Understanding How Pet Shipping Works
If you need to transport your furry friend over long distances, pet shipping is an option to consider. However, the process can seem confusing if you’ve never done it before. In this article, I’ll break down how pet shipping works and answer all the typical questions pet owners have when facing this situation.
What Are the Main Steps Involved?
The pet shipping process generally involves the following main steps:
- Booking transportation – You’ll need to book either airplane or ground transportation through an accredited pet shipping service.
- Vet check and paperwork – Your pet must be examined by a vet, vaccinated if needed, and have valid health and rabies certificates.
- Travel crate requirements – The shipping crate your pet uses must meet certain standards for size, ventilation, water/food bowls, comfort, and identification tags.
- Drop-off at depot – You’ll drop your pet crate off at the shipping depot within a specified time window before departure.
- Transport – Your pet will be transported either as cargo on a plane or on a commercial ground transport vehicle.
- Pickup at destination depot – Coordinate pickup of your pet crate from the arrival depot.
What Paperwork Is Required?
A few key documents are essential for pet shipping:
- Veterinary Health Certificate (VHCs) – Issued by your vet within 10 days of travel, verifying vaccinations and a clean bill of health.
- Rabies Certificate – Proof your pet’s rabies vaccination is current, signed by your vet.
- Microchip Verification – Shows your pet’s microchip number matches vet records.
- Import Permit (for international trips) – Required by the destination country, applied for well in advance.
Make sure all paperwork is carefully completed and matches your pet’s microchip. Leaving anything blank or with errors can delay or cancel shipping approval.
What Are the Main Transportation Options?
The two main ways to transport pets long-distance are by air or ground:
- Air travel: Flying is fastest but more stressful for pets. Only small dogs and cats typically fly as cargo in the belly of passenger planes. Larger pets require a private jet charter.
- Ground shipping: Slower but less disruptive for pets. Commercial pet transport vehicles carry animals cross-country via road or ferry. Door-to-door delivery takes 2-10 days on average.
Consider your pet’s personality, size, and destination access points when choosing the mode that’s safest and least hassling for them.
How Can You Prepare Your Pet?
To make transport as low-stress as possible, aim to:
- Gradually accustom them to their shipping crate with treats and praise.
- Get your vet’s approval that they’re fit to travel.
- Schedule shipping when the season/weather are optimal.
- Bring favorite toys/bedding and one week’s food/meds supply.
- Consider calming aids like pheromone sprays, anti-anxiety meds if needed.
Proper training and care minimize fear, anxiety or confusion during what can be an unsettling process for pets.
What Can Go Wrong and How to Deal with It?
From my experience handling pet shipments, delays or issues may occur due to:
- Weather disruptions grounding planes or slowing ground vehicles.
- Last-minute flight cancellations rescheduling cargo pets.
- Mishandling or rough transport stressing animals.
- Missing/incorrect paperwork holding up customs.
- emergencies disrupting timetables.
I advise having a back-up plan, travel insurance, and emergency contacts/funds for unexpected costs like boarding if delays arise. Reputable shippers must keep pets safe, healthy, and reunited with their anxious owners!
Is Pet Shipping Worth It?
For many pet parents, the bonds we share with our companions make transporting them absolutely worth it—even if it means temporary stress or hassle.
While flying yourself with an approved carrier is ideal, shipping allows moving pets when you can’t travel or relocating to places they can’t accompany you, like overseas. Modern regulated services get pets to their destinations safely more often than not. But is it fair to put animals through that? Ultimately, each owner must decide based on their pet’s temperament and the necessity of the trip.
Consider trial runs with shipping classes or short test trips to assess how your pet tolerates transport before committing to long hauls. But with preparation, care, back-up strategies and trusting a reputable company you’ve screened, pet shipping can be a viable option for furry family reunification!
What Are Some Alternatives to Shipping?
If you have reservations about putting your pet in an unfamiliar shipping situation, here are some possible alternatives:
- Drive them yourself in your vehicle if the distance allows it.
- Fly as carry-on in-cabin rather than cargo, if your pet is small enough and the airline permits it.
- Hire a private pet transport service with human handlers for door-to-door delivery.
- Board your pet near your current home and visit until you can arrange moving them yourself.
- As a last resort, rehome your pet with trusted friends or family locally if relocation makes transport impossible.
Weigh all choices carefully based on your pet’s personality traits and health needs. With planning, there are usually workable solutions for keeping pets and people together through big life changes.
I hope this covers all the bases on how pet shipping works and answers questions on the logistics, paperwork, transportation options, best practices, potential challenges and viable alternatives. Let me know if any part needs further explanation!
How Pet Shipping Works
| Service | Estimated Delivery Timeframe | Containment Option | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | 2-7 business days | Ventilated pet carrier or crate | $100-$300 |
| Air Transportation | 1-3 business days | Ventilated pet carrier or crate | $200-$500 |
| Professional Moving Service | Same day to 1 week | Temperature controlled truck | $1000+ |
| Pet Passport Service | 2-3 days | Ventilated pet carrier | $300-$500 |
| Overnight Express | 1 business day | Temperature controlled truck | $500-$1000 |
FAQ
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How do I prepare my pet for shipping?
You should get your pet accustomed to their crate or carrier before shipping by feeding them in it and letting them sleep in it. This helps them feel comfy inside. Also, make sure any ID tags are securely attached to your pet and their crate isn’t too roomy or they might get shaken around. A snug fit is better.
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What documents are required for pet shipping?
You’ll basically need their vet records showing current vaccines. Some airlines may want a health certificate too from your vet within 10 days of travel. It’s a good plan to check the rules for wherever your pet is going as requirements differ slightly now and again.
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How long does pet shipping usually take?
Most pet shipments take anywhere from 1 to 3 days depending on how far they’re going. Now and then a connection gets missed or there’s nasty weather slowing things down. But in normal times you can expect around 2 days for cross-country travel. If it looks like it may take a surprising amount of time, you could always check in on the shipping status.
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Is pet shipping stressful for animals?
Traveling sure is exciting for us humans but ships and planes can be downright terrifying for our furry friends! Even tho carriers are designed with pets in mind, all that hustle and noise has gotta be super stressful. Maybe being able to hear familiar voices on a recording would help. My dog kinda looks like she ate my homework when she’s freaked out!
What if my pet gets lost during shipping?
While shippers try their best to keep every pet accounted for, unfortunate mix-ups do happen once in a blue moon. The good news is the airlines and carriers normally do whatever it takes to find a lost animal. Having microchipping and updating tags with current contact info can help ensure a speedy reunion if the unthinkable occurs. I’d be devastated if something happened to Fluffy!
Is pet shipping safe?
Most of the time pet shipping goes off without a hitch. The carriers take food, exercise, and your pet’s comfort very seriously. However, animals can sometimes get stressed on long trips despite safeguards. Very occasionally a health issue may arise too. To be safe, ask about incident rates and safety ratings when picking a shipper. But generally it appears pet shipping is a secure way to transport pets when done by a quality service.
How much does pet shipping usually cost?
Pricing is based on your pet’s weight and may vary from one shipper to another. But as a rough guide, expect to pay somewhere between $200 to $1000 for domestic flights. Bigger dogs weigh higher on the scale, if you catch my drift! Lots of add-ons like special crates or express delivery can tack on more dollars. Best to check airline pet fees too if flying yourself. Is it worth it? Only you can decide!