Sometimes it is necessary or comfortable to bring our pets along for the ride when we travel. In order to do so, it is vital for the safety and comfort of the animal in question that the animal is provided with a secure environment within which to travel, namely: pet luggage. There are an enormous amount of animals transported every year within the United States. Over two million pets and other live animals a year are transported by air. There are restrictions on transporting live animals in order to protect the pets and to protect the other passengers and the locations being visited. There are certain restrictions to make sure that the safety of everyone involved is being protected diligently.



Dogs and cats that are being transported must be at least two months old and must have been weaned from their mothers for at least five days. This insures that the animal will not be under too much undo stress when they are being shipped. This is important for the future welfare and emotional makeup of the cat or dog. If a cat or dog is flown too early or before they are weaned it could affect their temperament permanently and have other adverse effects on their lives. Shipping containers for pets as well as crates must meet certain minimum standards. They must be the right size, have proper ventilation and be sturdy. They must also be easy for the handlers to move.

There is a time limit of four hours on how long the dogs must be at the airport before they ship. They must not be waiting to fly for over six hours under any circumstances. If the animal will be traveling over 12 hours, food and water has to be provided. The owner must provide written instructions to the baggage handlers should their pet need assistance anytime after check in and before the flight is boarded. The animals must also be kept at a decent temperature. Generally speaking, an airline will require a certificate of good health for the pet. Either way, it is a good idea for the pet to be taken to the vet prior to any long trip in order to make sure that the pet is able to fly health-wise and will not be too traumatized by the event. If a pet's health is in order, these other rules must be followed in order to make their trip as comfortable as possible.