How to Transport Pets
With the exception of service animals, pets are not able to be transported by railway or bus line. The most viable option, therefore, for pet transportation is on an airline. There are a number of regulations that dictate how a pet can be transported by air. Many of these regulations are set forth by the APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture).
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Things You'll Need
- Pet carrier or portable kennel
- Veterinary health certificate of animal traveling
- Appropriate food and water
- Absorbent litter (e.g., shredded newspapers)
Instructions
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Provide a certificate from the animal's veterinarian that he is healthy enough to travel. This certificate must have been prepared no more than 10 days prior to the travel date.
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Purchase an appropriate kennel or carrier for the pet. This item must be appropriately ventilated and big enough for the animal to freely move around. The door to the carrier is required to have a closing mechanism on it that makes it easy to open and close. On the front of the carrier, there must be labeling on the top and on at least one side of the carrier stating "LIVE ANIMALS" in a minimum of one-inch lettering.
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Make sure that the pet has been provided food and water within a four-hour window before travel. The USDA requires that an owner sign a certificate that states when the animal was last fed and watered. It is crucial that you don't overfeed the animal prior to travel.
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Provide the animal with appropriate litter for it to relieve itself during the flight. The best type of material to utilize is shredded newspapers, which will provide the most absorbency for the trip.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow the animal to become acclimated to its carrier or kennel prior to travel. This can be accomplished by simply leaving the door to the kennel open at home, allowing the animal to inspect it at its leisure.
Note that most airlines will not allow toys to be stored in the kennel during travel.
In most instances, a pet may not travel on a flight that its owner or guardian is not traveling on as well.
For an animal prone to nervousness when traveling, it is best not to sedate her. This is because the effects of sedation can be unpredictable when in high altitudes.
