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The dog on the plane
air transport regulations

By air, the transport of any live animal is regulated precisely and rigorously according to the species involved. Dogs are also protected by the European Convention of 13 November 1987 on the Protection of Pet Animals, which states that "no one shall cause unnecessary pain, suffering or distress to a pet animal."

Furthermore, European Convention No. 65 concerning the Protection of Animals during International Transport, which entered into force on 13 December 1968 and was subsequently revised by the Member States on 7 November 1989, sets out the basic principles to be observed during the transport of animals in order to ensure their safety, health, and welfare during the journey. Chapter IV of this convention deals with the transport of dogs and specifies that:

- Pregnant female dogs due to give birth during the transport period, or those whose parturition took place less than 48 hours ago, are unfit for travel;

- the cage must be spacious enough to allow the dog to lie down; it must be weatherproof and ventilated; it must contain bedding or any other means capable of absorbing excrement;

- the transport must be as fast as possible, as well as any connections or stopovers; each dog must be fed every 24 hours and given water at least every 12 hours.

These provisions are considered valid for all forms of dog transport, regardless of the mode of transport.

From a strictly aviation perspective, international regulations for the transport of live animals are developed and published annually by the International Air Transport Association (I.A.T.A. (International Aerial Transport Association), and corresponds to Annex A of the resolution I.A.T.A. 620.

Key points to ensure

The owner of a dog that will be travelling by air must comply with the regulations and, in particular, ensure the following points:

- check the airline's acceptance of the dog, confirm the itinerary, reserve the animal's place and fill out a form called "sender's declaration";

- to find out about the travel arrangements and any specific rules of the airline being considered;

- to inquire with the consulate or the appropriate authorities about government measures, particularly health measures, in the countries of origin, destination, and transit where applicable;

- obtain the required national documents, veterinary certificates of vaccination and good health, as well as any other attestation or special exemption required by certain transit or arrival countries, such as exceptional import permits;

- Use a properly labeled container, and above all, one that complies with regulations. I.A.T.A. allowing the animal to lie down at a minimum;

- properly prepare the dog for this expedition in order to prevent any dehydration or undernourishment, and to minimize the stress felt by the dog.

By following these rules correctly, the expedition cannot be accused of breaking the law in any way.

Before accepting a shipment of canine cargo, the carrier must take the following elements into account:

- all the morphological and physiological characteristics of the dog (notion of increased risk for certain breeds - brachycephalic or physiological states - pregnancy);

- the conformity of the container used, its cleanliness, its safety both for the dog and for the people prepared for handling;

- the type of aircraft allowing such transport and the space required in the hold or cabin;

- waiting times made minimal for the dog, at departure or arrival;

- the presence of the required documents correctly completed, reservation, sender's declaration, health certificates.

If the carrier has complied with these various instructions and, despite everything, the dog is lost, sick, injured or even dies naturally or accidentally during one of the phases of the journey, the owner is advised that the carrier cannot be held responsible.

Trip preparation

Regulations I.A.T.A. indicates not only global and theoretical measures, as mentioned previously, but also a set of more specific and practical elements, which each company must advise the dog owner in order to optimize the conditions of transporting the animal(s).

Therefore, the space allocated for the dog, whether in the cabin, en route, or in the cargo hold, must be reserved and paid for in advance. The difference between these three modes of air transport is inherent to the size of the dog, the ticket price, the perceived importance of the animal, and the veterinary checks upon arrival: dogs traveling in the cabin or in the hold are considered baggage, with a higher cost but a guaranteed reservation and a less stringent veterinary check upon arrival.

When several dogs are transported by cargo ship, the presence of a person accompanying them is permitted, provided that this does not contravene government regulations or company rules.

Finally, if the dog's journey requires multiple carriers, it will only be accepted once each carrier has confirmed its ability to transport the dog along the planned route. The initial carrier must then provide the following information to the subsequent carrier(s):

- the Air Waybill number (L.T.A. ) entered on the live animal shipper's declaration;

- the number, weight and dimensions of each container if several dogs are involved;

- the names of the departure, stopover, and arrival airports;

- the date of shipment;

- the names, address and telephone number of the sender and recipient if they are two different people;

- the equipment required for unloading at the destination;

- where applicable, the care to be given to the animals and the instructions for supplying water and food.

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Airlines with specific restrictions under IATA regulations

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Sedation and securing of the dog

It is extremely dangerous to administer sedatives to dogs before air travel: tranquilizers reduce their stress resistance, and, moreover, a sedated dog is always liable to react unpredictably, especially in flight. Therefore, administering tranquilizers is strongly discouraged, except in extreme cases determined by a veterinarian (very aggressive dog or one paralyzed by fear).For every dog ​​tranquilized, a detailed note will be attached to the container (generic name of the sedative, dosage used, route and time of administration).