Shipping Pets

There are no pet quarantines in effect in Pennsylvania unless the animal is suspected of carrying rabies. There are no facilities on Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg to handle transportation of pets. Call the Personal Property/Transportation Office for more information. 717-245-4968, DSN 242-4968

Pets are required to be licensed on Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg. Pets must be vaccinated against rabies.

All municipal governments require dogs to be registered at the city or town hall. Most municipal governments require cats to be registered. Rabies is endemic to the region, and all pets must be vaccinated. Local municipalities hold free or reduced-price vaccination days to encourage compliance. Several municipalities reduce the cost of pet registration if your animal is neutered.

Airlines have various animal transport rules. If traveling by a civilian air carrier, please check with the airline well in advance of travel.

A few airlines that have transport websites are listed below:

• American
• Delta
• United
• Alaska

For the health and safety of your animals during periods of extreme temperatures, please consider these guidelines. The optimum temperature range for transporting most warm-blooded animals, including birds, is between 45 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Most civilian airlines will not transport your animals if the actual or forecasted temperature exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any city on the routing.

Air Mobility Command charter flights now ship pets on most of their flights as part of the normal service to DOD passengers. This service is provided to and from Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Panama, Newfoundland, the Azores, Guantanamo Bay, Japan and Guam. Pet shipment is limited to passengers in a PCS status only. Pets are defined as dogs and cats and restricted to a maximum of two pets per family.

There are limited pet spaces on all flights and reservations are handled on a first-come, first served basis through the local transportation office. The passenger must provide an International Air Transport Association approved container for pet shipment, which is available at many exchanges or retail stores. The passenger is also responsible for complying with all required documentation, immunizations, and border clearance requirements and should be prepared to defray any associated costs. Pets accompanying service or family members on the flight must be in a hard sided cage that conforms to specified measurement. Fees associated with shipping pets are based on the weight of the animal/s and cage combined: 70 pounds or less is $125, 71-140 is $250 and 141-150 is $375. Fees may change. 

For information on booking flights with your pets, contact the Navy Personnel Transport Office. For general information on traveling with pets, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or your nearest military veterinary clinic.

Please See: TRANSPORTING_YOUR_PET.pdf (navy.mil) for more information on transporting pets.

The Veterinary Treatment Facility is professionally staffed and operated by the Army Veterinary Corps personnel on Fort Dix. For most overseas duty stations pets are required to have microchips installed. Services are provided for: active duty, retired active duty personnel, their dependents, and reservists serving on active duty. All services except over-the-counter purchases are made by appointment only.

Dogs must be on a leash, however, cats and other small animals must be in a cage or carrier at all times in the facility. Please contact Fort Dix Veterinary Treatment Service 609-562-6636 for more information or go to https://www.gomdl.com/vet-clinic 

Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg does not have facilities to board pets. Several local veterinarians will board pets, however these can be quite expensive.

Area kennels are listed and prices vary by weight and size. Average rates are $50-$70. Most kennels require proof of immunizations for rabies, distemper, parvovirus and bordetella (kennel cough)