Moving with Your Pets

Moving Your Family  
Hiring a Professional Mover   
Driving a Moving Truck...What  You Should Know
Renting a Moving Truck...Are You Fully Covered?
Moving with Children of All Ages
Moving with Your Pets

Here are some useful hints and information to help you take care of your furry friend. Choose from the topics below to get started:

• What preparations should I make before traveling?
• Are there entry requirements per state?
• Do professional movers take pets?
• How can I find pet-friendly hotels for the road?
• What if my pet gets lost during the move?
• The importance of ID
• What are restrictions on air travel with dogs and cats?
• What are the specific age and kennel requirements?
• Tips on feeding for air travel
• On traveling by car
• What about small birds and animals
• Are there resources for disaster planning for my pet?
• If I'm traveling internationally, what should I know?
• Are there special considerations for bird travel abroad?
• Pet Quarantine in Hawaii

As your moving plans get underway, ask yourself these questions

• Is my pet in good health?
• Will it be a good traveler?
• Is it welcome at our relocation destination?

If you've answered "yes" to all these questions, accustom your pet to riding in your car. Begin with short rides each day and gradually increase the length of each ride. If your pet is unable to adjust to short rides, consider plane travel. And of course, if you're traveling long distances required by plane…read on.

What preparations should I make before traveling?

• Carry health and rabies certificates with you. Airlines and State health officials generally require health certificates for all animals transported by air. They are required if you cross international borders. In most cases, health certificates must be issued by a licensed veterinarian examining the animal within 10 days of transport.
• Ask your veterinarian to provide any required vaccinations or treatments. Does your pet have appropriate heartworm protection if the mosquito season begins earlier or ends later in the area you will be traveling to? Administer tranquilizers with the prescribed dosage only if specifically prescribed by your veterinarian.
• Pack your pet's water and food bowls, grooming equipment and any medication they may require. If you are not certain your pet's diet will be available at your destination, take a supply with you to avoid digestive upsets.

And remember: Don't leave all your pet's food in the moving truck - pack it with you!

Are there entry requirements per state?

Interstate health certificates must be obtained for dogs and horses prior to entering most states. Nearly all states require a rabies vaccine for dogs, and many require the same for cats. Hawaii requires that cats and dogs be quarantined for 120 days. If your move across state lines, call or write to the State Veterinarian, State Department of Animal Husbandry, or other appropriate authority.

Do professional movers take pets?

No, federal regulations prohibit moving companies from shipping animals in moving vans. If your pets and plants can't travel with you, ask your professional mover to help you safely transport them to your new home. Pets and plants travel best in your own car.

How can I find pet-friendly hotels for the road?

You'll find a very handy resource in www.petswelcome.com, where you can search by city for hotels, B&B's - even amusement parks - that are pet friendly. Visit them here and plan your route so that reservations are made in advance for you…and your pet! Just click on their Listings section to start your search.

What if my pet gets lost during the move?

If your pet should turn up missing during transport, immediately speak to airline personnel. Many airlines have computer tracking systems that can trace a pet transferred to an incorrect flight. If there is no report of your animal, proceed with these steps.

• Contact animal control agencies and humane societies in the local and surrounding areas. Check with them daily.
• Contact the APHIS-Animal Care regional office closest to where your pet was lost. Eastern Region: (301) 734-4981, Central Region: (817) 885-6910, Western Region: (916) 857-6205. For further information, call 1-800-545-USDA.
• Provide descriptions and photographs to the airline, local animal control agencies, and humane societies. Help can also be sought from radio stations. Leave telephone numbers and addresses with all these locations should you have to return home.
• You can also contact the Missing Pet Network (missingpet.net). Follow the advice on "How to post a listing." The MPN is a group of volunteers sponsored by the USDA Animal Care Office.

The importance of ID

Securing ID is one of the most important preparations you can make. Be sure to have identification tags secured! Attach tags to your pet's collar or leg band (for birds). ID tags should include your pet's name, your name, address and phone number, destination address and phone number. Most states also require dogs and cats to have a rabies tag on their collars. Microchips are also important. Hawaii State Quarantine Law requires all pets to have a microchip located inside the nape of the neck on cats and dogs. For other animals, check with your local vet.

Take color pictures of your pet and a written description of its colorings and distinguishing marks. Record your pet's body size and weight. If your pet is lost, these identifications aids could make the difference in locating it.

What are restrictions on air travel with dogs and cats?

No airline will guarantee acceptance of an animal it has not seen. Important considerations for acceptance of animals include the health and disposition of the animal, proper health certificates, and kennel markings and sizing. Airlines also require that wheels installed as part of a kennel be removed or rendered inoperable prior to transport. This action prevents kennels from rolling, protecting both the animals and the airline employees. USDA assigns airlines the final responsibility for determining the safety and compliance of the kennels they accept.

Airlines generally transport animals in the cargo compartment of a plane. In doing so, the airlines advise the flight crew that animals are onboard the aircraft. Some airlines allow passengers to carry their pets in the cabin of a plane if the animals are capable of fitting under the passengers' seat. Carry-on pets are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act.

Certain animals are accepted as baggage at passenger check-in locations, and others are accepted as cargo at the airlines' cargo facilities. For the specific requirements pertaining to your animal, make advance arrangements with the airline you are using. Airlines must ensure that they have facilities to handle animals at the airports of transfer and final destination. Airlines must comply with USDA-APHIS guidelines on allowable temperature limits for animal-holding areas. Finally, airlines are not required to carry live animals, and they reserve the right to refuse to carry an animal for any reason.

How can I ensure a safe airline trip for my animal?

Here are some good air travel tips:

• Try to avoid peak travel periods when delays and stopovers are longer.
• Plan a trip with as few stops and transfers as possible.
• Avoid traveling in extreme hot or cold weather to avoid dangerous loading and unloading periods for your pet.
• When you make your reservation, tell the airline directly that you will have an animal with you.
• Be sure to reconfirm with the airline 24 to 48 hours before departure that you will bring your pet.
• Advance arrangements are not a guarantee that your animal will travel on a specific flight.
• Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.
• If your animal is traveling as a carry-on pet or by the special expedited delivery service, check-in will typically be at the passenger terminal.
• If you are sending your pet through the cargo system, you'll need to go to the cargo terminal, usually located in a separate part of the airport. Note that by regulation an animal may be presented for transport no more than four hours before flight time.
• Some airlines allow cats and small dogs to travel (generally for an additional charge) with their owner if the carrier fits under the passenger seat. Otherwise, rent or purchase a carrier or crate that meets airline regulations and affix a LIVE ANIMAL sticker. Mark it with your name and address and the name of a person who can be contacted by your pet at your destination, if necessary.
• Put a cushion or blanket on the crate floor. Attach a water cup to the crate door. The cup should be deep, but not too full of water to avoid spilling.
• On the day of the flight, take your dog for a long walk before leaving for the airport.
• At the end of your trip, pick up your pet promptly.

Certain countries and island destinations such as Hawaii, require a quarantine period for animals at the owner's expense. Ask your travel agent or the consul of the country you plan to visit about quarantines. Click Here to see Hawaii State Quarantine Laws recently changed.

What are the specific age and kennel requirements?

• Age: Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and must have been weaned before traveling by air.
• Kennels: Kennels must meet minimum standards for size, strength, sanitation and ventilation.
• Size and Strength - Kennels must be enclosed and allow room for the animal to stand, sit and lie in a natural position. They must be easy to open, strong enough to withstand the normal rigors of transportation and free of objects that could injure the animal.
• Sanitation - Kennels must have a solid, leakproof floor that is covered with litter or absorbent lining. Wire or other ventilated sub-floors are generally allowed; pegboard flooring is prohibited. These requirements provide the maximum cleanliness for the animal to travel.
• Ventilation - Kennels must be well ventilated with openings that make up at least 14 percent of the total wall space. At least one third of the openings must be located in the top half of the kennel. Kennels also must have rims to prevent ventilation openings from being blocked by other cargo. These rims - usually placed on the sides of the kennel - must provide at least three quarters of an inch clearance.
• Grips and Markings - Kennels must have grips or handles for lifting to prevent cargo personnel from having to place their fingers inside the kennel and risk being bitten. Kennels also must be marked "live animals" or "wild animals" on the top and one side with directional arrows indicating proper position of the kennel. Lettering must be at least 1 inch high.
• Animals per kennel - Each species must have its own kennel with the exception of compatible cats and dogs of similar size. Maximum numbers include 2 puppies or kittens under 6 months old and 20 pounds each and of similar size, 15 guinea pigs or rabbits and 50 hamsters. Airlines may have more restrictive requirements, such as allowing only one adult animal per kennel. Be sure to check with the airline you are using.

Tips on feeding for air travel

Instructions for feeding and watering your pet over a 24-hour period must be attached to the kennel. This 24-hour schedule will assist the airline in providing care for your animal in case it is diverted from its original destination. Food and water dishes must be securely attached and accessible to caretakers without opening the kennel. Food and water must be provided to puppies and kittens every 12 hours if they are 8 to 16 weeks old. Mature animals must be fed every 24 hours and given water every 12 hours.

On traveling by car

Are you already packed and ready to move? Here's how you can keep your pet comfortable and safe on the road.

• Do not feed your pet for at least three hours before leaving on a trip.
• Take your dog for a walk just before you start the drive. You will still have to stop along the way, but your dog will be more comfortable as the trip gets underway.
• During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your pet. You may also reward it with a snack for being a good traveler. If the drive is eight hours or longer, give your pet  the opportunity to use a litter pan and offer it fresh drinking water.
• Feed your pet shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.

Pet Travel Kit: food, water, dishes, can opener (if needed), leash, a few treats, favorite toy and some type of bedding. Don't forget a scooper and plastic bags for cleanup!

What about small birds and animals?

Birds and small pets, such as gerbils and hamsters, can generally travel in their cages. Birds are very susceptible to drafts and sudden changes in temperature, as well as being easily frightened. To keep your bird calm, its cage should be covered while on the road. Remove the water container from the cage to avoid spills. Place the cage in the car out of drafts but with plenty of ventilation, and be sure it will not tip over. Give the pet fresh water at every stop as small pets become dehydrated very quickly, particularly during hot weather. Feed at normal intervals.

Are there resources for disaster planning for my pet?

The following is a list of links on disaster planning for your pet, provided by Missing Pet Network. Visit the page at www.missingpet.net/mpn/info/disaster.html

If I'm traveling internationally, what should I know?

Hawaii, U.S. territories and certain foreign governments have quarantine or health requirements for arriving pets. For information on Hawaii's requirements, contact your State Veterinarian's office or click here for more information. For U.S. territories and foreign countries, contact the appropriate embassy, governmental agency, or consulate at least four weeks in advance. You may also contact a full-service travel agency for assistance. Additional airline requirements also exist for international flights. These rules may require additional ventilation, labeling and a shipper's certification. Contact your airline for information about these requirements.

Are there special considerations for bird travel abroad?

Bird owners who take their pets with them while traveling abroad are generally exempt from some of the USDA quarantine and foreign certification requirements for imported birds. This exception applies only to U.S.-origin birds and is permitted as long as the owner makes special arrangements in advance.

If you wish to take your bird abroad, you must obtain all necessary documents from USDA and the Department of the Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before departing the United States. You should get a health certificate endorsed by a USDA-APHIS veterinarian. This endorsement is subject to a user fee.

U.S.-origin birds may reenter the Unite States through any international airport that can be serviced by a USDA veterinary official. For more information on traveling aboard with your bird, contact USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services at (301) 734-5097.

Portions of this article are drawn from the publication "Traveling with Your Pet" by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and located at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/petravel.html

Hawaii State Quarantine Law (Newly Revised 2003)

For all your current information on the new 0-5 Day Quarantine Law for the state of Hawaii click here .