How to Ship a Dog by Air

1 Shipping a Dog by Air

More people keep dogs but worry about travel, since dogs cannot ride in the cabin in China and must be shipped. Here is the process and what to watch.

The process

Get a quarantine certificate from the pet quarantine center; it is short-lived, so do this after fixing the flight. Call the airline a week ahead to confirm pet shipping and book an oxygen cabin. Prepare a pet crate; the dog stays in it the whole trip, with food and water by trip length and a pee pad or dog diaper inside. Withhold food a few hours before boarding and offer a little water. Arrive 2 to 3 hours early with the paperwork. At arrival, collect the dog at baggage claim or the cargo office; for separate shipping, reach the airport within an hour of landing with ID and the waybill, then comfort the dog in a quiet place and watch for sickness.

Note that sick or unfit dogs may be refused, and rules vary by place, so learn them first.

Risks and problems

Death in transit: book an oxygen cabin, skip food and water for short flights and provide them for long ones, use a sturdy crate to prevent escape, ship only healthy dogs, and consider immunity or anti-stress supplements 3 to 5 days before. Loss: choose direct flights, not connecting ones. Prefer a professional pet shipper over a cheap small one, ask about credentials, and read the contract, especially compensation terms.