Worldwide Pet shipping & Relocation.
Worldwide Safely Everywhere

We work with you in creating a customized travel plan for your pet(s). This starts with us receiving your signed contract. As soon as we receive your signed contract, we will begin planning your pet’s relocation. This includes us sending you a list of the needed documents and vaccinations your pet must have to fly, as well as country requirements if your pet is flying internationally. We also provide detailed travel crate information including size and type of crate needed for your pet(s) travel. Then based on your desired travel date, we will conduct flight research to find the best flight for your pet. Due to the nature of pet travel, not all airlines or aircrafts can accommodate live animals. Once we reserve the flight, we will create a customized travel timeline based on your travel date, specifying when your pet must go to the vet for their health certificate and when paperwork needs to be turned into the USDA (the USDA only applies to international relocation). We will review all of your paperwork and documentation to make sure it is filled out correctly, so that there are no delays. If you need assistance getting your pet to or from the airport, we can arrange short distance ground transportation for them. If you decide to take your pet to the airport on your own, we will call you a few days prior to your pet’s flight and walk you through the check-in process and where to go, as well as providing a detailed itinerary with this information. On the travel day, we will be tracking your pet’s flight from start to finish and updating you along the way. Our job is not complete until everyone is safe and happy at your destination point!

We must relocate pets as live animal manifested cargo. In doing so, pets are transported in the live animal section of the plane, where their airfare is based on their weight in their crate. If you reserve your pet on the same flight on which you are traveling, you can tie your pet to your reservation in which case they would count as access baggage. Similarly, if your pet is small enough to fit in-cabin, your pet can be considered one of your carry-ons. This method of travel is limited to which types of animals, breeds, and sizes qualify. We are unable to assist with pet owner's reservations which is why we cannot relocate pets that are traveling in cabin, or linked to your personal reservation. As an IPATA agent we must relocate pets as live animal manifested cargo which is a separate reservation and more expensive than being linked to the owner's reservation.

There are federal laws that require certain specifications for a travel crate that is accepted by airlines. The pet must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down without restriction. They must have at least 2-3 inches clearance from the top of their ears or head (whichever is higher) to the roof of the crate. There is a measuring chart that we can use to help determine pet size; it is better to be a little too big than a little too small! We provide a customized shopping list for each pet. It is important to have the right one, prepared properly, or a pet can be turned away by the check in agent. Overall Requirements For pets traveling in the cargo hold, all airlines require that the crate be hard-sided with a metal grill door. Overall, the crate must be 4-sided hard plastic with a solid bottom half, held together with metal bolts and nuts, and a metal grill door. For cargo, crates cannot have wheels, plastic doors, latches, a door on top of the crate, or be collapsible. While all pets require an airline approved travel crate, some airlines have different requirements for certain breeds. This is because certain breeds are stronger than others and they want to make sure your pet and the handlers are safe during your pet’s relocation. Some pets are simply too tall, long or heavier than can withstand standard travel crates and require a custom-built crate so that they can comfortably fit. Not all airlines will accommodate custom-built or extra tall crates. Regardless of the flight length, each carrier should have two bowls: one for food and one for water. We recommend Smart Crock or LIXIT (10 oz). The best way is to attach the bowls to the metal door. This way the bowls can be refilled without needing to open the crate. Chargeable Weight Airlines charge airfare based on the pet’s weight in its crate, so owners do not want to get an overly large crate. Additionally, each aircraft has maximum kennel sizes it can accommodate, so you want to ensure your pet can be accommodated on the recommended flight. Can my Pets Share a Crate? Per airline rules, each pet must travel in their own carrier. The only exception is if it is a mom and new kittens/puppies, or two siblings under 6 months old and 20 pounds total. Will my Pets be let out of their Crate during Travel? If the travel day will be more than 8 hours, during a layover, pet owners can arrange a comfort stop for pets to be let out of their carrier, fed, and exercised (additional expenses apply). Otherwise, pets will stay in their carrier the entire time. Will my Pets be Fed and offered Water? While pets should not have a heavy meal before flying, or a full meal in the crate with them, a few pieces of dry food can be left in the carrier with them. For water, we suggest freezing the bowl with water the night before, so that it slowly defrosts during the travel day and does not spill everywhere. Before the flight, and during any layovers, airline personal will check to make sure the pet still has water in the crate and will refill it as needed. Do you Rent Crates? We do not rent crates because it is best that each pet has their own personal crate, so they can become accustomed to it and have their own "safe" place. The crate is yours to keep once you buy it online or at a pet store. As part of our service, we are happy to order a crate for you, which can be delivered to you if we have enough time and if your pet is already crate trained. We can also have one provided when your pet is picked up for their professional transport, if you chose this route. We suggest maximum time for a pet to become familiar with the crate so that they are more comfortable with their surroundings during their flight. Crate Recommendations Recommend brands include: Petmate Sky Kennel, Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel, & Grreat Choice Dog Carrier. Poor Brands: If crate looks cheap and flimsy, it is not suitable for air travel. Nylabone, Doctors Foster and Smith, Bargain Hound, Travel Aire, Navigator (any brand with ‘Navigator’ series is bad) and Ceaser Milan. How to Acclimate your Pet to their Crate We recommend purchasing the crate as early as possible. Leave the crate out in a common area, so your pet can see and explore it. You want your pet to be as comfortable with the crate as possible prior to the travel, so that they are in a familiar setting during an unfamiliar experience. Pet owners can also put in a blanket or shirt with their scent on it, to make the pet(s) more comfortable during travel. For additional information, you may also find this video helpful: How to Get Your Pet Ready in Their Travel Crate!

Our International Pet Travel Specialists can accommodate many countries. The countries we are able to relocate pets to/from is dependent on the country requirements and whether or not we have a partner agent in the opposite country as we like to have someone looking after your furry family member on both sides of the transport. Our Pet Travel Form is automatically populated with all countries across the world. While we do our best to accommodate each relocation, having your desired country on our drop-down menu does not guarantee we are able to offer services to that country. If you have questions about a specific country, please submit a Pet Travel Form and our Pet Travel Specialists will let you know if we care able to assist.

Certain breeds are more sensitive to air travel and changes in the temperature and altitude than others. This is especially true for brachycephalic, or snub-nose dog breeds, such as English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, or Boston Terriers. As Happy Tails Travel and the airlines are looking out for your pet’s safety, first and foremost, not all airlines are able to accept certain breeds. If certain breeds are accepted, usually there are temperature restrictions where these breeds cannot travel if the temperature is below 45 or above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Other restrictions apply to larger dog breeds which are typically heavier and are stronger than the average breed. Some of these breeds require reinforced or custom-built crates, which are made from metal or wood instead of the generic plastic travel crates you can buy at the pet store. These crates are to ensure the safety of your pet during transport. We will walk you through any specific requirements your pet’s breed may need to follow for air transportation.

Many pets must fly in and out of an airline’s cargo building. On the weekends cargo facilities have limited hours, if they are even open at all, which effects pet relocation. Over the weekend there are also fewer options available which can accommodate live animals. With international travel, no pets are accepted from the US for customs clearance upon arrival if arrival falls on a weekend day.

We do not accompany pets while traveling. We specialize in commercially relocating cats and dogs, where they fly as manifested live animal cargo. As such, they fly as unaccompanied and therefore must fly below the main cabin. While many people refer to this area as “cargo”, it is a separate area for live animals that is fully temperature controlled, pressurized, and oxygenated for their comfort. If your pet has any layovers they will wait in another live animal facility and be transported to and from the aircrafts in air-conditioned or heated vehicles.