Pet Transport | Pet Shipping

Need help transporting your pet?

Faced with moving your family, including your pet, but need to arrive before them? Need to transport a pet to a family member while you cannot care for it? Buying a puppy from another area of the country?

There are many reasons that pet owners need to transport a pet. A concern for the comfort and safety of their pet when traveling reflects the seriousness that responsible pet owners have for their pets. Face it, during the lifetime of a pet, it is not practical or possible to keep them in the same environment. It is certainly better to ship them when conditions permit it as opposed to putting them up for adoption in a local shelter or giving them to the pound where they may be considered as not adoptable.

If you need to move your pet within your country, then, if possible, try to arrange for ground transportation for your pet. In the United States, this means private automobile transportation. Ask friends or relatives if they can help, and be sure and put them up in pet friendly hotels along the way. Ground transportation is ideal, especially when the airlines are exercising the summer heat embargo. The cost of a return airline ticket is small compared to your peace of mind.

If you need to ship your pet internationally or you can't arrange for ground transportation, then you must prepare in advance, especially if your destination is a rabies free country.

Do I need a Pet Transporter?

When you are faced with the complexities of shipping a pet, how do you know if you need a pet transporter?

If you have someone who will take your pet to the departure airport and check them in at the air cargo department, and you have someone to pick the pet up at the arrival airport, then you are all set. If veterinary certificates and other paperwork is required for international travel, those papers must also be presented to air cargo officials.

If you cannot arrange for your pet's drop off and pick up, you will need to use the resources of a pet transportation company (pet transporter). These companies can make all of the arrangements, or just the portion that you cannot handle on your own. Of course, there is a fee for their services.

When is a Pet Transporter Not Needed?

Assuming that you have made arrangements for your pet's drop off and pick up, in almost all instances, you will need to move your pet using an airline, and your pet will be sent as air cargo. Virtually all airlines accept pets in cargo except for Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and the smaller commuter airlines that do not have facilities for them. CLICK HERE to check rules and regulations for traveling with a pet on the airline you are considering.

Today's modern airliners have special compartments for live animals where the temperature and pressure is the same as in the cabin. Most airlines even have special programs to take care of your pet and some even offer frequent flyer miles. Hundreds of pets travel alone every day and arrive safely at their destination.

Steps to follow: Have your veterinarian prepare the APHIS form 7001 stating that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is free of parasites. You can also get a Airline Veterinary Certificate in our store.

Acquire an IATA compliant pet crate large enough for your pet to stand up in and turn around. If possible, purchase the kennel well in advance of the trip to allow your pet a chance to get used to the kennel before the travel date. Information about measuring your pet for a crate.

Contact the Air Cargo department (not Reservation Department) of the airline you have chosen, and make a reservation for your pet's travel. You will be charged based upon the combined weight of the pet and the kennel.

Be aware of the summer embargo that prohibits the airlines from loading a pet into the cargo area if the runway temperature is above 85 degrees F. If you are traveling in summertime, you should find a flight that leaves at night. Also, airlines will most likely not transport pets when the temperature falls below 45 degrees F. Some airlines require an Acclimation Certificate.

It is always best to fly your pet during Spring and Fall when temperatures are not extreme.

Be sure and attach your pet's identification documents some of their dry food to the crate if your pet will be in the crate for a long trip.

Do not panic if circumstances are such that you will not be able to travel with your dog or cat. Just be sensible at handling their travel arrangements as you would with any member of your family. If you need the assistance of a pet transporter, Pet Travel Transport would be happy to help. We will quote your pet's transport at no cost to you.

Need More Information?

More information on pet transporters

We have current and accurate information on traveling with your pet by air, sea or ground. Find more Pet Travel Information

If you have questions, you can post them directly to our Facebook page, blog, forum. We will answer them as soon as we can.