Shipping Pets

Make billeting arrangements early, since pet space in Temporary Lodging Facilities is extremely limited. Contact the nearest veterinary services for local vaccination requirements. If service member and/or family will be living in base housing, the rules are only two pets allowed. Pets allowed include cats and dogs. No farm animals are permitted. You must bring proof of vaccinations for each pet to the Housing Office. Check with family housing upon arrival. Military Housing, 575-904-5465. Balfour Beatty, 575-784-7141.

Pet licensing is required in the city limits of Clovis, and it is free of charge. 

How to get a pet license? Applications are online through the City of Clovis,NM org site, Clovis Animal Shelter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, Saturday 8 a.m. to 12:00pm, closed on Sunday and at the police department Records Unit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Again, there is no licensing fee. You simply must provide proof of rabies vaccination for the pet to be licensed.

What if you don’t get a license? Owners of unlicensed pets living in Clovis are subject to a citation fee.

For questions about other fees and services provided by the Animal Control Shelter, call their office 575-769-7893 located at 2203 E. Brady Ave, Clovis, NM.

Bringing pets to Cannon Air Force Base will be the responsibility of the member. Due to the heat, check with the airline if flying with pets between May and August. If the temperature is too hot on the tarmac, the pets may not be shipped. The nearest airports to ship pets into are located in Lubbock, TX or Amarillo, TX. The drive to Cannon AFB, located in Clovis, NM, is approximately two hours from those airports. If members are flown into Albuquerque, NM, the drive to Cannon AFB is approximately three and a half hours.

There are no quarantine periods at Cannon AFB. Billeting has 12 rooms which allow pets; the rooms are restricted to no more than two pets per room. Remember that a nonavailability statement from the lodging office is required prior to staying off base in order to qualify for Temporary Lodging Expense funds.

Plan for your pet's trip in the same way you plan your own — far in advance. A clean bill of health is an important first step in assuring your pet's ability to adjust safely to unfamiliar surroundings. In addition, most states and countries require recent health certificates and disease inoculation documentation before you will be allowed to cross borders, making a trip to the veterinarian a must.

Make sure your pet has a special identification tag with your pet's name, your name and a destination address or that of a friend or a relative. Traveling by car is sometimes the most humane way to go since you can plan regular stops for exercise and feeding. Take along your pet's food and water bowls, blanket or bedding, and a favorite toy to give him or her a touch of home.

If your pet travels with you, keep your pet on a leash when outside your car or hotel. If you plan to stay in a hotel or motel, call in advance to see if pets are allowed before you make reservations. If you plan to board your pet at your destination point, reservations are also necessary, especially during the heavy travel periods of holidays and summers.

Never leave your pet alone in a parked car. In summer, it takes only minutes for the heat to climb to more than 120 degrees, even in the shade. In winter, closed cars becomes refrigerators, and the cold can be as dangerous as summer heat. Traveling by air is another option for transporting pets. The carrier in which your pet will be spending most of his/her trip is of the utmost importance. Your pet must have room to turn freely while in a standing position and be able to use normal movements in order to stand erect or lie down in a natural position. A container for water should be secured to the inside of the carrier positioned so that it can be filled without opening the cage. A drip bottle is highly recommended. Also, include a familiar blanket or favorite toy inside the carrier.

According to federal regulations, an airline cannot accept an animal from its owner unless it is: 1) at least 8 weeks old, 2) certified as healthy within 10 days of departure, 3) secured inside a carrier which meets the required standards and 4) adequately identified. Pet owners often prefer to have their pets in the cabin section with them. This is possible, but reservations must be made as early as possible. Generally, only one animal per flight is allowed in the cabin, and permission is granted on a first come, first served basis. Another requirement is that the pet carrier must fit under the seat, so this restricts the carry-on option to very small animals.

If your pet travels in the cargo section, extra care must be taken prior to boarding and after landing which will minimize the difficulties your pet may face while out of your stewardship. Purchasing the proper carrier, arranging for non-stop, direct flights, and making sure that someone is in the baggage area when your pet arrives are safeguards that you can take to ensure your pet's safe transportation.

For smaller pets, such as birds, hamsters, gerbils, and tropical fish, consider sending them by air express. Airline freight departments or pet stores can supply shipping containers. Tropical fish should be packed by a local pet shop specializing in tropical fish.

Check the Air Mobility Command website at https://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Pet-Travel-Page/ for pet travel information. AMC charters will ship only dogs and cats at the owner's expense and are limited to charter passengers in a permanent change of station status. Be prepared to pay additional associated costs and fees. Fees are charged on a per-kennel basis depending on the combined weight of your pet AND kennel and can vary from $125-$375. The limit is two pets per family, and waivers are required for more than two pets. There is also a weight limit of less than 150 pounds, including the cage or shipping container. Owners are responsible for the preparation and care of their animals and satisfying all documentation, immunization and border clearance requirements, including quarantines. The shipping container used must be approved by the International Air Transport Association and be large enough for normal body movements and for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. A small pet can travel in the charter aircraft cabin with special permission from AMC, but it must be in a hard-shell kennel not exceeding 20"L X 16"W X 8.5H". Passengers must make arrangements two or three months before they are scheduled to move. For waiver information and forms, call your local travel management office. Call the Cannon AFB Travel Management Office at 575-784-2302/4278.

Check internet for pet boarding in local area. Local boarding facilities include:

Clovis Veterinary Hospital — 2201 W. 7th St., Clovis, NM 88101. Phone: 575-769-2249.

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. The clinic is closed on Sunday.

Call for boarding prices for cats or dogs. Rates for dogs is determined by weight.

Pets must be current on all shots. If current, you may present the health records for proof. Accepted forms of payment include Visa Card, Discover Card, Mastercard, American Express and cash.

Prairie Lake Veterinary Clinic — 605 Arizona St., Clovis, NM 88101. Phone: 575-935-7387.

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Call for boarding prices. Pets must be current on all shots. If current, you may present the health records for proof.  

The Sierra Pet Hotel & Spa — 813 N. Norris St., Clovis, NM 88101. Phone: 575-935-1014.

Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturday (pick up and drop off for boarders only) from 8-9 a.m. and Sunday (pick up for boarders only) from 5-6 p.m. Check website or call for pet boarding prices. Pets must be current on all shots. If current, you may present the health records for proof. 

Cannon Air Force Base does not have a veterinary clinic or any kennels on base. Check the local yellow pages or search the internet for veterinary services and kennels in the area.