Shipping Pets

All dogs and cats that reside on West Point must be registered at the Veterinary Treatment Facility within thirty (30) days of arrival on post even if you plan to use off post veterinary services. This is accomplished on a walk-in basis by bringing proof of vaccination, microchip information, and the animal's health record. Dog and cats at West Point are required to have a current rabies vaccination, microchip, and wear their rabies vaccination tag on their collars when outdoors. For the safety of your pets, all animals taken to the clinic must be on a leash or in a carrier. All dogs outside a fenced yard must be restrained on a leash while in the residential areas at West Point. At no time will animals be tied up and left unattended outdoors.  At no time are cats allowed to be let outdoors without being restrained on a leash. Owners are required to clean up after their pets. Plan accordingly before leaving for walks and have waste bags with you. For more information, please contact 845-938-3817.

Due to our limited manpower and resources, most veterinary emergency cases are best served through a full service civilian veterinary hospital.

Most townships require registration or a pet license in the surrounding West Point area. Check with your local municipality for requirements.

Facility Address: 630 Hodges Place, West Point, NY  10996

There is no quarantine requirement at West Point except for animals that have bitten a person or another animal. If an animal is involved in a bite, is current on their rabies vaccination, and not an imminent health threat, a 10 day "at-home" quarantine will be initiated after examination by the post veterinarian.

Once you have decided that an animal is PCSing with you, plan for your pet's trip in the same way you plan your own -- well in advance (months). Failure to plan ahead can result in costly and timely quarantine periods depending on the country you are traveling to or from. Your pet will be subjected to conditions which are likely to cause stress. A clean bill of health is an important first step in assuring your pet's ability to adjust safely to unfamiliar surroundings. If you are PCSing OCONUS, contact the Veterinary Treatment Facility for the requirements of your destination - some require a specific and time sensitive sequence of microchip, vaccinations and blood testing four or more months in advance.

West Point Veterinary Clinic:  Tel - 845-938-3817

If you plan to board your pet at your destination point, reservations are also necessary, especially during the heavy travel periods of holidays and summers. Try to obtain a reliable recommendation for a boarding kennel. Many boarding facilities will require proof of current vaccination and a current bordetella vaccination for dogs within the last 6 months. Some may even require the canine influenza vaccine (this is a different virus from parainfluenza that is commonly part of a 4 way vaccination dogs receive) Plan accordingly and if boarding may be an option, have your pet vaccinated prior to leaving your point of origin so the vaccine has had at least 7 days to develop an immune response.

Morgan Farm Kennel, a West Point MWR facility, is located behind O'Neill High School off 9W in Highland Falls, NY. Call ahead for military/DOD daily rates (charges for daily walks are in addition to daily rates). Reduced long-term rates are available for guaranteed stays of 30 or 60 days. Please call 845-938-3926 for more information.   

Privately owned kennels are also available in nearby communities. Check in the phone book or on the internet for additional pet boarding/kennels.

The Veterinary Treatment Facility is located at Building 630, Hodges Place. Call 845-938-3817 or DSN 688-3817 or email:   westpoint.vtf@outlook.com for more information.

Stray Animals

If you have lost a pet contact the Military Police (845-938-3333) and the Veterinary Treatment Facility (845-938-3817) to inquire. For your safety, do not attempt to capture or restrain a stray animal. Post regulation prohibits indoor/outdoor cats. Cats must be kept indoors at all times. There are feral cats on this post that pose a significant human (and pet) health hazard. Do not leave food out for stray cats. If you have found a pet you believe is lost or is stray, contact the Military Police and keep eyes on the animal until they arrive to safely capture it.

Stray animals brought to the Veterinary Treatment Facility by the Military Police will be scanned for microchip identification, registration verified and the owner wiil be contacted immediately. It is strongly suggested that tags containing contact information on your pet's collar be updated with your new contact information (at a minimum: pet's name, your cell phone number, and your new address).  Cases with suspicion of an animal being abandoned will be investigated by the Provost Marshall's office. The Veterinary Treatment Facility is not an animal shelter and will not accept stray or unwanted animals. 

Lodging and Housing

If you and your pet plan to stay in a hotel, motel or inn, call in advance to check if pets are allowed and to make reservations. It is not a good idea to try and "sneak" a pet in. You and your pet could be left without a place to stay or incur a costly fee.

If you plan to live on post, contact West Point Family Homes 845-446-6407 or 866-957-4965 for any additional requirements or limitations regarding pets. Proof of registration at the Veterinary Treatment Facility may be required prior to being approved for housing.

Lyme Disease and Heartworm

The tick that carries the bacteria causing Lyme disease is endemic to the northeast region. The tick can infect humans and pets alike. These ticks can be found year round with the peak season beginning in the fall timeframe. Other ticks are also found in this region and pose health risks to your pets as well. It is strongly recommended you keep your pet on a veterinary recommended topical flea and tick control year round and on heartworm preventative. You should perform a ‘tick check' on yourself and pets after walks outdoors. Dogs will require a yearly heartworm test to refill heartworm preventative. The Veterinary Treatment Facility offers topical flea and tick control and heartworm preventative for purchase to eligible patrons. An appointment is necessary to have the annual heartworm test performed. Home remedies or flea and tick collars purchased in pet or grocery stores should not be relied upon by themselves for proper protection as they are often ineffective.