Canine Cargo: Air Travel With Your Dog

Click here for quick tips on what you should know before flying

We humans often take for granted the fact that we can buy a ticket, jump on a plane, and reach far away destinations in mere hours. What complicates matters is the need or desire to bring along your beloved pet. Suddenly the rules change; the ease and comfort of travel become less clear. Questions arise that you never had to think about before, and you're suddenly unsure about the whole thing. Well, you're certainly not alone! Transporting pets via the air has become a controversial topic lately, with the health and safety of the animals foremost on people's minds. If you are planning a trip soon with your pet and will be flying, there are several precautions you should consider, and a bit of information you may want to absorb before making a final decision.

People with small dogs often find air travel easier, for they can usually bring them on board as "carry-on" luggage, provided the dog is in an airline approved pet carrier. The general rule is one dog per person, and you may need to make reservations well in advance to do this. Rules change on international flights and with different companies; it's imperative to contact the airline you're using for their specific guidelines and regulations well before departure day.

If you find you can bring your dog on board with you, be aware that not everybody approves of or agrees with this mode of pet travel. Animals have been known to cause severe allergic reactions to passengers while flying. There have also been incidents of pets getting free from their carriers and causing havoc. Make sure you are a responsible dog owner, and purchase an airline approved carrier that fits easily under your seat (this is mandatory on most, if not all, flights). Sherpa bags are one example of a wonderful, luxurious carrier that meets most major airline requirements. It is a soft-sided, foldable carrier that offers superior comfort for your dog, with a sheepskin insert. They come in different sizes, or on wheels to help you on that long walk to the departure/arrival gates. Other brands also provide sturdy, reliable carriers, such as Samsonite's new soft carrier. You can find these pet carriers in most pet products catalogs, and some pet stores.

The bigger controversy lies with dogs traveling in the cargo holds. Recently ABCnews.com ran an article on airlines and dogs. They talked about the extreme risks of leaving your pet in the cargo hold. Last summer five guard dogs being shipped to South Carolina from Atlanta on a hot day all died, due to heat-related stress. Thunderstorms kept the flight on the steamy runway for over an hour. This prompted Delta Airlines to ban animals from their cargo holds on U.S. passenger flights until fall, or cooler weather. Many other airlines have followed Delta's lead and no longer allow pets to travel in extreme (too hot or too cold) weather.

Last year the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals issued a warning that animals may not be safe in cargo holds of airplanes. Cargo holds can expose your dog to extreme heat, plus deprive them of oxygen. If you have plans to fly your dog in the cargo hold of a plane, make sure you give your dog the best protection you can. The following tips should help smooth the transition from ground to air and back again.

Check with your airline before doing anything else about their requirements for animals - rules vary with different airlines.