Shipping Pets

New York state requires all dogs, cats and domesticated ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies. Contact veterinary services for additional vaccination information. According to the New York State Department of Health, New York frequently leads the nation in the number of rabid animals. It is important that you remain vigilant and keep your pet's rabies vaccination current.

All dogs and cats living on Fort Drum must be registered with Fort Drum Veterinary Services. Dogs must also be registered with the state. Licensing is done through the town clerk in the area in which the animal lives. Pets residing on Fort Drum must be licensed in the Town of Leray.  Owners are required to provide a copy of dog license to Mountain Community Homes community office within 45 days of assignment.  

Leash Laws and Animal Control

On Fort Drum, pet owners have the responsibility to control their pets and can be held financially responsible for damages caused by their pets. Pets are not to engage in menacing behavior such as chasing vehicles, bikes or pedestrians; prolonged barking or howling; biting people or other animals; or habitual straying. New York state law and Fort Drum policy requires all pets to be confined or restrained at all times.

Pet owners have the responsibility to control their pets. Unsupervised and unleashed pets are not permitted in common areas or within picket fences. Please note that the fences installed at some Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes homes are not designed to contain a dog. Pets must be on a leash at all times when outside the home or enclosed yard. Voice command is not an acceptable means of control. Pets are not allowed in bus stops, playgrounds or tot lots at any time.

Authorized animals are housed within the home. Garages or balconies are not suitable housing. Pets are not to be tied or staked outside the home. Pets are required to be in the home or in an enclosed backyard if unattended. Dog houses and kennels are permitted within enclosed yards only and should be removed prior to move-out. Kennels or houses must not be taller than the existing fencing. 

Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes reserves the right to terminate the Resident Lease Agreement for those residents failing to comply with pet removal notices. 

When traveling with your pet, make sure your pet is clean and groomed prior to your travel. Make sure your pet is healthy and up to date on all vaccinations. Hand-carry all vaccination records, rabies certificate and veterinary records. Make sure your pet is properly identified with a current tag and/or micro-chip.

Traveling by car

When making a permanent change of station move within the continental U.S. the soldier is required to transport pets in their privately owned vehicle.

When traveling by car consider the following:

• Introduce your pet to car rides and carriers prior to leaving.
• Take your pet's leash, food/water, blanket, toy, and bags to clean up your pet's droppings. (Cats need liter box, dogs need frequent stops).
• Avoid leaving the pet loose in the car.
• Check pet frequently to see if it is hungry, thirsty or tired.
• Plan frequent stops at safe locations away from busy traffic areas, if possible.
• Keep your pet on a leash at all times when outside the vehicle.
• Never leave your pet alone in the car. During the summer, temperatures in a car can quickly exceed 120 degrees and during the winter, temperatures can quickly drop to freezing. Never place your pet in the trunk of your vehicle. In addition, it is illegal in some states to leave your pet in your vehicle.

Travel by air

The Transportation Office Personnel Movement Section or Port Call assists with making arrangements to ship pets overseas. DOD pet requests are for cats and dogs only. Only two pets per PCS move are authorized and the Soldier is responsible for all charges incurred in transporting pets. Average rates can vary from $100 to over $1,000 and are calculated according to either dimensional kennel weight or combined animal and kennel weight, and destination.

When traveling by air consider the following:

• Consult the airline for specific regulations, kennel requirements, size and weight limitations, costs and helpful hints.
• Contact your military/civilian veterinarian for information on pet travel and pet quarantine requirements for overseas locations.
• Federal regulations require that pets be at least 8 weeks old and weaned at least 5 days before flying.
• A health certificate which is not more than 10 days old must be available before pets will be permitted to fly. A valid rabies vaccination certificate will also be required.
• Most airlines have temperature restrictions. Generally, airlines will not allow a pet to travel when the current or forecasted temperature is above 85 degrees or below 45 degrees at any location on the itinerary. Tighter restrictions are in place for snub-nosed dogs and cats. Some airlines will accept an Acclimation Certificate. Contact the airline for specific policies.
• If possible, during warm weather periods choose early morning or late evening flights; in colder months, choose midday flights.
• Arrive at the airport early, exercise your pet, personally place it in its crate, and pick up the animal promptly upon arrival. Do not take leashed animals on escalators.

Pets are not required to be quarantined when arriving at Fort Drum. If a dog or cat is involved in a bite case the animal must be taken to Veterinary Services.

Arrangements will need to be made for your pets. It is best to make those arrangements prior to your arrival to Fort Drum.

Keep a few things in mind and consider your pet care options before you arrive: 

• Pets are authorized in a very limited number of rooms and are limited to two dogs or cats. A nonrefundable pet deposit of $75.00, per pet, is charged for the first six nights and $10.00, per pet, for each night after the first five.
• There are no boarding facilities on Fort Drum.
• A list of off-post kennels is available upon request from Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes.

Pet Boarding Facilities/Kennels Near Fort Drum

Pet boarding costs an average of $15-$25/ day for dogs and $12-$20/ day for cats. All animals must have proof of up-to-date vaccinations prior to being accepted at any pet boarding facility. It is important for you to make pet boarding reservations prior to your arrival.

Following is a list of facilities offering pet boarding services. This may not be a complete list of available facilities. Appearance on this list does not constitute endorsement of any facility listed and you are advised and encouraged to thoroughly research all facilities before boarding your pet:

Boarding Facility - Phone number, Location

• Four Paws Pet Motel - 315-639-6421, Dexter
• KJ Kennels Dog Boarding & Grooming - 315-846-5874, Woodville
• The Shaggy Dog Lodge & Day Spa - 315-782-6462, Watertown
• Tug Hill Kennels - 315-232-4947, Loraine
• Saints Run Kennel - 315-629-4944, Theresa

The Fort Drum Veterinary Clinic is located in Building P-10735 Enduring Freedom Drive. The clinic offers a variety of services for your pet including vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping and emergency services. You must be an ID cardholder to access services. Call 315-772-4262 or DSN 312-772-4262 for all matters related to pets.

State Veterinarians

The New York State Education Department oversees the licensure of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. To verify a license and learn more about who must be licensed and currently registered to offer professional services and/or use the professional title, contact the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions at 518-474-3817.

Fort Drum installation requires all incoming personnel to in-process with the Veterinary Clinic if they have animals. If you have health records on your animal, you will need to drop them off at the clinic. All pets living on post must be registered on post. Part of the registration is making sure the pet's shots are up to date. The veterinary staff will screen the records at the time of registration. The animals must be microchipped as well. This ensures the return of your pet if lost. Veterinary clinics can scan the microchip and after identification the rightful pet owner will be called. Appointments and Information can be obtained by calling Veterinary Services at 315-772-4262 or DSN 312-772-4262.

Pet Restrictions

Residents of privatized or Government controlled/leased housing are limited to a total of two dogs or cats per household. Breeds including mixed breeds deemed “aggressive or potentially aggressive” are not permitted unless the dog is a certified military working dog that is being boarded by its handler/trainer.

The following breeds are deemed aggressive or potentially aggressive are not permitted on Fort Drum:

• Pit Bulls American Stafford Bull Terriers and English Stafford Bull Terriers
• Rottweilers
• Doberman Pinchers
• Chows
• Wolf hybrids and any other dog that demonstrates a propensity for dominance or aggressive behavior.

Dominant and aggressive behavior includes but is not limited to unprovoked barking, growling or snarling at people approaching the animal, aggressively running along fence lines when people are present, biting or scratching people and escaping confinement of restriction to chase people.

Pet Micro-chipping

Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes policy mandates that all personnel will register and microchip all privately owned dogs and cats within 45 days of accepting on post housing. Microchipping is a permanent pet identification system that places a small sterile computer microchip under the skin of an animal between the shoulder blades.

Failure to comply with the mandatory microchip policy will result in the owner being notified in writing through his/her respective chain of command. Failure to comply after written notification will result in the animal(s) seizure by appropriate authority. For more information on Mandatory Pet Microchipping and Registration contact Veterinary Services.