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Tips For Safe Pet Air Travel
The Humane Society
of the United States recommends that you do not transport your
pet by air unless absolutely necessary. According to the Air Transport
Association, more than 5,000 animals are killed, injured, or lost
on commercial flights each year. Our beloved pets can face risks
including excessively hot or cold temperatures, poor ventilation,
scarcity of oxygen, and rough handling when flown in the "cargo"
area of a plane.
The airline industry
treats live animals as mere baggage, transporting them in cargo
holds not designed for life support. In the past, airlines have
neither responded appropriately to reports of animal injuries,
nor provided accurate information to the flying public.
In response to the
problems associated with pet air travel, and lack of good data
on those problems, Congress passed the Safe Air Travel for Animals
Act in April 2000, for which The HSUS and its members lobbied
extensively. The U.S. Department of Transportation adopted regulations
for this law in 2003. Many airlines have responded to this law
by implementing restrictions on accepting pets as cargo.
Before you make plans
to travel with your pet, follow these suggestions:
- If you plan to
bring your pet on vacation, consider driving instead of flying.
(Neither Amtrak nor Greyhound allows pets.) If this isn't possible,
consider leaving your pet behind under the care of a pet sitter
or boarding kennel.
- If you are relocating
across the country, consider using a company whose primary business
is to transport animals. Remember, any inconvenience you might
experience while researching and looking for safe travel options
for your pet is minor when weighed against the risk of losing
your companion forever. Above all, when making travel decisions,
please consider what is best for your pet.
If you must transport
your pet by air, your first decision is whether you can take him
or her on board with you, which is your best option. If your pet
is a cat or small dog, most airlines will allow you to take the
animal on board for an additional fee. To find out about this
option, call the airline well in advance of your flight, because
there are limits to the number of animals allowed in the cabin
area.
When you contact the
airline, be sure to find answers to these questions:
- Does the airline
allow you to take your cat or small dog on board with you?
- If that option isn't
available to you, does the airline have any restrictions on
transporting your pet as cargo?
- Does the airline
have any special pet health and immunization requirements?
- Does the airline
require a specific type of carrier? Most airlines will accept
either hard-sided carriers or soft-sided carriers, which may
be more comfortable for your pet, but only certain brands of
soft-sided carriers are acceptable to certain airlines.
If your pet must travel
in the cargo hold, you can increase the chances of a safe flight
for your pet by following these tips:
- Use direct flights.
You will avoid the mistakes that occur during airline transfers
and possible delays in getting your pet off the plane.
- Always travel on
the same flight as your pet. Ask the airline if you can watch
your pet being loaded and unloaded into the cargo hold.
- When you board the
plane, notify the captain and at least one flight attendant
that your pet is traveling in the cargo hold. If the captain
knows that pets are on board, he or she may take special precautions.
- Don't ever ship
pug-nosed animals such as Pekingese, Bulldogs, or Persians in
the cargo holds. These breeds have short nasal passages that
leave them especially vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat
stroke.
- If traveling during
the summer or winter months, choose flights that will accommodate
the temperature extremes. Early morning or late evening flights
are better in the summer; afternoon flights are better in the
winter.
- Fit your pet with
a collar that can't get caught in carrier doors.
- Affix two pieces
of identification on the collar-- a permanent ID with your name
and home address and telephone number, and a temporary travel
ID with the address and telephone number where you or a contact
person can be reached.
- Affix a travel label
to the 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.
- Make sure that your
pet's nails have been clipped to protect against their hooking
in the carrier's door, holes, and other crevices.
- 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.
- Do not give your
pet tranquilizers unless they are prescribed by your veterinarian.
Make sure your veterinarian understands that the prescription
is for air travel.
- Do not feed your
pet for four to six hours prior to air travel.
- Small amounts of
water can be given before the trip. If possible, put ice cubes
in the water tray attached to the inside of your pet's kennel.
A full water bowl will only spill and cause discomfort.
- Try not to fly with
your pet during busy travel times such as holidays and the summer.
Your pet is more likely to undergo rough handling during hectic
travel periods.
- Carry a current
photograph of your pet. If your pet is lost during the trip,
a photograph will make it much easier for airline employees
to search effectively.
When you arrive at
your destination, open the carrier as soon as you are in a safe
place and examine your pet. If anything seems wrong, take your
pet to a veterinarian immediately. Get the results of the examination
in writing, including the date and time.
Do not hesitate to
complain if you witness the mishandling of an animal—either yours
or someone else's—at any airport. If you have a bad experience
when shipping your animal by air, please fill out our (sic; USPCA's)
online
airline complaint form.
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