Pets on Planes Lesson 1: Preparing and Receiving Pets for Air Travel

Lesson 1: Preparing and Receiving Pets for Air Travel

Inspecting the Kennel

When an owner arrives at the airport with their dog or cat, they should be asked questions about the suitability of the animal’s kennel for air travel. These include questions about:

• The adequacy of the kennel's size for the dog or cat
• The kennel's construction and quality
• The safety and cleanliness of the kennel
• The location of the watering and feeding containers and
• The labeling of the kennel

Kennel Size

Make sure that the kennel is the appropriate size for the dog or cat.

Construction and Quality

Consider the following items when inspecting the kennel’s construction:

• The kennel should be hard sided with secure fasteners that are strong enough to withstand the normal rigors of air transport while containing the animal securely and comfortably.
• The kennel should be designed so that the door can be securely closed and easily opened without requiring special or sharp tools.
• The exterior handle(s) or handholds should be sturdy enough to:
  • Enable someone to lift the kennel without tilting it, and
  • Ensure that anyone handling the kennel can avoid unnecessary contact with the animal.
• The kennel must have adequate ventilation with openings on three sides and the door.
• The kennel must be free of toxic or harmful materials, treatments, paint, or preservatives.

Kennel Cleanliness and Safety

Check to see that the kennel is clean and safe.

• The kennel must be clean and sanitized.
• The kennel floor must be leak-proof and covered with an unused litter pad or collection tray.
• The kennel’s interior must be free of sharp points or edges that could injure the animal.
• The design of the kennel must allow the animal to be quickly and easily removed in an emergency.
• The kennel must be designed to prevent any part of the animal from protruding outside the enclosure in a way that could result in injury to the animal or to any nearby person or animal.

Watering and Feeding Containers

The food and water dishes must be attached to the inside of the kennel door so that they can be easily reached without opening the door. Water bottles should not be attached to the outside of the kennel.

Kennel Labeling

When evaluating kennel labels, look for the following:

• The kennel must display labels with the words "Live Animal" in 1-inch letters on the top and at least one side of the kennel.
• The kennel must display upright arrow labels showing the kennel’s upright position.

More than One Dog or Cat in the Same Kennel

USDA regulations require that dogs and cats be at least 8-weeks old and fully weaned before traveling. Usually only one dog or cat is allowed in each kennel. However, two live puppies or kittens may be transported in the same kennel if they are 8 weeks to 6 months of age, of comparable size, and weigh 20 pounds (9 Kg) or less. More than one dog or cat may be transported in the same kennel if they are traveling to research facilities and adhere to the following restrictions:

• They are weaned puppies less than 8 weeks of age and of comparable size, or
• They are unweaned littermates accompanied by the mother.

Dog and Cat Health and Readiness for Travel

Consider a dog's or cat’s health and readiness for air travel.

Age

The dog or cat must be old enough to travel. USDA regulations require that dogs and cats be at least 8-weeks old and fully weaned before traveling. No more than two live puppies or kittens 8 weeks to 6 months of age, that are of comparable size, and weighing 20 pounds (9 Kg) or less, may be transported in the same kennel.

Breed

Some breeds of dogs and cats may have more problems during air travel. Extra care is required with many short-nosed dogs during air travel. Short-nosed dogs or “brachycephalic” dogs are susceptible to increased risk of heat stroke and breathing problems when exposed to stress or extreme heat. Examples of short-nosed breeds include Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Dutch Pug, English Bulldog, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso. Examples of short-nosed cat breeds include Persian, Himalayan, and Burmese. These problems also occur in crossbred versions of these dogs and cats.

Temperament

The dog or cat should have the appropriate temperament for air travel. Dogs and cats traveling on airlines should be well behaved and not aggressive.

Travel Documentation

Make sure that the dog or cat has the appropriate travel documentation.

Health and Acclimation Certificate

A Health and Acclimation certificate should be available. The Health and Acclimation certificate should indicate the animal’s readiness for travel and any constraints (including the acceptable range of travel temperature). The Health and Acclimation certificate must be signed by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of the animal’s travel date.

Rabies Vaccination Certificate

Some States and foreign countries require a Rabies Vaccination Certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian.

Information about the Animal’s Owner

Also make sure that the owner information is available. The owner information should include name, address, phone number(s) and other contact information for the owner (consignor) and the receiving party (consignee).

Routing Information

Make sure that the travel information, including the animal’s final destination, is visible. The correct routing information should be placed in a pouch that is securely attached to the outside of the kennel. The pouch should be readily accessible to assist those who will be routing the dog or cat to the correct destination.

Feeding and Watering Information

Information describing the feeding and watering schedule for the dog or cat should be available. The owner or owner’s agent must certify that each animal was offered food and water within 4 hours of delivering the dog or cat to the airport. A document indicating the time and date that food and water were last offered as well as feeding and watering instructions for next 24-hour period should be included in the pouch on the kennel.

Document Pouch

Check to see that all documents are securely attached to the kennel. Shipping documents should include but are not limited to food and water instructions, health and acclimation certificate, owner information, and routing information.

Summary

In summary, when inspecting a dog or cat kennel for air travel, check to see that:

• The kennel is the proper size for the dog or cat.
• The kennel is of high-quality construction with:
  • A secure latch for the door
  • A sturdy handle
  • Secure fasteners
  • Adequate ventilation
  • A litter pad or other means to keep the dog or cat clean from urine and feces Accessible feeding and watering containers
  • Food in a plastic container
  • Handles or handholds that will allow cargo personal to pick up the kennel without tilting it

Also check to see that the kennel has proper labels including:

• “Live Animal” labels on the top and side of the kennel
• Labels indicating the direction for placing the kennel upright
• An easily accessible plastic pouch containing the following:
  • The dog or cat owner's information
  • Health certificates
  • The schedule for feeding and watering the dog or cat