Guide to Travelling With Your Pets
My-Dog.info > Traveling With Your Dog
Each year, millions of American families embark upon a
national pastime--summer vacation air travel. Many Americans also
choose to travel with other valued family members, their pets.
Few things disrupt vacations more than unexpected problems. To
help make traveling with pets more enjoyable, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service outlines several pet
travel requirements and tips to make Americans that travel with
their pets informed and happy travelers.
Under the Animal Welfare Act, 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:
- 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;
- Airlines require attached instructions to the kennel for
feeding, watering and administering medication for any
animal when traveling time is over 24 hours.
- 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, APHIS 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.
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.
|
 |
|
|
Save big on quality brand name pet meds and other pet supplies!
Pet Shed is the premier source for discount pet supplies on the Internet. Heartgard heartworm, Frontline Plus flea control, Advantage flea control, Revolution flea & heartworm, and many other pet medications.
|
