Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Traveling With Your Pets



I read this article the other day about a dog that inadvertently got sent to Ireland…the country…when he was supposed to be going to Arizona.  This got me to thinking about the times we have adopted dogs long distance and had them flown to their new owners or even had dogs flown here to us.  How many people know what is involved in transporting pets? 


There are several things you need to do to make sure your pet is transported as comfortably as possible when traveling by plane.  The first thing to do is check with your airlines to find out what their requirements are for traveling with your pet.  Smaller animals may be able to travel with you on the plane.  They must be in a carrier that will fit under the seat in front of you.  Of course the fees will vary.  Often it is cheaper to fly your pet as checked baggage or cargo than in the cabin.  Expect to pay $200 or more, one way, to travel with your pet. 



Most airlines will have the requirements for pet transportation on their websites.  There are also temperature restrictions on pet travel.  Certain breeds are restricted from flying due to possible medical issues.  For example, most airlines will not accept snub-nosed or pug-nosed dogs or cats because of breathing difficulties.  There will be size requirements for the size and type of kennel used to transport your pet.  How soon before a flight your pet must be checked in.  Most will need a health certificate and vaccination records.  Depending on your destination, some vaccinations will be needed.  It is best to find out as much beforehand as you can so that you have sufficient time to get the vaccinations and records required to transport your pet.



Here are links to some of the most popular airlines for pet transportation:



 
The number of people traveling with their pets have increased, and accordingly incidents of injury and death have increased, as well as those of pets getting lost. According to this article, 35 pets died during airline travel in 2011.  19 of these were on Delta Airlines flights; 5 on American Airlines, 3 on Continental Airlines, and 2 on United Airlines.  I’m not sharing this information to scare you or make you decide not to travel with your pet, but to let you know that things do happen and pets do get injured or die during transport.  Not belittling the folks that have suffered a loss but to let people know there is a risk, but with upwards of 500,000 pets or more being flown annually, the odds are in your favor.



There are services available that will help you make your travel plans.  One is PetRelocation.com.  Their motto is Any Pet, Anywhere, Any Time.  Here are their pet travel statistics comparing 2011 to 2010.  There is also an airline that specializes in pet travel.  They are called Pet Airways.  This airline began in 2009 and covered the northeast United States.  As of 2011 they flew to 14 destinations.



I came across this article when researching and they offer a list of websites offering information on safe pet travel.


INFORMATION ON SAFE PET TRAVEL
·         The USDA's Animal Welfare page contains advice on pet travel and scams.
·         The DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division offers information on Transporting Live Animals.
·         The FAA's Pets in the Passenger Cabin page provides details on federal regulations and pet allergens.
·         IATA's Traveller's Pet Corner page contains a wealth of information.
·         The ASPCA's Pet Care Tips page offers information on travel by air and car.
·         The Humane Society of the United States provides Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel.
·         The American Humane Association's Have Pet, Will Travel? page.
·         The American Veterinary Medical Association's Traveling With Your Pet page details traveling by car, bus, and train, as well as camping with pets.
·         For further information on shipping your pet, either within the U.S. or worldwide, visit the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International (IPATA)

As I always say, do your research.  As soon as you know you want to travel with your pet, find out what you need to do and what requirements must be met and be prepared ahead of time.  This will make it less stressful on you, the airline staff, and more importantly on your pet.


Be Well & Be Happy,
Pet~Pourri

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