Shipping Pets

Pet license and tags are required for all cats and dogs in Santa Rosa County. Contact the nearest veterinarian office for an appointment to license your pet. Naval Air Station Whiting Field requires your pet meet the requirements of Santa Rosa County and Florida regulations which includes licensing of your pet (obtaining a tag which must be worn by the animal).

Santa Rosa County (Milton/Gulf Breeze)/Florida Regulations

Rabies Vaccination Requirement - Florida State Law (FSS 828.30) requires ALL cats, dogs and ferrets, 4 months of age or older, to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The law further requires the veterinarian to provide both the pet owner and the local animal control authority with the certification of the rabies vaccination. For Escambia County, the local animal control authority is the Department of Animal Regulation and Control. Violations of provisions of this law by pet owners or veterinarians shall be a civil infractions, punishable as provided in FSS 828.27(2).

All pets must be leashed and under control when outside a fenced kennel run or fenced yard.

For Adoption Procedures, contact the Santa Rosa County Animal Services at 850-983-4680 or visit their website https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/976/Animal-Services..

Beach Rules

Pets (cats and dogs) are only allowed on designated pet friendly beaches. 

Hurricane Regulations

Living in Florida, you should prepare for hurricanes including making a  plan for your pets.  Santa Rosa Animal Services has a list of Pet Friendly Shelters  on their webpage  https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/404/Pet-Disaster-Preparation .

If you evacuate:

• Identify a pet friendly shelter. 
• Hurricane season begins on 1 June,  make sure all your pets have current immunizations and take your pet's records with you if you must evacuate. Photograph each of your pets prior to 1 June each year and include these pictures with your immunization and other medical records.
• All animals should have secure carriers (or collapsible cages for large dogs), collars, leashes, (muzzles if necessary) and rabies tags.
• Your pet survival kit should include ample food (at least one week supply); water/food bowls; medications; specific care instructions; newspapers and plastic trash bags for handling waste; and hygiene items; comfort items; and a muzzles if necessary. A manual can opener maybe is a necessity if you have canned pet food.
• If you are boarding you pet allow sufficient time to travel from the kennel to your evacuation location after making certain that your animals are secure.

There is no quarantine period for pets arriving from an overseas location as long as the owner provides the following:

• The pet has no diseases.
• The pet has current rabies inoculation.
• The pet has a valid health certificate.

NOTE: Change 184, 4/1/02, JFTR (Joint Federal Travel Regulation), Chapter5, para U5805 PET QUARANTINE REIMBURSEMENT states "For PCS moves with an effective date on or after 4 December 2000, reimbursement for actual mandatory quarantine fees for household pets is authorized not to exceed $275.00 per PCS move. For mandatory pet quarantine fees incurred in connection with the mandatory quarantine of a household pet underway on 28 December 2001 or that begin on or after that date, reimbursement is authorized not to exceed $550.00 per PCS move."

Once you have decided that an animal is going to be your traveling companion, plan for your pet's trip in the same way you plan your own - well in advance. Remember if your pet is transferred by air, take the length of time and current climate conditions into consideration. Summer heat could mean that your pet could be left behind as most commercial airlines place embargoes on pet travel when temperatures go above 85 degrees. Due to rising outside temperatures, 2 out of 3 domestic commercial airlines contacted place embargoes on pet travel from mid0May through mid-September, making air travel with pets all but impossible on domestic and international flights. Some commercial carrier accommodates domestic pet travel during the summer months by offering a service guaranteeing pets traveling on their commercial flights as cargo are last to be loaded and first to be unloaded. The cost for such service can reach up to $500.00 one-way, depending on the pet's size and weight.

For military families traveling to overseas assignments via chartered flights pets are easily accommodated, as long as reservations are made well in advance. DoD passengers (this means military and DoD civilians) passengers traveling on permanent change of station orders may request pet spaces, in conjunction with their seat reservation, from any DoD transportation office. Make reservations as soon as possible after being notified of a PCS to have the best chance of securing a space for them.

Passengers bringing pets with them on military chartered flights are responsible for the cost of their pet's travel and are charged based on weight and destination. This is the best way to move your pet with you - they make sure the pets are put on last and as late as possible, quality assurance evaluators check on the animals to make sure they have water during long delays, and pet owners are encourage to visit their pets to walk them or give them water if ground time exceeds two hours.

Commercial airlines are running so many aircraft and have limited manning, they probably will not have the time to make sure the pets are the last thing put on the aircraft, water is provided, and you certainly cannot check on your pet, take it for a walk, or even provide them water.

Standard rule for shipping your pet is that all pets must be in a hard-shell crate, whether they are to be shipped in the cargo bay or in the cabin. It must meet International Air Transport Association standards, and allow the pet to stand, turn around, and lie down with ease. If a pet is to be carried in the cabin it must be able to fit under the seat - that is big enough for a kitten of a very small dog.

Make sure you do your homework when you travel with pets and if at all possible consider taking a military charter flight.

For assistance in shipping your pet contact the NAS Whiting Field Personal Property Office.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field does not offer kennel services. Your sponsor can assist you in securing a kennel in the area.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field does not have veterinary services. Naval Air Station Pensacola Veterinary Office is located on Corry Station at 765 6th Street. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Clinic visits are schedule by appointment and provide routine preventive medicine products and services and health certificates for travel. For more information call 850-452-6882.