Education for New Puppy Owners

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Whether you are buying a new puppy, taking a vacation with your pet or moving across country you may be faced with the issue of shipping live cargo through the airlines. Here is some "need to know" information to help your puppy have a successful trip.

• Requirement to Ship
• Things to Consider
• Airlines that Ship Pets
• Organizations that Ship Pets
• Importing and Exporting Live Animals

Requirements to Ship

• Animals must be at least 8 weeks of age.
• Shipping kennel or cage must meet standards for size, ventilation, strength and design. Animals must have enough room to stand up and turn around. Kennels must be equipped with one food and water cup. Kennels must be marked with shipper's name, address and phone number and pick-up person's name, address and phone number (if different from shipper), Live Animal Stickers should be applied to the kennel and the last time fed and watered indicated. Place newspaper or absorbent material on the bottom of the crate.
• Animal may not be exposed to temperatures of less than 45 degrees Fahrenheit unless there is an acclimation statement by a Veterinarian.
• Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed Veterinarian and be no more than 10 days old.
• Animals may not be brought to the airline more than 4 hours before a flight.
• Animals less than 16 weeks of age must be offered food and water if transit is more than 12 hours. Older animals must have food at least every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours. Many airlines will not ship animals on flights over 12 hours. Check with your airline cargo department regarding long flights.
• Animals over 16 weeks must have rabies shots current.

Things to Consider

• If shipping international (including Hawaii) check the quarantine laws.
• Do not give your pet solid food in the six hours before the flight.
• Do not give your pet sedation without your veterinarians approval.
• Try to schedule a non-stop flight and avoid heavy travel times.
• If you are flying with your pet, be sure to tell the flight attendant or pilot.
• Place a familiar blanket, or your pets favorite toy in the kennel.
• Most airlines now charge a fee to take pets in the cabin of the plane. You must make a reservation for your pet and it must fit in a carrier under the seat.  Currently fees for animals range between $50-$100 each way.  Check with your airline for prices. 

Airlines that Ship Pets

• Alaskan Airlines
  www.alaskaair.com/www2/help/faqs/Pets.asp
  Alaska Airlines Cargo Customer Service Center at 1-800-225-2752 or Horizon Air GoldStreak Customer Service Center at 1-800-547-7660.
• Air Canada
  http://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/
  http://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/services/ac_live.html
• American Airlines
  http://www.aacargo.com/shipping/animals.jhtml or 1 (800) CARGOAA (227-4622)
• Continental Airlines - Now allows Pets to be shipped as Cargo...not baggage. It's called PetSafe.
  www.cocargo.com/cocargo/CargoPages/liveanim.asp or 1 (800) 575-3335
• Delta Pet First
  http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/pet_travel_information/index.jsp
  If you have questions about shipping your pet as air cargo or you want to book a flight, please contact a Delta Air Logistics professional at 800-DL-CARGO (800-352-2746).
• Midwest Airline http://www.midwestairlines.com/MAWeb/travelPlanner/airCargo/airCargo.aspx  Cargo Control Center (800) 892-6580 extension 5, or, in Milwaukee, (414) 747-4532 extension 5.
• Northwest Airlines
  http://www.nwa.com/travel/animals/index.html
  1-800-NWCARGO (1-800-692-2746) When your pet is traveling unaccompanied.
• Singapore Airlines
  www.singaporeair.com
  The carriage of pets in the aircraft cabin is not permitted. Pets may, however travel in the air-conditioned cargo hold of the aircraft as long as they are placed in a suitable container and have the proper health, vaccination documentations and entry permits as required by the countries of entry and/or transit. Please ensure that these documents are in order. Advance arrangements for pets are required.
• United Airlines
  www.ual.com/page/middlepage/0,1454,1047,00.html
  United Cargo at 800-UA-CARGO

Organizations that Ship Pets

• Worldwide Pet Shipping - www.jet-a-pet.com
• Pet Air - www.flypets.com/

Importing and Exporting Live Animals

• International Animal Export Regulations - Pick a country and download the file with
  the requirements.
  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/guidance/regulations/animal/international/
• Importing Domestic Animals to Rabies-Free Areas - Quarantine requirements
  http://pw1.netcom.com/~eholden/brulecmp.htm
• Transporting Live Animals
  http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/animals.htm

More Information on Shipping Pets

• http://www.library.uiuc.edu/vex/cpl/faq/travel.htm - Information and tips about pet travel. Included is a list of books as well as a bibliography of articles that may give you helpful information about traveling with your pet.
• Taking Your Pet on the Plane - Air travel for animals can be tricky and dangerous business, so it is important to know what the law, the airlines and veterinarians recommend.