The Flying Dog

Unless you own a private jet, air travel with a dog is not a pleasant experience. For most dogs and their owners, traveling together by air is just a dream that can't come true.

When your travel plans include flying, even on the most accommodating airlines, it means hours of separation. A tiny pooch who's owner plans ahead, will at least fly in the cabin, but under a seat, as carry-on baggage. For others, travel by air might mean traveling on the same plane, but traveling as checked baggage. Depending on the airline, and sometimes depending on hot or cold weather safety concerns, it means traveling on a different plane, traveling as air cargo, traveling alone in a portable kennel.

Fortunately service dogs are one exception to those harsh rules. The Americans With Disabilities Act states that guide dogs and service animals are permitted to travel with their humans on public transportation. If you have a service dog, you have the right to have your canine companion fly with you in the cabin when you fly on an American commercial aircraft. When making reservations, tell the agent that you will be traveling with a service dog, and you are requesting bulkhead seating.(seating in the first row of a section) For more information see U.S. Government Rules Governing Service Animals in Air Transportation.

Air travel is considered one the safest means of travel for people, but many pet owners have real concerns about the security and safety of air travel for furry family members. Stories about lost pets, reports of pets arriving at unintended destinations, reports of pet injuries and even reports of pets dying in cargo holds linger. Some airlines really are making the skies a little pet friendlier!

One pet loving couple, frustrated by the lack of options available when they had to travel with their own dog - Murphy, decided to do something about it. They founded Companion Air, a pet friendly airline that specializes in flying both pets and their owners in the aircraft cabin. Pets stay in their travel kennels, located in an area behind the passenger seating area. During the flight, as long as there is no turbulence, pet owners will be able to go back and talk to their pets.

There is also evidence that other airlines are becoming more humane, and taking steps to assure safer, more comfortable travel for pets. One fine example is Amsterdam's KLM Cargo. Pets travel in well ventilated, illuminated, temperature controlled. pressurized cargo areas. When in transfer at Amsterdam Airport, pets will stay in the KLM Cargo Animal Hotel, where trained animal attendants will look after them. They're temporarily housed in a larger kennel, walked, and given food and water.

Some domestic airlines are also making positive changes. On Continental Airlines, pets travel as "Quickpak", a service with same day, airport-to-airport delivery, designed to ensure an animal's comfort and safety and keep their owners reassured. Safeguards include a 24/7 animal desk and tracking service, able to track and trace the animal from its origin to its destination. It also offers confirmed booking prior to departure, constant monitoring of weather conditions, and personal handling in climate-controlled vehicles during ground time at it's hub airports when an animal would be exposed to temperatures above 85°F for more than 45 minutes.

Northwest Air Cargo provides transportation for unaccompanied animals in temperature-controlled holds. Pets can travel via VIP same day service. Delta Airlines offers it's "Pet First" service with temperature-controlled animal holding areas 4 hub cities.

Until there are widespread, safe and comfortable air travel options, vacationers wanting to take their pets along, families or who must relocate, people with pets in shows and competition... pet owners who must travel by air, for whatever reason, continue to worry about the safety of their pets.

If you are well informed, do some careful planning and preparation, and follow safety guidelines, air travel for your pets is more likely to be successful and uneventful.

Here's some tips to make pet air travel easier.....

Reservations -

Make airline reservations for your pets when making your own reservations...well in advance. Airlines have the right to limit the number of pets on board and may refuse to allow your dog to travel on the same plane as you if there are too many pets on board. Contact the airline again, on your day of departure, before leaving for the airport.

Many of the risks associated with pet air travel are the result of long layovers and mishandling during connecting flights. Book a direct, non-stop flight whenever possible.

If you can't find a non-stop flight to your destination and your flight has a long layover, ask about getting the dog off the plane at the intermediate airport, to take it for a short walk, then re-board.

If you must change planes, ask the flight attendant to get a confirmation that your dog been moved to the connecting flight.

Avoid busy weekend and holiday flights. An increase in the number of travelers on extra-busy travel days could mean airline personnel will not have enough time to give your dog the attention it needs...attention it would routinely get on normal travel days.

Most airlines don't allow pets to travel in the cargo area of a plane if there's a chance that the weather will be either too hot or too cold - usually above 80°F or below 32°F. On many airlines, pets are not accepted as checked baggage from May 15 through September 15. Even if your favorite airline does not have such seasonal restrictions, avoid pet travel in cargo areas during extreme temperatures.

Preparation & Requirements -

A health certificate, issued by a veterinarian within 10 days of a flight, is usually required for travel. The health certification must be dated within 10 days of every flight, not just for every trip or for the departure flight only. This usually means that if you return more than 10 days after you depart, you'll need a second health certificate for the return flight. Check with your airline for it's specific policy. Always have your dog checked by a veterinarian and make sure immunizations are up-to-date before taking it on any trip, regardless of airline requirements.

Unless recommended and prescribed by your own veterinarian, one who knows your dog's medical history, do not sedate your dog for air travel. Sedatives or tranquilizers, combined with high altitude can cause breathing difficulties. This is especially true for any snub-nosed breed. A dog's balance can also be compromised by sedatives.

Your dog's size will determine whether it can travel in the cabin with you or whether it must travel as checked baggage in the cargo area. Only small dogs, generally under about 15 to 18 pounds, can fly in the cabin, since they must be able to fit comfortably in a kennel placed under the seat. There's also a size limit of under 100 pounds for dogs that are allowed to travel as checked baggage that allow dogs as checked baggage. Whether traveling in the cabin or the cargo area, the dog must fit comfortably in it's travel crate and be able to stand up, lie down, and turn around in the crate.

Make sure your dog is accustomed to and comfortable being in a travel crate, well before the trip.

Your dog's collar should fit well and not be loose enough to possibly get caught on anything in the travel crate. No choke collars, chain , or correction type collars.

Don't put a muzzle on a dog during travel. A muzzle could hamper it's breathing. It will also restrict a dog's ability to pant, and panting helps regulate a dog's body temperature.

Make sure there are ID tags on both your dog and the travel crate. Both of these tags should include your dog's name + your name, home address and phone number + your cell phone number or a phone number for someone not traveling with you, but who knows how to reach you at all times. For dogs traveling as checked baggage or as cargo, place 4 large labels on the kennel, one on each side of the kennel, with "LIVE ANIMAL" clearly printed on them. Include "this side up" arrows. If there are any special instructions that airline personnel should know, print them clearly on an extra label placed on the door or just above the door.

Place a thick layer of absorbent bedding in the crate.

Make sure there is water available in your dog's travel kennel. For a spill proof, long-lasting supply, freeze a bowl of water ahead of time.

At the Airport -

If your dog is supposed to be traveling in the cargo area on your flight, do not just assume that the dog is safely on board. Watch to see your dog being loaded on the plane. If you did not actually see your dog being placed on board, ask a flight attendant to get a firm confirmation for you.

If your dog is in the cargo area and your plane has been waiting on the runway for a long time, during unexpected or unseasonably warm weather, ask your flight attendant to call the captain and ask him to check the temperature in the cargo area. If the plane will not be taking off in a few minutes, ask to have your dog removed from the cargo area.

Keep your dog's leash readily accessible for walking until boarding time. Take your dog for a walk outside the terminal before boarding. Do not take a dog out of a kennel inside the terminal.

If you are carrying your dog onboard as part of your carry-on luggage, keep a leash with you. Airport security screeners will now ask you to remove your dog from its travel carrier so the carrier can be carefully inspected visually or placed on the belt to be checked by x-ray equipment.

Dogs, cats, and most other pets transported by commercial airlines are protected by the Animal Welfare Act. The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service(APHIS) enforces these laws. Shipping regulations were established to protect the well-being and safety of animals in transit and are meant to make sure that animals are treated humanely by airlines and other travel providers. It clearly points out what pet owners. breeders, animal dealers, exhibitors, kennels and other shippers must do to help insure the safety of the animals who depend on them.

Traveling by Air With Your Pet, from the USDA covers these canine related issues and more -

Preparing you pet for flight; making sure it's healthy enough to make the trip.
Puppies and kittens must be 8 weeks old. Ill, very nervous, pregnant, or older pets should not be transported by air.
Read the standards for kennel size, strength, sanitation, and ventilation; how many animals per kennel; food & water while traveling; attaching instructions to the kennel.
Trips outside the continental United States - quarantine and health requirements for arriving pets.
Airline procedures - What rules apply?
What to do if your pet gets lost.

Information from the USDA is available in PDF format for optimized printing.

Airline policies regarding pet transportation vary widely in services offered. Rules, requirements and charges vary from airline to airline, with one exception... Airlines that allow animals in the cabin do have a common standard to determine which pets may travel as carry on baggage - SMALL! That means small enough to "fit comfortably" in a carrier that's small enough to slide under an airline seat... a carrier no more than 10 inches high. The exact weight limit varies by airline, but it's never more than about 20 pounds... and that includes the pet carrier! The pet must always remain inside the crate for the entire flight. Usually there's only one pet allowed in first class and two in coach class. Those coveted spots are in demand, so it's important that you book your reservations early for a flight with available cabin pet space to keep your little one close by. All others must continue to send their very precious cargo into the skies.

My Air Travel Guide lets you see at a glance which airlines allow pets as carry-on luggage, which allow pets as checked baggage or unaccompanied as cargo, and the one-way fares. It briefly describes airline polices and restrictions. Clicking on the name of an airline will take you to pet travel information on their website.
Click Here for the Dog's Air Travel Guide.

See Bella Dog's Travel Shop for hard-side and soft-side pet carriers and accessories like clip on food and water dishes, absorbent pads to line a carrier and other items to make your pet as comfortable as possible while traveling.
Click Here for the travel shop.

Airline Travel Kit
Contains the essentials most airlines require when traveling with your pet.

Crate Dolly
The most convenient way to transport your dog's crate.

If your dog will be flying unaccompanied by you, you might want to consider using a professional pet transportation service. They'll handle all the flight arrangements, including pick up and delivery of your pet to and from the airport. Knowing that your dog's safety is in the hands of animal transportation experts might justify the added expense.

Sources of Pet Transportation and Related Online Information -

The Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International, Inc.
An International Trade Association of animal handlers, pet moving providers, kennel operators, veterinarians and others who are dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and small animals during transport locally, nationwide, and worldwide.

Animal Transportation Association
An international non-profit organization dedicated to the safe and humane transport of animals.

Pro-Pet Transports.Com
Nationwide Animal Transport Services

Airborne Animals
Services include safe and professional transportation of family household pets by commercial airlines cargo services both domestically and internationally, and by road within the Northeast of America.

Pet Express
Transportation services for pets moving within the U.S. and internationally.

Pet Air
Provides professional animal trans-portation in the most convenient way for the customer and their pets.

Pet Air Travel Links

Traveling With Your Pet

Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel

Take Your Pet.Com

Fear of Flying: New Rule for Airlines

Air Travel for Your Pet

Pet Air Travel Supplies

Click here for information about
Quick Care Pet Health Insurance Programs
Accident and illness insurance to help with Veterinary bills is financial protection for you.

	Sandy Moyer BellaOnline's Dogs Editor