Traveling by Air With

Your Pet

Dogs, cats, and most other warmblooded animals

transported by air are protected by the Animal

Welfare Act. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s

(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

(APHIS) enforces this law.

APHIS’ shipping regulations help assure that animals are treated humanely by airlines as well as animal dealers, exhibitors, and research laboratories.

Pet exhibitors, owners, and other shippers also are

affected by regulations established to protect the

well-being and safety of animals in transit.

Airline Procedures

Airlines transport animals in the cargo compartment of the plane, but some airlines allow passengers to transport small animals in the cabin as carryon luggage. The pet must be placed in a kennel that

is comfortable yet small enough to fit under the passenger’s seat. Carryon pets are not protected by the

Animal Welfare Act. For specific airline requirements,

contact the airline.

APHIS Requirements

Age

Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old and

must have been weaned before traveling with the airlines.

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, breathe, and

rest comfortably. They must be easy to open, strong

enough to withstand the stress of shipping, and free

of objects that could injure the animal.

Sanitation—Kennels must have a solid, leak-proof

floor that is covered with litter or absorbent lining.

Wire or other ventilated subfloors are generally

allowed; pegboard flooring is prohibited. This 

provides the maximum cleanliness for the animal in

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 shipments. 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 workers form

being bitten. Kennels also must be labeled “live animals” or “wild animals” on the top and one side with

directional arrows indicating 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 personal

pets of similar size. Maximum numbers include 2

puppies or kittens less than 6 months old and 20

pounds each, 15 guinea pigs or rabbits, and 50 hamsters.

Feeding and Watering

Instructions for feeding, watering, and administering medication to the animal over a 24-hour period

must be attached to the kennel. The 24-hour schedule will assist the airline in providing care for animals

that are diverted from their scheduled destination.

The shipper is required to document that the animal

was given food and water within 

4 hours of transport, and the certification must

include the time and date of feeding.

Food and water dishes must be securely attached

and be accessible without opening the kennel. Food

and water must be provided to puppies and kittens

every 12 hours if they are less than 16 weeks old.

Mature animals must be fed every 24 hours and

given water every 12 hours.

Health Certification

Airlines and State health officials generally require

health certificates for all animals transported by air.

Health certificates must be issued by a licensed veterinarian who examined the animal within 10 days of

transport. Dealers, exhibitors, and others regulated

under the Animal Welfare Act must provide a health

certificate for each dog, cat, or nonhuman primate

shipped.

Factsheet

Animal Care January 2002

APHIS
Trips Outside the Continental United

States

Foreign countries and Hawaii have quarantine or

health requirements for arriving pets. For information

about Hawaii’s requirements, write to:

Division of Animal Industry

Animal Quarantine Branch

99–951 Halawa Valley Street

Aiea, HI 96701–3294

(808) 483–7151 or (808) 483–7100

For information about international requirements,

contact the appropriate embassy or consulate at least

4 weeks before the trip.

Airlines or a full-service travel agency can provide

additional information about animal care requirements

for international flights.

For more information about the Animal Welfare Act,

write to:

Animal Care

APHIS, USDA

4700 River Road, Unit 84

Riverdale, MD 20737

Telephone: (301) 734–7833

E-mail: ace@usda.gov

Web page: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture