Although most pets arrive at their destination in fine condition, injury or death is always a possibility. In this post, I share some tips to facilitate a safe trip for your companion dog. The information below applies to non-service animals.
🐾 Decide whether your dog is fit to fly. Animals that are very young, very old, pregnant, ill or injured should not fly. Discuss your plans with the veterinarian if you are not sure if your dog is fit to fly. You should also consider if your dog can handle a trip. If fluffy is fine being on his own for multiple hours at a time, is not reactive with other people and dogs, is used to his kennel before the trip and feels comfortable with new places and different experiences then your dog will be ok to fly. Conversely, if your dog suffers from anxiety, is reactive to other animals and new people and is destructive when left alone, it may be best that your dog does not fly.
🐾 Choose a pet-friendly airline. Although all airlines are subject to basic animal welfare regulations, the standards of care vary greatly from one company to another. Pet Friendly Travel offers an extensive list of global airlines and their policies. Before booking your flight, call your airline and understand their rules related to pet transport and ensure that your dog will be allowed on that particular flight. The more information an airline provides, the better care your pet is likely to receive. For US airlines, the US Department of Transportation publishes The Air Travel Consumer Report to assist consumers with information related to the quality of services provided by the airlines. Below, I share the annual report of 2017 incidents published by The Air Travel Consumer.
🐾 Important questions you should ask before deciding what airline fits your dog’s needs:
🐾 Is the cargo area temperature-controlled?
🐾 Is the cargo area separate from the baggage area? If not, look for another airline. Most likely the cargo space will not be climate-controlled.
🐾 Is the staff trained to work with animals?
🐾 During a layover, will the airline staff take my dog out for potty, water, food?
🐾 Will my dog be tracked throughout each stage of the trip?
🐾 Does the airline staff follow a last on, first off policy? This means pets are given priority, they are transported in temperature-controlled vehicles, and they are never left to sit on the tarmac.
🐾 Research the pet immigration requirements your destination country may have. Since these requirements vary frequently, it is advisable that you check the requirements before your trip. PetTravel offers a full list of country-specific pet immigration rules. Knowing the regulations will facilitate a safer and enjoyable trip with your dog. As soon as you know the destination, contact your veterinarian to coordinate the vaccinations, diagnostic testing, or administration of medications/ treatments and the certification that in some places is required within 10 days of departure. Find out if your dog needs a pet passport. A pet passport is a collection of all identifying and required documents for entering a given country. The pet passport was initially introduced in 2001 for animals entering or returning to the UK from other European Union countries but has since expanded to other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
🐾 Decide where your pet will fly. Pets can travel in the passenger cabin with the owner, in the hold as checked baggage or as cargo. Whenever possible, your dog should travel in the passenger cabin with you. This is possible with small dogs. Most airlines allow small dogs to be taken into the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage for an additional fee. This is only feasible if your dog is well-behaved and fits comfortably in a container (carrier) that meets standard carry-on regulations. The carrier must be kept under the seat in front of you throughout the flight. Under no circumstances, a carrier with a dog or any living animal should be placed in the overhead compartment. Since the number of dogs that are allowed per flight is limited, I suggest that you call the airline in advance and ensure that you have a spot.
Larger pets fly in the cargo hold as checked baggage when traveling with their owners. Although in most cases is perfectly safe for a dog to travel in the cargo hold, it can be stressful for you and your dog. Before booking your flight, it is critical that you call the airline and confirm your airline’s specific baggage policy, so you know exactly where in the hold your dog will be traveling. Some planes are designed to have a separate hold area for animals, but not all airlines give priority to this. Please note that snub-nosed dogs such as pugs, boxers and bulldogs are prone to respiratory difficulties in poorly ventilated areas like the cargo hold. Since these breeds are vulnerable to heat stroke and oxygen deprivations, they should not travel in the cargo hold.
🐾 Precautions to take when flying your pet in a cargo hold.
🐾 Travel on the same flight as your pet.
🐾 Use direct flights
🐾 Notify the captain and the flight attendants that your dog is traveling in the cargo hold. It is important that the captain knows that pets are on board, so they take the proper precautions.
🐾 Do not ship snub-nosed animals such as bulldogs or Pekingese dogs in the cargo hold.
🐾 Label the carrier with your name, address and telephone, final destination and contact person that can be reached as soon as the flight arrives.
🐾 Do not give any tranquilizers.
🐾 Carry a current photograph of your pet. This can be useful if your pet is lost during the trip.
🐾 Once you arrive, examine your dog and make sure your dog is ok. If anything is wrong, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.
Performing thorough research ahead of time and taking the required precautions is critical to provide a safe trip for your dog. Don’t be afraid to ask the staff at the gate to check on the status of your dog. Tell the captain and the flight attendants that you have a dog in the cargo area so that they know to control the temperature and pressure as needed.
Have a safe flight!
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