Shipping Pets

Pet Transportation

Pets may travel on AMC flights ONLY with passengers who are PCS’ing.
Pets are defined as Dogs & Cats only.
Passengers may request up to 2 Pet Reservations per family.
Pet space is limited on AMC Flights & are booked on a first come, first serve basis. Ensure your command/contracting Travel Officer makes reservations for your pets when they book your PCS flight in/out of Guantanamo Bay.
Weight of the pet + Carrier/crate:                            

1. <70lbs = 1 Pet Fee ($125).             
2. 71lbs to 140lbs = 2 Pet Fee ($250).       
3.  141lbs to 150lbs = 3 Pet Fee ($375).

AMC travel with pets requires that the pets have booked pet space. Requests will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Confirmation before traveling is strongly recommended. You are responsible for your pet documentation, immunization, and border clearance requirements compliance and must defray any associated costs. All pets must be current on vaccinations and be accompanied with proof of vaccination.

Health Certificates

Pets need a health certificate (DD 2209) and an airline letter of acclimation within 10 days of travel. The health certificate examination must be performed by a veterinarian to ensure that your pet is free of communicable and foreign animal diseases. It is recommended that this examination be performed by a military veterinarian, if possible. Typically, health certificates are offered by appointment only. A USDA endorsement is not required for entry to NSGB.

Rabies Vaccine

Pets over the age of 12 weeks must have a current rabies vaccination and certificate (DD 2208) in order to travel. If the vaccine expires during your travel or shortly thereafter, it is recommended to update this vaccine prior to travel. There is not a waiting period after vaccination prior to entry to NSGB.

Other Vaccines

Dogs are required to be up-to-date on the distemper/adenovirus/parvovirus (DAP or DA2PP) vaccine prior to travel. It is strongly recommended that dogs also be up-to-date on leptospirosis and Bordetella/parainfluenza (kennel cough) vaccines prior to travel, but this is not required. Cats are required to be up-to-date on the feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus /panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine prior to travel.

Microchip

Microchips are required for all pets traveling to NSGB. Any microchip that is able to be scanned by a U.S. microchip scanner is acceptable.

Flea/Tick Prevention

NSGB is located in a Caribbean climate. It is strongly encouraged that pets be on flea and tick prevention prior to travel to avoid contracting flea and tick-borne diseases.

Heartworm Prevention

There is a large mosquito population on NSGB. The overall heartworm disease risk is unknown, as studies have not been conducted. However, the mosquito vector is present and feral dogs living on NSGB have tested positive for heartworm. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that all dogs and cats be placed on heartworm prevention prior to travel and maintain prevention during their time at NSGB.

Spay/Neuter Requirements

All dogs and cats over 2 years of age must be spayed or neutered prior to arrival at NSGB. If your pet has a valid medical reason for not being spayed or neutered, have your veterinarian contact the NSGB veterinarian; documentation outlining the medical condition will be required.

Kennel Requirements

The airline kennel must be large enough to allow your pet to stand up without his or her head touching the top of the kennel, turn around completely, and lay down comfortably. In addition, you will need to provide your pet with fresh water during the flight with an airline approved kennel water dish or bottle. You are encouraged to freeze the dish halfway full of water the night prior to the flight, so that if any water spills during takeoff, then the frozen water will slowly thaw out to provide fresh water during the flight. For specific airline kennel requirements, please contact your airline directly.

For more detailed information on kennel requirements please review the AMC Pet Travel Pamphlet: https://www.amc.af.mil/Portals/12/AMC%20Tvl%20Pg/Pet%20travel/AMC%20Pet%20Travel%20Pamphlet%2012%20Jul%2024.pdf?ver=4cAWoC9BmKQNG_63BsKyCQ%3d%3d

Other Recommendations

The military veterinarian is the only veterinarian available at NSGB. The vet clinic provides wellness, sick call, emergency, and surgical services. However, the surgical services are limited. If your pet is in need of an advanced surgical procedure (such as an orthopedic or ophthalmic surgery) or a dental cleaning, it is strongly recommended to have this performed prior to travel. Any laboratory tests that cannot be performed in-house at the vet clinic must be shipped off on a rotator flight, limiting the types of tests that can be performed. If your veterinarian has recommended that you see a specialist (such as a board certified dermatologist, internist, surgeon, etc.), you should complete that referral appointment prior to travel. The vet clinic does not offer pet sitting services. Pet owners are responsible for making pet sitting arrangements (friends, family, neighbors, etc.) when leaving NSGB for travel.

NSGB Pet Regulations

Pets must be registered with the vet clinic within 14 days of their arrival.  Pets must be housed indoors, including cats. Animals must be under owner control when outside, either on a leash or in a contained fenced area.

Important On Station Pet Regulations:

• Maximum of two pets per sponsor/household; no breed restrictions at this time. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Station Commanding Officer.
• AMC travel with pets requires that the pets have booked pet space and can only travel in conjunction with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. Confirmation before traveling is strongly recommended.
• All pets must be current on vaccinations and be accompanied with proof of vaccination.
• All pets must be microchipped.
• Pets need to be registered with the vet clinic within 14 days of their arrival.
• Pets are not allowed in the unaccompanied quarters.
• Pets must be housed indoors, including cats. Animals must be under owner control when outside, either on a leash or in a contained fenced area.

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Veterinary Treatment Facility

• Office: 757-458-2212 or 2101
• Emergency On-Call: 757-933-7934

Vet Clinic Hours: 
Monday: 0900-1200 and 1300-1600 
Tuesday: 0900-1200 and 1300-1600 
Wednesday: 0900-1200 and 1300-1600 
Thursday: closed for appointments; prescription 
pickups from 0900-1200 and 1300-1600 
Friday: 0900-1200 
*always by appointment only*

Household pets (dogs and cats only) may be brought to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB) by accompanied personnel, military or civil service/Department of Defense (DOD), who are in receipt of PCS orders to or from Guantanamo Bay. Unaccompanied personnel are not authorized to bring pets. There is a maximum of two pets per sponsor/household.

•Pets may travel on AMC flights ONLY with passengers who are PCS’ing.
•Pets are defined as Dogs & Cats only.
•Passengers may request up to 2 Pet Reservations per family.
•Pet space is limited on AMC Flights & are booked on a first come, first serve basis. Ensure your command/contracting Travel Officer makes reservations for your pets when they book your PCS flight in/out of Guantanamo Bay.
•Weight of the pet + Carrier/crate:
                           1. <70lbs = 1 Pet Fee ($125).
                           2. 71lbs to 140lbs = 2 Pet Fee ($250).
                           3. 141lbs to 150lbs = 3 Pet Fee ($375).
•Documents, less than 5 days old, needed for each pet for travel.

Risk Acknowlegment Documents Required:

1. Health Certificate
2. Rabies Vaccination
3. Letter of Acclimation

New cdc travel guidelines for dogs: 

Application can be found on CDC Website – https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.html 
Once application is completed & approved, print off CDC Dog Import Form Receipt: COMPLETE & hand in with all other required Pet paperwork 

Service Pet Travel

• The Service Animal must fit on the handler’s lap or within their foot space on the Aircraft.
• Service Animals must be harnessed, leashed or otherwise always tethered within the terminal and on board the Aircraft.
• Service Animal handlers must always keep Service Animals under control to include restraining Service Animal from relieving itself within the Air Terminal or on the Aircraft.
• Service Animal handlers may be required to pay a pet fee and transport Service Animal in a pet carrier or pay for damage from the Service Animals that do not follow the travel requirements.
• All Service Animal paperwork needs to be submitted no later than 48hrs at your departure Terminal.
• Upon Check-In, Passenger Service Agents will require the ‘U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form’ to be completed.
• Documents, less than 5 days old, needed for each pet for travel:

Detailed information on AMC Pet Travel guidance and forms can be found on the AMC wedsite: https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/AMC-Pet-Travel-Page/

There is no additional quarantine for pets at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

There are no pet boarding facilities available on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Pets are not allowed in unaccompanied housing or the Navy Lodge. The Navy Gateway Inn and Suites offers pet-friendly rooms. Call for rules and restrictions.

https://www.dodlodging.net/documents/23-007_NHG_Pet_Policy-Pet_Agreement_26_July_2023.pdf 

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Veterinary Treatment Facility

• Office: 757-458-2212 or 2101
• Emergency On-Call: 757-933-7934
• Hours: M-W, F 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 to 4 p.m.

Closed Thursdays for training. Closed at 12 on the last working day of the month for inventory. Closed all federal holidays.