The Best Pet Transport Options for Military Members

Are you a military member facing a relocation? We know this can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you don't have much time to plan and are juggling your pet's logistics as well as your own.

The good news is that, as opposed to civilian moves, military pet moves are pretty easy to handle on your own due to the resources already available.

To help you find your way, here is some advice for how to transport pets between some of the more common destinations for military members.

Moving From the EU to the US With Pets

Base veterinarians are helpful resources for pet travel. Many bases have a veterinarian who can offer great information and advice about traveling with pets, so it’s worth checking into the resources available at your base.

Special airline programs are available for military pets. Note that many commercial airlines, including United, offer special programs for military pets that make it easier for you to book your pet's travels on your own.

Moving forward on your own. With these points in mind, you may find that handling your pet's move to the EU is surprisingly easy and can probably be done on your own rather than with professional assistance. Know also that pet flights must be booked by a company in the departure country, so if you do hire someone, it's cheaper to find a local agent via IPATA.org.
 

Moving to the EU From the US With Pets

A federal veterinarian can handle the paperwork. Dogs, cats and ferrets traveling to countries in the European Union are allowed to be seen by a federal veterinarian working for the military, and this vet can make life much easier by providing the needed endorsement on the health certificate.

USDA offices are easy to locate if necessary. If you have a civilian vet on base you will need someone else to do the endorsement, but you should be able to easily locate a USDA endorsement office here.

Special airline programs are available for military pets. Note that many commercial airlines, including United, offer special programs for military pets that make it easier for you to book your pet's travels on your own.

Consider managing the move yourself. These details mean that, compared to civilian pet moves to the EU, yours will be much easier to arrange on your own. (You’ll also find the DIY route to be significantly less expensive.)

Additional Resources

• To keep your move more affordable, if you're not located in the US then look for a local professional pet shipper through IPATA.org if you're still interested in hiring a company to help.

• You can also learn more about how to move your pet with the PetRelocation eBook and our Getting Started guide.

• If you're moving to a country not addressed above, review the pet import requirements here and take the time to research the resources available to you at your base and with United Airlines.

All of this being said, we're still happy to assist you if needed! Find out more about our costs and services by requesting a consultation.