United Airlines Under Fire For Sending Dog To Japan

United is apologizing for mistakenly flying a German shepherd to Japan. The dog was supposed to land in Kansas City with its owners.

Tips for Pet Owners

In addition to compliance with federal regulations and airline company policy, there are a number of precautions the owner/shipper can take to ensure the welfare of a shipped pet.

• Before traveling, accustom your pet to the kennel in which it will be shipped. Make sure that the door latches securely.
• Do not give your pet solid food in the six hours prior to the flight, although a moderate amount of water and a walk before and after the flight are advised.
• Do not administer sedation to your pet without the approval of a veterinarian, and provide a test dose before the trip to gauge how the pet will react.
• Be sure to reserve a space for your pet in advance, and inquire about time and location for drop-off and pick-up.
• Try to schedule a non-stop flight; avoid connections and the heavy traffic of a holiday or weekend flight.
• When you board, try to tell a pilot and a flight attendant that there is a pet in the cargo hold. The airlines have a system for providing such notification, but it doesn’t hurt to mention it yourself.
• For overseas travel (including Hawaii), inquire about any special health requirements such as quarantine.
• Write your name, address and phone number on the kennel, and make sure your pet is wearing a tag with the same information. Consider purchasing a temporary tag showing your destination address and phone number. Bring a photo of your pet, in case it is lost.
• With careful planning, your pet will arrive safely at its destination.

Animal Welfare Act

The federal Animal Welfare Act is enforced by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Here are several of the more important requirements.

• Dogs and cats must be at least eight weeks old and must have been weaned for at least five days.Cages and other shipping containers must meet the minimum standard for size, ventilation, strength, sanitation and design for safe handling. (Sky kennels furnished by the airlines meet these requirements.)
• Dogs and cats must not be brought to the airline for shipping more than four hours before departure. (Six hours is permitted if shipping arrangements are made in advance.)
• If puppies or kittens less than 16 weeks of age are in transit more than 12 hours, food and water must be provided.
• Older animals must have food at least every 24 hours and water at least every 12 hours. Written instructions for food and water must accompany all animals shipped regardless of the scheduled time in transit.
• Animals may not be exposed to temperatures less than 45*F unless they are accompanied by a certificate signed by a veterinarian stating that they are acclimated to lower temperatures.
• Animals cannot be shipped COD unless the shipper guarantees the return freight should the animals be refused at destination.
• See the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website “Pet Travel” at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel.

Airline Policies

In addition to the USDA rules, each airline establishes its own policies. Consequently, it is important to check with the air carrier you intend to use. However, the following are some provisions you will likely encounter at most airlines:

• Airlines generally require health certificates from all shippers. So it’s a good idea to have a licensed veterinarian examine animals within ten days prior to shipment and issue a certificate stating that the animal is in good health.
• Airlines may not require health certificates for service animals used by passengers with disabilities.
• A pet may be transported as baggage if accompanied on the same flight to the same destination. Some air carriers may impose a special fee or “excess baggage” charge for this service.
• Pets may be shipped as cargo if unaccompanied, and many airline cargo departments employ specialists in the movement of animals.
• Animals must always be shipped in pressurized holds.
• Some airlines allow the kennel to be carried in the passenger cabin as carry-on luggage if it fits under the seat.

Pet Packing Checklist

When your pet travels, the kennel should:

• Clearly display your name, address, and phone number.
• Clearly display your pet’s name, breed, sex, and age along with your contact information.
• Use Live Animal Stickers and arrows indicating the top of the kennel.
• Include empty food and empty water dishes secured inside the kennel but accessible from the outside.
• Display a food/water schedule and if any food is needed, include a supply in a bag attached to the outside of the kennel.
• Contain no more than one adult dog or cat (some airlines allow younger/smaller to be crated together).
• Include pet pads in the crate.
• Attach your pet’s collar and tag in a plastic bag to the top of the crate.
• Do not include any toys or treats in the crate. Airlines will not permit loose objects in the crate.

Minimum Cargo Crate Requirements

• The pet crate must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Brachycephalic breeds (snub nosed) will require one size larger than normal for most airlines that permit them to fly in cargo. See sizing instructions below.
• The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood (note that not all airlines will accept crates made of wood, e.g. Air France and KLM)
• The floor must be solid and leakproof.
• Handling space bars or handles must be present on the long side of the crate.
• The container door must have a secure, spring loaded, all around locking system with the pins extending at least 1.6 cm (5/8 in) beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. Many airlines will also require that the door be further secured with cable ties at each corner. Doors must be constructed of heavy plastic, welded or cast metal strong enough so that a pet cannot bend them. (We recommend metal.) The door must be nose and paw proof so as not to injure your pet in any way.
• The crate should be should be sturdy in design and not collapsible. Roof should be solid but can have ventilation as long as the strength of the roof is not compromised. (We do not recommend crates with doors on the top.)
• Although this is not an IATA requirement, many airlines are now requiring steel crate hardware instead of plastic fasteners. We would recommend that you use this hardware on your pet’s crate to be sure there will be no problems. Also, many airlines require cable ties in the corners of the crate. Plastic clips are not recommended. All hardware and fasteners must be in place.
• Both water and food bowls must be attached to the inside of the front door and be refillable from the outside of the crate without opening the door. Small funnels attached to the door by cable ties make it easier for airport handlers to refill water bowls. Food can be attached to the top of the crate in a plastic bag.
• The container must have ventilation on a minimum of two sides (domestic flights) and 4 sides (international flights). The openings must be a minimum of  1 in(2.5 cm) over the upper two-thirds of the opposite end and the remaining two sides, at a distance of 4 in (10 cm) from center to center of each opening. The total ventilated area must be at least 16% of the total surface of the four sides. Additional holes on the roof or sides are permitted as long as they do not affect the strength of the crate. The ventilation holes must not be taped over or blocked in any way.
• The container must have LIVE ANIMAL STICKERS on the top and sides in letters at least one inch tall as well as directional stickers.  Also, there must be a sticker adhered to the top of the crate called a Shipper’s Declaration stating when your pet was last watered and fed.
• NO WHEELS. If the container has wheels, they should be removed or taped securely so that the kennel cannot roll.
• The container must be identified with your pet’s name and owner’s contact information. The best way to do this is to attach your pet’s information to the outside of the crate with duct tape or other sturdy tape.
• Forklift spacers must be provided when the pet exceeds 132 lbs.