However, most passengers are oblivious to Button, a Lhasa-poodle mix who has been the air travel companion of Houstonian Robbin Parish for nearly a decade. Button travels in a stylish Sherpa bag, designed to look like a tasteful carry-on, which Parish stows under the seat. She tells others that there's a dog inside. They look at me like I'm nuts, but by the end of the trip, they say they'd much rather sit next to a dog than a baby. When Susan Martinez of Greater Houston Search Dogs attends an advanced cadaver conference in Phoenix, she and Jessie, a border collie, hop a plane.
Most airlines allow certified search animals to fly free, unrestricted by containers.
The lowest cargo rates will be a couple hundred dollars. Cabin-sized pets must have current vaccinations and a health certificate. Their owners, above all else, need to make sure that the booked flights will accommodate the pets. Most airlines will transport animals only in cargo, and they advise owners to hook up with a professional animal shipper. Airlines can provide answers about their guidelines and industry regulations.