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All East Coast Crates exceed airline requirements for
airline approved kennels. The design and construction
make East Coast Crates the sturdiest and safest airline
kennels to ship your dog, insuring your dog's safety
and comfort. Making your trip(s) a positive travel experience for both you and your
dog is a priority for East Coast Crates. You will
not regret utilizing the safest airline approved dog
crate manufactured by East Coast Crates.
One of the problems we have to contend with are the varying rules of different airline carriers when shipping animals. All airlines must meet the basic requirements determined by APHIS and USDA although each airline has specific rules in addition to these basic requirements.
In addition to the rules about health certificates, temperature embargoes, etc. the airlines have specific and varying rules about the kennels the dogs travel in. Information may change “without prior notification” so it is always best to verify with the carrier prior to travel.
We strongly suggest that when you book your flight you tell your agent that you want to take your dog along as excess baggage. Know the outside dimensions of your crate. Know the total weight of the crate, the dog and their combined weight. The agent should be able to confirm at this point if your crate will fit through the cargo door. The airline agent may refer to crates by series size (small, medium or large), or may use series dimensions (100, 200 etc.). I suggest using inches - it will save time.
I also suggest carrying a hard copy of the specific carriers shipping policy each time you fly to minimize any delays during check in.
You and the airlines must follow
APHIS regulations on the size of kennel for
your pet. The kennel must be sturdy, properly ventilated
and large enough for your pet to freely be able to
stand, turn around and lie down. The kennel must close
securely with a mechanism that requires no special tools
to operate. APHIS regulations require that the kennel
have projecting rims or spacers to ensure that the
kennel’s ventilation slats cannot be blocked by
adjoining kennels or cargo. Remember
to check with your airline because airline policies can
vary.
Is your pet comfortable in the
travel kennel?
As far in advance of the trip as
possible, let your pet get to know the travel kennel.
Veterinarians recommend leaving it open in the house
with an old sock or other familiar object inside, so
that your pet will spend time in the kennel. It is
important for your dog or cat to be as relaxed as
possible during the flight. At the time of travel, be
aware that most airlines do not permit pet
toys in the kennel during transport in the cargo hold.
When your pet travels, the kennel
should
- Clearly display your name and
address
- Use arrows or other marking to
indicate the top of the kennel
- Include food and water dishes
(both empty), which are secured inside the kennel
and accessible from outside
- Show a food and water schedule
and, if any food is necessary, include an ample
supply in a bag attached to the outside of the
kennel
- Contain no more than one adult
dog (or puppy between eight weeks and six months old
that weighs more than 20 lbs.) or one cat per
kennel. (Two puppies or kittens that are between the
ages of eight weeks and six months old and under 20
lbs. each may share the same kennel if they are
personal pets of comparable size and are socially
compatible with one another)
- A general rule of thumb is that
your pet must be able to stand comfortably in the
kennel and be able to turn around while standing in
the kennel
- Contain absorbent material or
bedding, such as newspaper
- Display labels on top and on at
least one side with the words LIVE ANIMALS printed
in 1-inch-high letters
Important -- Travel Container:
Many injuries, deaths, and escapes can be attributed
to either the pet trying to escape the kennel and as a
result hurting its paws and/or gums, or due to actual
escape. Escapes can be due to a variety of causes. For
example a dog can chew its way out of the kennel
if it can get its upper and lower teeth between slits or
holes in the plastic sufficient enough to apply force;
dogs and cats may be able to push the door open or
partially open and escape; the kennel lock is broken or
not properly latched; or the kennel itself is not
properly and securely assembled. For further
information on the types of injuries of
transported pets, please go to the Department of
Transportation consumer report page at:
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm
Go down the long report to the very last page for
animals incidents. The reports are by month and year.
Tips on Selecting a
Travel Container for your pet:
- Look for one that is put together securely,
e.g., locking metal bolts
- Look for metal doors instead of plastic (pets
may be able to chew through or bend/buckle plastic
doors
- Ensure door lock mechanism is strong and
effective
- No wheels (wheels that are lockable may be
permitted by some airlines)
- Airlines or Air transport organizations do
not certify containers.
IATA Regulation 82 -
Dog breeds requiring reinforced crates:
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Ca de Bou
- Cane Corso
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Pit Bull Terriers
- Presa Canario
- Tosa (or Tosa Ken)
Determination of breed, age or weight of the animal
is to be confirmed by the animal's Health Certificate
(dated within 10 days of transport). Additionally,
airlines reserve the right to refuse any animal that
displays aggression or viciousness at the time of
tender.
**IATA Container Requirement #82 states that the
container or crate must be constructed of wood, metal,
synthetic materials, weld mesh or wire mesh. Additional
design principles regarding frame, sides, floor, roof
and doors also apply. No portion of the crate may be
plastic. The crate door must be made of heavy wire mesh,
metal or reinforced wood and should have a secure means
of fastening that cannot be opened accidentally.
Dogs with aggressive tendencies or a greater propensity
to bite, were listed by airlines as ‘violent or
dangerous dogs’ and therefore needed under all
circumstances to be contained for transportation in
specific dangerous dog kennels only. Now what’s a
dangerous dog kennel? What’s the difference to any
ordinary plastic crate and how will I find an
appropriate dangerous dog kennel when shipping my dog by
air? These questions, amongst others, have frequently
been asked...
At East Coast Crates we would be happy to advise you
in any of these matters and of course we could gladly
manufacture a kennel according to your dog’s size. Our
high quality kennels are absolutely safe, and even
exceed the strict IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR).
Due to their high quality workmanship our kennels are
robust and re-usable. Our experience has shown that
buying dog containers that are cheap and/or too small,
is not advisable.
Acclimate:
Be sure to "acclimate" your pet to the kennel it will
be traveling in. Let it spend varying lengths of time in
the kennel several days before travel so that it is
familiar with it. Some pets are stressed severely
by being placed in a strange cage. Also, you may wish to
put some article of clothing that you have worn into the
kennel during transportation. This may help calm
the pet. An old T-shirt that you have slept in for
one or more nights will work well.
Sedation:
Sedation of
your pet is not generally
recommended for air travel. The pets safety is at risk.
Please refer to a statement from the
American Veterinary Medial Association (AVMA)
Travel Abroad:
Always check with the destination a month or more in
advance of your trip. Each country has their own set of
rules, some simple, some complex, and some require
quarantine. Please Go to this page:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/.
Also check with one of our State offices for more
information and/or to have health certificates
"officially" endorsed (some countries require government
endorsement). You can find your state office here:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/
Don't Forget:
Many Animal Welfare Organizations have information on
pet travel on their websites. It is easy to find these
organizations through a web search on such words as "pet
travel" etc.
Airline Information and website links
- AKC www.akc.org
- USDA
www.aphis.usda.gov
- American Airlines www.aa.com(Programs, cargo, shipping pets)
- Continental Airlines www.continental.com
(Programs, programs, specialty shipments, live animal shipments)
- United Airlines www.ual.com
(Travel support, special needs, pets, traveling with pets)
- Delta Airlines www.delta.com
(Planning and reservations, special travel needs, pet travel information)
- Northwest Airlines www.nwa.com
(Travel tools, transporting animals)
- IATA Kennel Requirements
www.IATA.com (Kennel requirements and Regulation
82)
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