Happy Tails Alerts
New LIVE Chat!
We are excited to launch our new live chat feature on our website! Have questions about our services? Wondering what the best method of transport is for your pet? Simply click the tab on the bottom right-hand side of our webpage to message us!
Responses will be received as quickly as possible during business hours (7 am - 4 pm MST Mon - Fri). After hours, the chat feature will leave us a message and we will respond the next working day.
Featured Testimonial
"Kim at Happy Tails Travel is an absolute miracle worked. My 125 lb wolfhound more than exceeds normal size regulations, but she found me a kennel AND an airline that could fly him from Maui to Alaska - something that no other pet relocation service was able to offer."
Make sure to read the rest of Weylyn's testimonial and our others here!
Choosing a Pet When You Are in the Military
Getting a new pet is an exciting decision! You get to pick out a cute collar and fun toys. Pick out the perfect name and plan for all the fun adventures you are going to have with your new family member! While there are many considerations you must keep in mind to decide which pet is right for you, those who are active-duty military have one more. With PCS moves that can send you and your family just about anywhere on the globe, the type of pet you have will determine how easy it will be to bring your dog or cat with you… or if you will be able to bring them with you at all.
If you are moving within the continental US, there is a way to move just about every pet, but you may have limited options based on type and breed. For example, there are no domestic airlines that will accept large dogs or snub-nosed breeds, so if you have an American Bulldog, they will have to travel by ground.
If you are moving internationally, there are some international airlines that do not embargo breeds or sizes of dogs, but there may not be as many route options. Some countries or regions have breed bans. For example, Germany, which is a common PCS location, has banned all types of Pitbulls. So, you may find that local regulations may prevent you from bringing your pet, and you may be forced to rehome or find long term care.
You will also need to be aware of costs. If you have a whole pack of animals, the price of all your pets traveling will be much higher. Air tickets for pets are also partially based on weight so the larger your pet, the more expensive their ticket will be. Air tickets are often less costly than ground transport, so choosing breeds that can fly will also help keep costs down.
Taking the time to choose a breed that makes military moves with pets a little easier and cheaper may save you heartache in the future. If you have new PCS orders and want to bring your pet with you or send them to a friend or family member, fill out our Pet Travel Form for more information. You can also read about the experiences of military members on our website.