Shipping Pets

All dogs and cats over 4 months of age residing on Fort Liberty must be registered with the Veterinary Treatment Facility. Owners are required to register their animals within 10 days of arrival or acquisition. You must present military ID and proof of rabies vaccinations and pay a $10 Defense Department service fee and office visit fee of $35. Microchipping is mandatory in accordance with Ft. Liberty policy. Pit bull, American Staffordshire terrier, English Staffordshire bull terrier, Rottweiller, and wolf/wolf hybrid breeds are not permitted on Fort Liberty. Registered/microchipped dogs of the breeds listed that reside on Fort Liberty prior to March 4, 2008, will be allowed to remain until the owner/sponsor moves or ownership of the animal ceases, whichever comes first. These breeds, as well as wild animals such as ferrets, skunks, raccoons, monkeys, etc., are not authorized to be kept as pets on Fort Liberty and, therefore, are not treated at this facility.

Cumberland County

Dogs and cats over 4 months old must be licensed annually and vaccinated against rabies. Dog and cat licenses will be sold only upon presentation of a certificate that the dog or cat has been inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. Dog and cat licenses cost $7 per animal per year for spayed/neutered animals and $25 per animal per year for pets that are not spayed/neutered. To obtain a $7 license, certification must be provided that the animal has been spayed/neutered by a veterinarian or is infertile. All dogs and cats must have a license tag securely attached to a collar and worn whenever the dog is off the owner's property. There is no cost for certified service animals.

Pet Transportation Allowance

Effective January 1, 2024, a Servcie member may be authorized allowance associated the costs of moving with one household pet. For moves within CONUS, the Service member may be reimbursed up to $550 and for OCONUS up to $2,000.

The Department of Defense has approved a new policy to cover pet travel expenses, like pet shipping or quarantine fees, incurred by Service members during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). As of January 1, 2024, military Service members going through a PCS within the continental United States can be reimbursed up to $550 for one household pet, either cat or dog, and up to $2,000 for moves to or from a location outside the continental United States to cover costs related to the transportation of a pet.

The Services estimate that this new allowance may be used by an estimated 227,000 Service members. Historically, Service members paid the majority of out-of-pocket expenses to transport pets when assigned to a new duty station. This policy reduces that financial burden while recognizing the important role a pet plays in a military family's household.

Pet Shipment Guidelines

Fees. Be prepared to defray additional costs and fees. Fees are charged on a per-kennel basis, depending on the combined weight of your pet and kennel. Fees can range from $125-$375.

Pet/kennel fees:

• A combined weight of 70 pounds or less will be charged as one piece of excess baggage ($125).
• A combined weight of 71-140 pounds will be charged as two pieces of excess baggage ($250).
• A combined weight of 141-150 pounds will be charged as three pieces of excess baggage ($375).

*Prices may change, check with your TMO/ITO for current excess baggage fees.

**Pet(s) and kennels weighing more than 150 pounds will not be accepted for shipment under any circumstances.

Rules for processing pets at the airport:

• Be at the airport at least three hours prior to departure. Passengers on AMC flights may check in up to six hours prior to departure but retain custody of pet until 45 minutes prior to boarding.
• Have a leash with you so that you may exercise your pet prior to check in and after arrival.
• All pets must remain in their container while in the terminal area.
• For safety reasons, keep your pet a safe distance from other passengers.
• Mark your kennel with your pet’s name and include your name, local or unit address, and phone number. Purchase an ID tag for your pet.

Service animals: Transportation of a service animal in the cabin or cargo hold is authorized without charge when accompanying a passenger who is disabled. Defense Department personnel will make every effort to ensure individuals with disabilities are not separated from their service animal. Note: An animal's weight and size, as well as USDA and foreign country restrictions, may limit the transportation of a service animal.

All pet expenses are the responsibility of the owner. You are responsible for obtaining all required documentation, immunization and border clearance requirements. Be prepared to defray any associated cost. You must have a DD Form 2208, veterinary health certificate. The rabies certificate must be at least 30 days old but less than one year. The veterinary health certificate can be no more than 10 days old prior to the flight.

Pet kennels for air movement: Pets must be shipped in the strongest and most secure kennel you can find. Two-piece kennels will be bolted together with metal bolts and nuts. (Slides, clips or nylon screws/bolts are not recommended.)

Soft-sided, collapsible kennels will not be accepted for transport in the cargo hold area of the aircraft. Kennels must provide adequate ventilation and be large enough for your pet to stand up, turn around and lie down with normal posture and body movement. Pets will not be accepted in kennels that are too small.

Soft-sided pet carriers may be accepted for in-cabin movement. Soft-sided pet carriers should be constructed of leak-proof/water repellent padded nylon with mesh ventilation on two or more sides. Kennel size must not exceed 20 inches long by 16 inches wide by 8.5 inches high to ensure it will fit under the seat in front of you.

Note: The commercial airline industry currently imposes a 100-pound weight restriction per pet including the weight of the kennel. They also impose a restriction on pet shipments during seasonal hot/cold conditions. These industry restrictions should be considered when making pet travel plans. AMC does not impose a seasonal hot/cold embargo on pet shipments. AMC’s weight limit is 150 pounds per person with kennel.

• Kennels are available at most exchange/retail stores and in limited quantities at commercial airports. Purchase the kennel several days prior to flight to allow your pet time to become adjusted to it. Normally pets will be individually caged; however, two small animals older than 8 weeks and younger than 6 months old that are comparable in size, no more than 20 pounds each and that are used to cohabitation may be shipped in the same container. Both animals must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down with normal posture. Dogs and cats may not be placed in the same container.
• Pets should be fed very lightly and provided a drink of water before they are turned in for shipment. Some animals with snub noses may experience difficulty while flying. Please ensure you container has adequate ventilation and that your pet is free of respiratory problems. If at all possible, do not ship female pets that are in heat (in the estrous cycle). This condition causes great distress to other pets and may result in injury. Females with suckling young animals not yet weaned cannot be accepted. Weaned puppies younger than 8 weeks old should not be shipped due to possible dehydration. A familiar article or toy in the cage may help comfort the animal.
• Sedation in not advised since the effects of tranquilizers on animals at high altitudes is unpredictable. If you plan to sedate your pet, you must have written consent from the pet’s veterinarian.
• German law prohibits shipment of the following four dog species as well as crossbreeds of these dogs: pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and bull terrier breeds.

Note: If you have a commercial airline flight prior to or following your Air Mobility Command Patriot Express flight, contact that airline to determine if additional documentation or charges are required to transport your pet safely.

Pets, service animals and emotional support animals: Contact your local transportation office for specific immigration requirements to include quarantine and detention for the country to which you are shipping your pet. Additional information can be found by contacting Air Mobility Command, CONUS Country Instructions under paragraph “6. Pets/Quarantine" for each country. The transportation of service animals and emotional support animals is subject to country quarantine procedures. When it is necessary to detain a service animal or emotional support animal pending a determination of admissibility, the traveler will provide detention facilities that are satisfactory to the quarantine officer. The passenger will bear the expense of such detention, including necessary examinations, vaccinations and other expenses incurred.

For more information, contact Air Mobility Command.

It's a good idea to make advanced reservations for pet boarding as soon as you know your arrival date. This is an area where your sponsor can be of assistance. If you will be staying in temporary lodging, remember that the Fort Liberty Lodging does accept pets. Also, many local hotels require an extra deposit if you are staying with a pet.

There are many pet kennels in this area. To obtain a more exhaustive list, consult the Fayetteville (Cumberland County), North Carolina Yellow Pages.

Cost

Boarding a cat may cost up to $26/day. To board a dog, the cost ranges from $15-$30/day. For pets other than cats and dogs, contact the kennel to determine if they will accept your pet.

Fort Liberty Veterinary Treatment Facility

The Veterinary Treatment Facility is located in Bldg B-7606 Rock Merritt Ave, Pope Field, NC 28308 and can be reached by calling 910-396-6473/9120. Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4 pm; closed from 12pm-1pm for lunch and closed on weekends and all Federal Holidays.

Medical Treatment

The VTF provides laboratory testing/diagnostic testing, health certificates, spay and neuter procedures, vaccinations and dental procedures. Appointments may be scheduled one week in advance. Due to our limited manpower and resources, most veterinary emergency cases are best served through a full-service civilian veterinary hospital located in the surrounding area.

The VTF is closed the last business day of every month for clinic inventory.

All animals are seen by appointment only. Clients may call for an appointment. Routine services include vaccinations of dogs and cats, heartworm testing, feline leukemia virus testing and health certification. There is a small service charge added to the total cost of every cash transaction as required by the Treasury Department.

The Veterinary Clinic also runs a stray/homeless facility. Stop by and check the photo board located in the waiting area. Phone 910-396-6473/9120 or DSN 312-236-6473/9120.

Animal Bites

All persons bitten by animals should report to the Emergency Room, Womack Army Medical Center or an off-post hospital for treatment and completion of an Animal Bite Report. The offending animal is subject to a physical examination and 10-day quarantine by the attending veterinarian. There are some wild animals on post. Do not feed or handle these animals. This will greatly reduce your chance of exposure to the rabies virus.

Animal Control

A maximum of two pets (dogs or cats) in any combination are authorized per household. There are no grandfather clauses as per Fort Liberty Regulation 40-5 dated September 2003. All pets on post must be kept under control at all times. Pets must be kept indoors or secured on the owner's premises. Pets may be secured with a tether or a chain no longer than 15 feet in length or may be kept in a fenced area within the owners' premises. If animals are tethered or chained, they must be limited to a boundary not less than four feet from common user rights-of-way (e.g. sidewalks, streets). They must not be secured to trees, shrubbery or any government property. If you secure your animal in a common area, the chain or tether will be no longer than four feet.

Provide proper shelter from the weather when housing animals outdoors. The shelter shall be a moisture-proof and windproof structure. The size must accommodate the entire body of the pet to allow it to stand up and turn around and to allow retention of body heat. The shelter must be made of durable material with a solid floor raised at least two inches from the ground. The entrance shall be covered by a flexible windproof material, self-closing swinging door or wind baffle. Animals kept outdoors must be provided shelter, fresh water and food. Owners keeping animals under inhumane conditions may be refused the right to keep animals on post and may be subject to Uniform Code of Military Justice action under article 134. It is the owner's responsibility to locate escaped animals. Animal control will not search for your animal. The Fort Liberty Animal Control (dog catcher) telephone number is 910-396-0391.

The Defense Department has set official policy on types of dogs allowed in installation housing and other rules surrounding pets on base. If you plan to live in government housing, you must read the Army Veterinary Command Pet Policy Memo, dated Feb. 17, 2008, before you plan your move.