Shipping Pets

All pets must have a current rabies vaccination and be registered through the Animal Control Center. For Davis county information call 801-444-2200 or visit: https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/animalcare. For Weber county information call 801-399-8244 or visit: http://www.webercountyutah.gov/Animal_Shelter/.

If you will be living on base with pets, you are required to register through the Veterinary Treatment Facility and be up to date on vaccinations. They are located at Bldg. 401-7457 Weiner Street and can be reach at 801-777-2611.

Hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed for lunch noon to 1 p.m.

All pets must be confined or on a leash at all times when on the installation except inside the fenced area of the dog park.

All animal kennels must display the following; you may purchase these items at a pet store and/or online. Additional information can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/pets-on-planes/quiz-series/quiz-observe-labels

• Live animal checklist (includes feeding and watering instructions)
• Live animal label 
• Directional arrows 
• Wild animal label, when applicable 
• Your name, address, phone number and an emergency phone number if you cannot be reached due to lack of service if traveling overseas. 
• If your pet will be picked up by someone other than yourself, provide the name and contact information of the person who will be picking up your pet.

Also, check the regulations concerning how many copies of your orders are required to be attached and where to attach them. It would be wise to securely tape a 3 inch x 5 inch card to the top of the crate indicating the name, address and telephone number of the person who is to receive the pet at its final destination. Federal regulations require that you attach an envelope to the crate containing the pet's recent health certificate. It would be wise for you to carry or mail a duplicate copy of the health certificate and copies of the freight waybill. When securing the documents to the crate be careful because often, attached envelopes are damaged or lost in the transit of the crate.

If the trip will last longer than 12 hours (for young animals) or 24 hours (for grown animals), you must provide food to accompany the crate as stated by federal law. An easy way to do this is to firmly attach a plastic bag to the front door (do not obstruct air flow) of the crate. Supply only dry or "soft-moist" food. Pet treats would be nice and these fulfill the pet's requirements.

Federal law also requires freight handlers to water your pet every 12 hours. As stated previously, firmly attach a water container to the inside of the crate, preferably to the lower, inside, portion of the front door or in the corner of the front of the cage. This will assist the freight people in watering your pet easily without having to open the door. Pets have been known to escape as they were being watered and fed, if the door had to be opened to do so.

Word to the wise: DO NOT put a lock on the door of the crate! If anything accidentally or unintentionally were to happen to your pet while in transit, no one would be able to assist the pet without tearing the door off its hinges and destroying the crate.

Arrival Notification-- If you are not traveling with your pet, or will not be at the airport when it arrives at the destination, you should arrange for the person picking up the pet to contact you and let you know that the pet has arrived safely. This practice can avoid many fretful hours and lost sleep.

Keep in mind that airlines may not allow you to ship your pet if the weather at any stop during the trip is very hot or cold.

Travel by Train or Bus

The only pets now allowed on bus lines are guide dogs for the blind. A new policy of AMTRAK now restricts pets to the baggage compartment only. They are no longer allowed in drawing rooms or Pullman compartments. Someone must accompany the pet since pets are no longer accepted as freight items.

The same crate training as for air travel applies here. In addition, all pets must be confined to a well-ventilated, secure crate that can be opened for watering by AMTRAK crewmembers. That's all they'll do, however, so if you want to feed your pet, you'll have to go back and do it yourself. They will allow this. For any stopovers that exceed 10 minutes, you can take your pet out for a little exercise.

Make sure you check with your veterinarian well in advance of shipping your pet.

Car Travel & Training

Hundreds of thousands of pets travel by automobile today. The well-mannered car pet should:

• Never hang its head out of a moving car.
• Never jump from one seat to another in a moving car.
• Never bother the driver or invade the driver's space in a vehicle.
• Never bark or become uncontrollable when other pets or people pass the car.
• Sit quietly, waiting for the door to be opened. Pets should never jump all over the car or through a window in their enthusiasm to get in or out.
• Dogs should sit and stay in one location on the seat, when commanded to do so.
• Never use the floor of the back seat as a toilet area.

It can be difficult to get cats to fulfill the above requirements. You may find it easier to keep your cat in its crate while the car is moving, stopping often to let it take "litter box" breaks!

Special Preparations

Eating Schedules -- If possible, plan your own eating times so that it will coincide with your pet's schedule. That way you can feed and water your pet at your own mealtimes. A picnic, or eating near the car, would be the best. All states have laws prohibiting pets entering eating establishments with the exception of guide dogs. If you must eat in a restaurant, try to leave someone with the pet at all times so that he will not have to be locked up in the car. Don't pack away your pet's food and water containers. Keep them some place handy for use during meal breaks and overnight stops. Other handy mealtime aids are pet treats. They'll keep your pet's appetite satisfied along the road and serve as a full meal if necessary.

Car Sickness -- Only occasional travelers have problems with carsickness. Dogs are much more likely than cats to be prone to carsickness, and usually only when they are puppies. If your pet is a seasoned traveler it will either not suffer from carsickness or you will have found satisfactory means of preventing it.

The first sign of carsickness is drooling, then restlessness and anxiety, followed by retching and vomiting. Following vomiting, signs often go away and the pet may lie down and go to sleep for a while. Within 15 minutes to an hour, however, the pet will probably have another attack. This pattern is likely to continue throughout the entire day's journey. If the car is stopped when drooling begins and the pet is exercised, the signs normally subside, at least for a while.

By starting your animal out with short car trips just around the block and gradually increasing the trips (two blocks, four blocks, to school to pick up the kids, to the next town, etc.) your animal may never become carsick. There are some animals, however, that have a maximum distance they can go and then something triggers their "sick button." If you have one of these, about the only hope you have is one of the anti-emetic tranquilizers available from your veterinarian. In most cases these work quite successfully, but it is important they be given about 30 minutes prior to the trip. This gives them time to get into the bloodstream and take effect. When giving sedatives, always follow the instructions given by your veterinarian. Never overdose! If tranquilizers don't work, you are left with the alternative of leaving the pet behind or carrying lots of wet towels, a scrub brush and some car deodorizer with you on every trip.

Proper Restraint -- In the event you are forced to travel by auto with an animal that is not obedient or is unruly, you should always keep the animal confined inside an appropriate-sized wire crate. These crates can be bought or made. There are no exceptions to this rule. The dangers of an uncontrollable animal, rampant in a vehicle moving at high speeds, present too great a risk. 

Under no circumstances should a dog be permitted to travel unrestrained in the uncovered bed of a pickup truck. If your animal is crated in the uncovered bed of a pickup truck, be sure it has proper shielding from wind, weather, and extreme temperatures. Also be sure the crate is securely tied down, so it won't slide around when the truck turns. If your animal is traveling in covered pickup bed, the guidelines for car travel apply.

Hazards to Animals During Auto Travel

• Leaving rear windows open in station wagons. Fumes from exhaust can blow into car and poison the animal and you.

• Leaving the animal in a parked car. Despite the repeated warnings, deaths due to heat prostration are all too common. Do not leave your animal in a parked car, even if the windows are "cracked" open in warm weather, or in southern climates. Even when it is only in the 70°s outside, the interior of the car can reach temperatures over 100°. A pet can quickly become overheated and suffer from heatstroke.
• Taking pets out of the car without a leash, harness or lead rope. No matter how well trained your pet may be, unforeseen circumstances arise that can place any pet in danger.
• Leaving animals unattended in campsites or motel rooms without proper safeguards for their security. Countless animals have been lost when a maid unknowingly opened a motel room on a loose animal. Also, be prepared to pay for any damage your animal may cause.
• Never put your animal in the trunk of your car!
• Letting pets hang their heads out of open windows in moving cars. Insects and flying debris can permanently injure eyes, lodge in the nasal passages or get sucked up into the windpipe.

Before you PCS with your pet(s), make sure you check the rules and regulations of the country or state you are moving to. Please visit the USDA website for the most up to date information regarding breed restrictions and requirements at Pet Travel | Domestic and International Travel With a Pet (usda.gov)

The following guidelines apply to dogs and cats. If you are moving with a different kind of pet (bird, turtle, rabbit, ferret, etc.), please visit the USDA website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/importexport/animal-import-and-export for further information.

When you are first notified of a reassignment, you must fill out paperwork that you can obtain from your servicing Military Personnel Flight. This paperwork must be completed and given to the Traffic Management Office before arrangements can be made. Be prepared to tell TMO your pet's weight, the crate's weight, and dimensions of the crate. If your flight is booked on an Air Mobility Command flight (government contract flight), the number of pet spaces available is limited, so be sure you get this paperwork completed and arrangements made with TMO as soon as you can. You will have to pay for your pet's "ticket," whether it's on an AMC flight or a regular commercial flight.

Air Travel & Training

When you are making arrangements for your pet to accompany you on your PCS flight, please check with your airline. Each airline has their own specifications regarding carrier size whether your pet(s) is flying in the cabin, baggage hold or cargo. This is due to the type of aircraft you will be traveling on for your move. If you have a plane change during your move, it is best to make sure your pet's carrier dimensions and weight are allowed on each aircraft you will be flying on to your final destination. This information can be obtained by visiting your airlines website or by contacting their customer service department. Most airlines provide a cargo service for pet transport which is generally a safer option for your pet. Cargo compartments are pressurized and environmentally controlled, which may provide a much calmer experience for your pet. It is advised to contact your airlines cargo department for specific information regarding their service. Please see this website for pet travel reimbursement Pet Transportation Allowance > Defense Travel Management Office > FAQs | Defense Travel Management Office (dod.mil)

Pre-Flight Training -- Certain pre-flight training procedures are quite helpful to familiarize your pet with air travel. Prior preparation can greatly reduce the stress your pet experiences during the flight. Pets should be trained to be comfortable and quiet in a standard air transport crate. This procedure, like car training, should begin when the pet is young. It is best to train your pet in its own crate. This way your pet can become familiar with this new environment and will feel comfortable and at ease. However, you should wait until your pet is full grown before purchasing a crate, or be sure to purchase a crate that will accommodate the grown animal. This will insure that your full-grown pet has the crate that is just right for its personal needs. Purchasing a crate is preferable to renting one from a carrier, since you don't know whether the animal using the crate before your pet was healthy or not. Besides, by using a crate several weeks in advance, you can accustom your pet to living in it. Take your pet with you when you buy its crate so it can "try it on" for size before you purchase it. Purchase only crates that are constructed to comply with all Federal regulations, otherwise the airlines will not accept the pet.

Special Preparation

Scheduling the flight - You should schedule your pet's flight yourself, whether it's the same flight you will be on, or a cargo flight. Be sure to coordinate with TMO when you do this. Many air carriers have Reserved Air Freight shipments so you can call ahead and set up a schedule, with some certainty your pet will be shipped on the flight(s) you desire. RAF arrangements should be made at least one week ahead. Plan departures and arrivals during the cool part of the day so that your pet will not have to wait on a loading dock in the heat. Never initiate shipment over weekends or holidays, when freight offices are likely to be closed and no one is around to attend to your pet. Please check with your airlines cargo department for the hours of operation.

Health Certificate - This is a must for commercial travel. It is issued and signed by the accredited on-base veterinarian. The certificate is only good for 10 days from the date of issuance, so you should get it as close to your departure date as possible. Another certificate may be required for the return trip should your stay exceed 10 days. If you are traveling OCONUS, you need to contact the local USDA office for destination requirements.

Prepare the Crate for Flight - Loose water pans in a flight crate are not recommended as they are easily spilled. Most airline approved crates come with water pans that attach to the inside of the wire door. You will find a variety of pet kennel water bowls online. The bottom of the crate should not contain anything that your pet may chew on or ingest. If your pet is used to having something in the bottom of its kennel, a puppy training pad may be placed in the kennel. This will not only absorb or cover any "accidents" your pet may have, but will also provide a little more comfortable resting surface. When you are prepping your pets kennel please make sure the following is listed on your kennel:

Utah does not have a quarantine law but you must have a health certificate from the veterinary office from where you came from.  

You can contact the base Veterinary Office at 801-777-2611 or DSN 312-777-2611 for a listing of the local boarding kennels in the area.

If residing on Hill AFB, contact the Veterinary Office at 801-777-2611 for specific rules and regulations regarding your pet.

Hours of operation are Monday thru Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed for lunch noon-1 p.m. Friday, Saturday & Sunday: closed. 

Located at: 7457 Weiner Street Hill AFB, UT 84056-0000