All About Pet Shipping

Thousands of pets and exotic animals are shipped successfully each year, though their travel options are somewhat limited to air and auto transport. Buses, trains and boats are usually out of the question for anything but service animals, though certain carriers may have their own rules. The Humane Society of the United States recommends that pets go by air only when "absolutely necessary" and question­s the safety of putting a pet in an air cargo hold [source: Humane Society]. While you could certainly drive a pet cross-country or fly an airline that will let you to take your pet as carry-on luggage, sometimes that air cargo hold is your only option. But there are many rules in place to make sure it's as safe as it can be.

If you're the kind of person with a disregard for authority and a penchant for rule-breaking, then shipping a pet via air cargo is not for you. The process of pet shipping involves a whole host of regulations that pet owners must decipher -- pretty much every airline that will carry a pet as cargo and every country that will receive a pet has their own rules and regulations for pet shipping. This is one of the reasons why many people pass the responsibility off to a pet shipping service, which will figure out all the rules, fill out the paperwork and ensure your pet meets you at your destination. You can expect to pay about several hundred dollars for the service, depending on the complexity of the move, in addition to the cost of the flight. (A good place to start your search for a reputable pet shipping company is with the Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association.­)

But pet shipping services will likely be going on the same hunt for updated rules that do-it-yourselfers will. While it would be impossible to cover all the regulations for each possible destination, we can give you an idea of what to keep in mind during the process. To ensure that you meet all regulations, it's best to start the process of shipping your pet well in advance of the planned departure. It will also pay to remember that your pet's well-being takes precedence here. If going by air, you should fly major airlines with established pet shipping policies rather than no-name bargain lines. You may have to tweak your travel schedule to get a nonstop flight (few airlines will transfer a pet for you) or to avoid flying during extreme temperatures, when many airlines ground Fido and Fluffy.

For our U.S. readers, the best place to start planning your pet's trip is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is charged with enforcing acts related to animal welfare and, as such, has regulations for shipping animals in a humane manner. But if the pet is being shipped to another country, you'll also need to check with the embassy or consulate for any regulations regarding animals brought into the country. Some animals, for example, require certain vaccinations or a quarantine period before they can be reunited with their owner.

After consulting with any applicable countries, it's time to check with the applicable airlines. And when you get off the phone with them, call up your favorite veterinarian. Most likely, you'll need a vet's appointment within the 10 days before your trip [source: Duncan]. Many airlines require a health certificate from the vet certifying that the pet is in good enough health to travel; that certification may be especially difficult to obtain for elderly or pregnant dogs or pug-nosed breeds, because they may have trouble getting enough oxygen through their short nasal passages. The airline may have additional regulations, such as full vaccination records or evidence of an implanted microchip for identification purposes. APHIS also requires that the pet be at least eight weeks old before shipping [source: Air Transport Association].

After that vet appointment, it's time to go shopping. Find out what you're looking for on the next page.

Before shipping, your pet needs a proper carrier, though some airlines provide ones that you have to use. You'll have quite the shopping checklist; for starters, the carrier has to be big enough that the animal can sit, stand and lie down comfortably. You can put two puppies or two kittens in the same carrier if they're under six months old or under 20 pounds each [source: Duncan]. Look for carriers with a solid floor in case nature calls for your pet in transit, but up top, check for good ventilation. Openings in the kennel must make up at least 14 percent of the total wall space [source: Duncan]. However, you don't want slats so wide that your animal could hop right out, or a door that doesn't close securely.

­You should mark the carrier according to the airlines' specifications, but generally there needs to be an arrow showing which way is up, indications that there's a live animal inside, and the name and address of the person who would most like to see that pet again. There should be handles or grips on the outside so that a cargo loader has no risk of losing a finger to an angry animal.

While many of us may self-medicate with a sleeping pill or a stiff drink before a long flight, resist the urge to do the same for your pet. When an animal dies in the course of being shipped, sedation is usually the cause [source: IPATA]. While it seems like sedation would be beneficial in getting a rowdy animal, wound up from the excitement and stress of traveling, the sedation can have a dangerous effect once the animal is settled in the plane and in the air. For one thing, the effects of a sedative during the flight are too difficult to predict beforehand; it may have too strong an impact once the animal is in the cargo hold, where conditions are pressurized and dark. Rather than drugging your pet, make travel a natural high by getting them accustomed to their surroundings before the trip even starts. Giving your pet some time in the kennel in advance, rather than having the carrier be a travel day surprise, will likely relax the animal during the journey.

Even if your pet isn't jumpy, you don't want to take the chance that someone might see the contents of your pet's stomach. The USDA requires that you offer your pet food in the four hours before a flight, but to avoid upset stomachs you should avoid offering the animal any heavy meals. Hydration is OK. Mark the time of the last meal on the kennel; airlines are required to give the pets water every 12 hours and food every 24 hours, unless they're under 16 weeks old (those lucky dogs or cats can eat every 12 hours) [source: Yenckel]. But since airline food is fairly questionable even for those of the human persuasion, you have to provide the in-flight food and beverage for your beloved pet. The carrier should include water and food dishes that are well-secured, yet easy for cargo handlers to reach.

In addition to feeding your pet four hours before, you'll also want to walk the pet. Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare; if you think making a plane at the last minute is traumatic, you don't want to have that experience with a pet in tow. Once you kiss your pet good-bye, it can be agonizing to wait for the joyful reunion. When you see your pet again, just pretend that those big sloppy kisses or dainty licks are signs of your pet's gratitude for planning all those pet shipping details.

For more on traveling with your furry friends, see the links on the next page.