Once considered the domain of the eccentric, traveling with pets is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, most people consider their pet part of the family and wouldn't dream of traveling or relocating to a foreign country without them. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which governs air travel for pets along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), estimates that half a million dogs and cats travel on commercial airlines in the United States each year.
The best way to ensure your pet's safety is to ask the airline lots of questions and be sure to get answers that sound right to you before you proceed. If possible, get written confirmation of your arrangements from the airline.
Bring a health certificate that was issued no more than 10 days before the flight. At the airport, have all your paperwork ready and be friendly to everyone at the airline: remember, they will be taking care of your pet.
First...Who Should and Shouldn't Fly: Healthy animals over eight weeks old that have been issued a health certificate are legally allowed to fly. However, it is advisable to wait until they are 12 weeks old. Please don't ship pug-nosed animals, which have short nasal passages that leave them especially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.
Especially good things to consider:
- Choose a direct flight. Avoid taking your pet on a flight with a stopover, especially flights that require passengers to change planes. These are the situations in which a mishap is most likely to occur because of scheduling changes or simple human error
- Pet Carrier: Make sure it's airline-approved and properly fitted to your pet. If the carrier is too large, your animal could be hurt because too much movement means he is more likely to be banged around. Give your pet at least a month before your flight to become familiar with the travel carrier. This will minimize his or her stress during travel. Don't include toys because they increase the possibility of choking. Instead, leave an old t-shirt with your scent in the container to reassure them you're close by. You might want to line the bottom of the crate with a towel to absorb any accidents. Make sure your pet's nails have been clipped to protect against their hooking in the carrier's door, holes and other crevices. Do not lock the carrier so that it is easy to let the pet out in case of emergency.
- Food and Exercise: Leading up to the flight, keep food to a minimum and make sure they don't eat solid food six hours prior to take off. Try to exercise them a bit before departure so they will be more likely to relax or even sleep. You usually don't need to worry about feeding or watering the dog during transport. The problems with the food and water bowls are obvious: the water could spill, causing discomfort; and it's risky for dogs to be consuming things during such stressful times. However, to satisfy airline regulations, and in the case of extreme delay, the crate should contain two attached dishes, one for water and the other for food. For trips longer than 12 hours, attach a plastic bag containing dry food and feeding instructions on top of the carrier for airline personnel.
- Identification: Personally, I believe there is no such thing as too much identification. Put bold ID tags on the travel carrier with your name, permanent address and telephone number, final destination and where you or a contact person can be reached as soon as the flight arrives. Mark clearly, indicating "Live Cargo. Handle With Care." Put arrows indicating right side up (this is not as dumb as it sounds!). Tape a friendly note on the top of the crate with all relevant information regarding your pet. A sample might be: "Hi, my name is Maggie. I am a 4-year-old, gray poodle. I am going to Kansas City, MO, on Flight 5203. This is my first flight, so I am a little nervous. Thank you for taking good care of me." Identify the carrier clearly so you can spot it from a distance. After you check your pet in, go to your gate and watch to make sure your pet is safely loaded (that brightly marked carrier will be easy to spot). Your pet should also wear two tags when traveling with the same info as on the carrier. Also, affix information about the airline and flight number. If for some reason your pet escapes during its journey, it can be returned to its container. Taking every imaginable precaution doesn't guarantee your pet won't get lost on your trip. As a safety measure, be sure to have some current photos and a description of your pet in case you need to put up signs.
- Once you arrive at your destination, make sure you spend some quality time with your pet. Flying can be pretty traumatic for us, and we know what's going on; imagine what your poor pet just went through!
Pets in the Passenger Cabin: As a general rule, pets permitted to travel in the cabin may weigh no more than 20 pounds. However, you must make a reservation for your pet! Do it early...most airlines limit the number of animals allowed per cabin.
For more great trips on traveling with your best friend, go to The Humane Society's web