Traveling with Your Pet

If you plan to travel by air and want to take your pet or pets with you, there are a few things you need to know to make your trip enjoyable and your pet, a happy traveler.

Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the air transport of dogs and cats. The AWA provides regulatory guidelines to assure humane travel standards for pets.  Travelers need to know the following criteria before traveling with an airline:

WHEN YOU LEAVE

Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned

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

Kennels must be enclosed and allow room for the animal to stand, sit, breathe and rest  comfortably.

Kennels must have a solid, leak-proof floor covered with litter or absorbent lining.

Kennels must have ventilated openings making up 14 percent of total wall space.

Kennels must have grips or handles for lifting to facilitate handling by cargo workers.

Each species must have its own kennel with the exception of compatible personal pets of similar size. Maximum numbers include two puppies or kittens less than 6 months old.

When travel time is over 24 hours, airlines require instructions to be attached to the kennel for feeding, watering and administering medication for any animal.

Airlines and state health officials generally require health certificates for all animals transported by air.  A licensed veterinarian who examined the animal within 10 days of  transport must issue health certificates.

In addition, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service believes the following are helpful hints to make traveling with a pet more enjoyable.

Whenever possible, book a direct, nonstop flight and avoid holiday or weekend travel.

Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to insure proper check-in of your pet.

Carry a leash to walk your pet before check-in and after arrival

Do not take your pet out of its kennel inside the airport

Clearly mark the kennel with the pet's name

Provide a telephone number of someone at your destination the airline may contact regarding your pet

Call the airline for its specific travel requirements.

WHEN YOU RETURN

Pets taken out of the United States are subject, upon return, to the same regulations for those entering for the first time.

Pet cats and dogs are subject to inspection at points of entry for evidence of infectious diseases transmittable to humans

Dogs must have an unexpired certificate showing vaccination against rabies at least 30 days prior to  entry into the United States

Pet cats do not require a rabies vaccination.

All pet cats and dogs arriving in Hawaii and the territory of Guam are subject to quarantine requirements

Travelers taking pet cats and dogs to the United Kingdom must obtain from an APHIS accredited veterinarian a Pet Travel Scheme Entry or Re-entry Certificate from the USDA office in his or her state.

For further information regarding pet airline travel requirements please contact Jerry DePoyster, USDA, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 84, Riverdale, Md. 20737, telephone: (301) 734-7586, e-mail:  ace@usda.gov

Pets and Animals > Traveling With Your Pet