventilation. (1) Unless the primary enclosure is permanently 
affixed to the conveyance, there must be:
    (i) Ventilation openings located on two opposing walls of the 
primary enclosure and the openings must be at least 16 percent of the 
surface area of each such wall, and the total combined surface area of 
the ventilation openings must be at least 14 percent of the total 
combined surface area of all the walls of the primary enclosure; or
    (ii) Ventilation openings on three walls of the primary enclosure, 
and the openings on each of the two opposing walls must be at least 8 
percent of the total surface area of the two walls, and the ventilation 
openings on the third wall of the primary enclosure must be at least 50 
percent of the total surface area of that wall, and the total combined 
surface area of the ventilation openings must be at least 14 percent of 
the total combined surface area of all the walls of the primary 
enclosure; or
    (iii) Ventilation openings located on all four walls of the primary 
enclosure and the ventilation openings on each of the four walls must be 
at least 8 percent of the total surface area of each such wall, and the 
total combined surface area of the openings must be at least 14 percent 
of total combined surface area of all the walls of the primary 
enclosure; and

[[Page 57]]

    (iv) At least one-third of the ventilation area must be located on 
the upper half of the primary enclosure.
    (2) Unless the primary enclosure is permanently affixed to the 
conveyance, projecting rims or similar devices must be located on the 
exterior of each enclosure wall having a ventilation opening, in order 
to prevent obstruction of the openings. The projecting rims or similar 
devices must be large enough to provide a minimum air circulation space 
of 0.75 in. (1.9 cm) between the primary enclosure and anything the 
enclosure is placed against.
    (3) If a primary enclosure is permanently affixed to the primary 
conveyance so that there is only a front ventilation opening for the 
enclosure, the primary enclosure must be affixed to the primary 
conveyance in such a way that the front ventilation opening cannot be 
blocked, and the front ventilation opening must open directly to an 
unobstructed aisle or passageway inside the conveyance. The ventilation 
opening must be at least 90 percent of the total area of the front wall 
of the enclosure, and must be covered with bars, wire mesh, or smooth 
expanded metal having air spaces.
    (d) Compatibility. (1) Live dogs or cats transported in the same 
primary enclosure must be of the same species and be maintained in 
compatible groups, except that dogs and cats that are private pets, are 
of comparable size, and are compatible, may be transported in the same 
primary enclosure.
    (2) Puppies or kittens 4 months of age or less may not be 
transported in the same primary enclosure with adult dogs or cats other 
than their dams.
    (3) Dogs or cats that are overly aggressive or exhibit a vicious 
disposition must be transported individually in a primary enclosure.
    (4) Any female dog or cat in heat (estrus) may not be transported in 
the same primary enclosure with any male dog or cat.
    (e) Space and placement. (1) Primary enclosures used to transport 
live dogs and cats must be large enough to ensure that each animal 
contained in the primary enclosure has enough space to turn about 
normally while standing, to stand and sit erect, and to lie in a natural 
position.
    (2) Primary enclosures used to transport dogs and cats must be 
positioned in the primary conveyance so as to provide protection from 
the elements.
    (f) Transportation by air. (1) No more than one live dog or cat, 6 
months of age or older, may be transported in the same primary enclosure 
when shipped via air carrier.
    (2) No more than one live puppy, 8 weeks to 6 months of age, and 
weighing over 20 lbs (9 kg), may be transported in a primary enclosure 
when shipped via air carrier.
    (3) No more than two live puppies or kittens, 8 weeks to 6 months of 
age, that are of comparable size, and weighing 20 lbs (9 kg) or less 
each, may be transported in the same primary enclosure when shipped via 
air carrier.
    (4) Weaned live puppies or kittens less than 8 weeks of age and of 
comparable size, or puppies or kittens that are less than 8 weeks of age 
that are littermates and are accompanied by their dam, may be 
transported in the same primary enclosure when shipped to research 
facilities, including Federal research facilities.
    (g) Transportation by surface vehicle or privately owned aircraft. 
(1) No more than four live dogs or cats, 8 weeks of age or older, that 
are of comparable size, may be transported in the same primary enclosure 
when shipped by surface vehicle (including ground and water 
transportation) or privately owned aircraft, and only if all other 
requirements of this section are met.
    (2) Weaned live puppies or kittens less than 8 weeks of age and of 
comparable size, or puppies or kittens that are less than 8 weeks of age 
that are littermates and are accompanied by their dam, may be 
transported in the same primary enclosure when shipped to research 
facilities, including Federal research facilities, and only if all other 
requirements in this section are met.
    (h) Accompanying documents and records. Shipping documents that must 
accompany shipments of dogs and cats may be held by the operator of the 
primary conveyance, for surface transportation only, or must be securely 
attached in a readily accessible manner to the outside of any primary 
enclosure that is part of the shipment, in a manner that allows them to 
be detached for

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examination and securely reattached, such as in a pocket or sleeve. 
Instructions for administration of drugs, medication, and other special 
care must be attached to each primary enclosure in a manner that makes 
them easy to notice, to detach for examination, and to reattach 
securely. Food and water instructions must be attached in accordance 
with Sec. 3.13(c).

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0579-0093)

[56 FR 6486, Feb. 15, 1991, as amended at 63 FR 3023, Jan. 21, 1998]