Shipping Puppies by Air: Everything You Need to Know
Your fur-baby is about to take a cross-country trip to meet you for the first time, so it’s only natural that you have questions and concerns. We’re highlighting some of the most important things to know, but if you have ANY questions, our team is more than happy to answer them.
Safety Comes First – Although we get asked a million times, “Is it safe to ship puppies?”, our answer never changes. We always say that shipping a puppy is as safe as flying yourself. While the experience can be very tiring for the little guys, there isn’t a risk to their wellbeing. In addition, we have a veterinarian double check the health of all of our puppies before they fly to meet you.
Pet-Safe Flights are Popular – Major airlines offer dedicated pet-safe flights in which pups (and other pets like pigs and large birds) travel in the cargo container of the plane. These flights feature a comfortable environment and temperature-controlled spaces for the animals. It’s not uncommon to see more than a dozen dogs flying on each of these pet-safe flights.
Puppies Often Sleep on the Flights – Most people prefer to get some shut-eye when flying, and many dogs are no different. In fact, we intentionally book early flights to make it as likely as possible that your pup sleeps through the majority of the trip.
We Place Absorbent Padding in Their Carriers – When sending a puppy on a plane, it is our standard procedure to place absorbent padding in their carriers. That way if they have to go potty over the course of the flight, it’s not an issue. Learn more about what you need to bring a new dog home.
We Track Your Puppy Every Step of the Way (And You Can, Too) – When shipping puppies by air, we track their progress every step of the way – and we make sure their full itinerary and tracking is available to you, too. We want to make sure that your precious package is on-track every step of the way!
We Fly Puppies Everywhere – As long as there is a pet-safe flight available, we will send fur-babies all over the country. We primarily fly out of Harrisburg International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport!
2 Forms of ID Needed to Pick Up Your Dog – Our commitment to pet safety by shipping puppies by air doesn’t end when the plane lands. In order to make sure our dogs go with the right person, we request that you prove your identity by providing 2 forms of official ID.
Read Our Reviews to Learn about the Experience – One other key thing we want to assure you of is that when you work with Keystone Puppies, we take care of all of the details and we advocate for you and your dog through the entire journey. Since trust is key for this entire process, we encourage you to read our reviews and see how we did for many other puppy parents!
We hope our guide was not only able to answer, “Is it safe to ship puppies?” – but also gave you some insight into what the experience is like for you and your brand new bundle of cuddles!
Is it safe to buy a puppy online and have them shipped?
Shipping dogs is a relatively common procedure and is generally considered safe, though accidents happen. It’s not unheard of for pets to go missing, become injured, or even die in cargo holds, though these scenarios are extremely rare.
Pet airlines take great care to keep the temperature and pressure controlled and use caution loading and unloading pets. Still, things can go wrong — this is why air transport companies have such strict regulations and protocols regarding the health of the animals they transport.
The best way to ensure your dog is as safe as possible during transit is to verify that the transport service is certified by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). USDA APHIS has stringent rules that transporters must abide by regarding the transport of these animals.
For instance, USDA APHIS-certified pet transport companies must adhere to very specific crate guidelines. USDA APHIS also lays out cleaning protocols to ensure dogs aren’t exposed to toxic chemicals during transport. You can find a full list of USDA APHIS regulations on page 11 of the APHIS application packet.
Questions Breeders Should Ask the Driver
How long have you been transporting pets?
Have you shipped a puppy before and what was the experience like?
Have you shipped a dog from a breeder before?
Are you USDA registered and what’s your registration number? Are you bonded?
What kind of vehicle do you use to transport pets?
Will the puppy ever change vehicles during the trip?
Do you provide food and water for the dog?
Will you stop for food and water breaks or will they be fed while in motion?
Do you keep a log of bathroom breaks and food/water breaks?
How often will you let the puppy out for a walk/bathroom break?
How often will you stay in contact with me during the trip?
Will you send pictures of the animal during the trip?
What do you do with animals on overnight trips?
Do you have the trip mapped out ahead of time?
Shipping your pet is easier than you think | Sweetie Pie Pets by Kelly Swift
