Pets on Planes Lesson 1: Preparing and Receiving Pets for Air Travel
While most pets arrive safely to their destination and are happily reunited with their owners, some pets become injured or even die during air travel.
This lesson is designed for pet owners who are planning to travel with their dogs or cats and airport personnel who have the responsibility of accepting dogs or cats for air travel. After reviewing this lesson, you will understand some of USDA’s requirements for air travel and factors that can improve the safety of dogs and cats during air travel. These factors include the suitability of the animal’s kennel and the health and readiness of the dog or cat for air travel.
Let's get started! Read through the lesson below, watch the video, or download and review the training on your device. When ready, test your knowledge by answering the questions in the next section.
Downloadable Lesson Files
Test Your Knowledge
Watch a short video and then answer a question about each of the following topics.
Question: The kennel should be large enough for the dog or cat __________________.
- And a bag of food
- To jump easily for exercise
- To stand up
Answer: C. The kennel must be large enough that the animal can easily stand up, turn around, sit erect, and lie down in a natural position.
Question: Which is NOT a critical requirement for kennel construction?
- The kennel must have wheels for easy transport.
- The kennel must have adequate ventilation.
- The kennel must have a secure door latch.
Answer: A. Wheels are not required on kennels used for air travel.
Question: A safe kennel MUST have _____________.
- A leak-proof floor with an unused litter pad
- A swivel handle located on top
- Wheel locks
Answer: A. It is important that the kennel floor is leak proof with an unused litter pad.
Question: The dishes for food and water must be attached ________________.
- Outside the kennel door
- Inside the kennel door
- On top of the kennel
Answer: B. 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.
Question: There must be a label on the outside of the kennel indicating _______________.
- That a live animal is inside
- The dog's or cat's breed or heritage
- The dog's or cat's country, home state, or province
Answer: A. There must be a label on the outside of the kennel indicating that a live animal is inside.
Question: Dogs or cats must be at least _______ of age for air travel.
- 8 weeks
- 1 year
- 15 weeks
Answer: A. USDA regulations require that dogs and cats be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned before traveling.
Question: The dog or cat breeds that are more likely to have health problems during air travel have ______________.
- Short noses
- Long hair year-round
- Long tails
Answer: A. Extra care is required with many short-nosed dogs and cats during air travel. They are susceptible to increased risk of heat stroke and breathing problems when exposed to stress or extreme heat.
Question: Dogs and cats traveling by air should be ____________.
- Aggressive enough to fend for themselves
- Given a tranquilizer
- Well-behaved
Answer: C. Dogs and cats traveling on airlines should be well behaved and non-aggressive.
Question: The Health and Acclimation Certificate for air travel should include ___________.
- The dog's or cat's weight
- The temperature range within which the dog or cat can travel
- Medical operations the dog or cat has had in the last year
Answer: B. The Health and Acclimation Certificate should specify the temperature range within which the dog or cat may travel.
Question: A Rabies Vaccination Certificate is required _____________.
- If the dog has been ill within the past year
- By some but not all states
- Under all conditions
Answer: B. Some states and foreign countries require a Rabies Vaccination Certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian.
Question: The routing information is used to __________.
- Specify the orientation of the kennel
- Assure the dog or cat arrives at the proper destination
- Clarify the emergency contact for the dog or cat
Answer: B. The routing information is used to route the dog or cat to the proper destination.
Question: The feeding and watering information should indicate _____________.
- The type of and amount of food that the airlines should feed the dog or cat
- When the dog or cat was offered food within 4 hours before airport arrival
- How the food and water should be presented to the dog or cat
Answer: B. It is important for the airlines to know when the dog or cat was last offered food before departure.