It’s no secret that military families face more moves than most other people, but what about their four-legged family members? Moving with a dog, cat, or other pet is doable but requires special consideration and a little extra work before, during, and after.
We’ve gathered the best tips and tricks, including helpful checklists to prepare for the big moving day with your family pet.
Key Takeaways:
- Getting your pet familiar with travel, either by car or plane, can help make moving day much easier for them and you.
- Not all military duty stations allow pets.
- You can request reimbursement for pet-related moving expenses, including pet hotel fees, airfare, and registration, through a pet transportation allowance.
Which Type of PCS Move Are You Choosing?
One of the first things to consider when PCSing, with or without a pet, is how you plan to move. Choose the type of PCS that fits your needs and situation.
A household goods (HHG) move is less upfront work for the service member. The military contracts a moving company to pack, ship, and unpack all your household items. Pets are not included as part of your household goods and cannot be shipped with the same moving company, so you’ll still need to make those arrangements yourself. However, with the other moving essentials handled, it can be a bit less daunting.
A personally procured move (PPM) lets you make all moving arrangements yourself and get reimbursed after your PCS is complete. It takes more work and scheduling, but you have more control over the process. Because the military reimburses for the cost it would have been for them to schedule a professional moving company, you can end up with more money than you spent if you’re willing to do some of the work yourself.
Most of the time, pet owners have to arrange their pet’s transportation to their new duty station themselves, so they may already be comfortable taking on the logistics of a PPM.
A partial PPM combines some DIY moving work for the items you want to keep close by with the ease of an HHG move for the rest. It works best for those who want some control without arranging the entire move themselves. This can be a great option for pet owners who want to keep special items with them as they move but are happy to leave the rest to the pros.
Preparing For a Military Pet Relocation
When you get orders to a new duty station, it’s important to research their pet regulations. You might need special documentation, immunization records, or neuter/spay certificates to bring your four-legged friend along. Due to local laws and restrictions, some OCONUS duty stations do not allow certain types of pets. Knowing all of this before the move helps you make the best decision for your pet and family.
Before the big day, get your pet familiar and comfortable with any crates or carriers they’ll be in during the move. Leave the crate out with familiar comfort items, such as a favorite blanket or toy. You can then get them into the crate more easily on moving day, making the entire experience less stressful for your pet.
If you plan to travel by car, take your pet on a few short trips around town or your neighborhood to see how they do. This is also a good time to test out harnesses, leashes, and other things that can help make the move smoother. Everything you can do to familiarize your pet with travel before the big day will keep them stress-free during the actual move.
You should also visit your vet to ensure they are up-to-date on all vaccinations. Some duty stations require this, but it is a good practice, even if it’s not required.
Military Pet Relocation Checklist
Like with anything related to a PCS, staying organized is key. This checklist will help you prepare for the move and keep your furry friend happy and safe when transitioning to your new home
1. Pack the Essentials
Think about what YOU would bring for yourself during a long road trip to a brand new place. You wouldn’t go on a multi-day or even half-day ride without the basics. Think food, water, grooming supplies (brushes, nail clippers, etc.), litter, and medicine.
You don’t need to pack a ten-pound bag of food for a two-day drive, but make sure you have enough extra to easily access during the chaotic unpacking phase.
2. Pack Creature Comforts
Sure, your pet would survive just getting their regular serving of food and water. However, you also have to consider the stress of moving. If you’re stressed, imagine how your pet is feeling.
Do everything you can to keep them extra comfortable during this confusing time. Pack some of their favorite snacks (or at least stop for a pup cup or two along the way), get a small travel bed, and throw in a cozy blanket or two just for them.
3. Pack Safety Devices
You wouldn’t let your kids ride without a seatbelt, so think about adding some of that same level of safety for your pet. There are many safe and affordable pet seat belts or harnesses that you can get to give you peace of mind.
Also, pack leashes or another similar device if you have a pet that will need to stop outside the car for bathroom breaks during the ride. The last thing you want is for your pet to run away while you’re between installations.
4. Make Sure You Have Identifying Information
Either get all of your pet’s information tags for their collars or get them microchipped. Better yet, do both!
If something goes wrong during the move, you have a backup. Don’t forget to update this information with your new address after the move.
5. Let Your Vet Know
You’ll want to inform your vet that you’re moving so that you can get your pet’s medical records (or get them transferred), prescriptions, and extra doses of medicine before heading out.
They may also be able to put you in contact with great vets local to your new installation.
Transportation Considerations When PCSing With Pets
When deciding how to travel with your pet, there are a few things to consider. First, what is the best way to get to your destination? Sure, you could drive across the country, but you may not have the time or desire to spend days on a long road trip. In that case, flying with your pet might be the right choice.
On the other hand, you might have a pet who needs frequent breaks to stretch and run around, which is hard to manage on an airplane. A drive might work better for these animals (and their humans as well).
Some PCS moves, such as an overseas relocation, require air travel. If this is the case, make sure to find out the requirements for bringing your pet. They might need to spend time in a mandatory quarantine after arriving or submit vaccination paperwork, registration, and fees beforehand.
Beginning in 2024, the military approves reimbursement for pet-related moving expenses as part of a pet transportation allowance. Service members are authorized up to $550 per pet for a CONUS move and up to $2000 per pet for an OCONUS move.
Cross-Country Pet Transport
We’ve put together a short list of well-reviewed pet moving services that you can use to make sure your pet gets to their new home safely.
- Happy Tails Travel
Email: PetDesk@HappyTailsTravel.com
Phone: 1 (800) 323-1718
Offers a military discount. - Airpets International
Email: info@airpetsamerica.com
Phone: 1 (866) 738-7447
Offers international transportation. - Animals Away
Email: Must use contact form
Phone: 1 (800) 621-7387
Offers international transportation. - Air Animal
Email: Must use contact form
Phone: (Tampa) 1 (813) 879-3210
Phone: (Orlando) 1 (407) 985-4674
Offers international transportation. - Blue Collar Pet Transportation
Email: reservation@bluecollarpettransport.com
Phone: 1 (888) 208-6669
Offers transportation in Canada.
Note: To use these pet transportation services, your vet will need to give your pet a valid certificate of health. Other rules can be found on each service’s website.
Helpful Tips For PCS With a Dog
Moving with your pup can be fun and exciting, especially if they are already used to traveling in the car or by airplane. But if this is a new experience for them, it can be helpful to do some practice runs.
Let your dog spend time in the car with you, going to a favorite spot like a dog park. This way, they will associate travel with fun rather than just their annual vet checkup.
Give them a designated spot in the car, complete with a comfortable blanket and their favorite toys. Of course, make sure to keep them strapped in with a car harness for safety.
Your dog may be familiar with letting you know when it’s time to go at home (or they have access to a doggy door), but these signs can be harder to recognize on the road. Stop frequently for bathroom breaks and allow your dog to stretch their legs.
Helpful Tips For PCS With a Cat
Most cats are homebodies, so travel by car or plane can be new. They likely won’t want to sit quietly, so giving them a safe place in a roomy carrier is often the best option.
Your cat will need access to a litter box on the road. To keep things easy, try a portable or disposable litter box. You can also roll down a sturdy grocery bag, line it with a leak-proof garbage bag, and store some litter inside for a makeshift box.
Stop frequently to allow them to use it and put some food and water out. This is also a good opportunity to pet and reassure your cat.
Helpful Tips For PCS WIth Other Animals
While cats and dogs may be the most popular pets, a military move might also impact other animals. Lizards, turtles, and other terrarium animals can move in a smaller container, although you’ll likely need to stop to give them food and water, which can be challenging to set up on the go. The same goes for hamsters, mice, and other rodents.
Fish can be tricky since they must remain in water during the move. Depending on your mode of transport, you might need to make special arrangements, such as using a smaller container that you can carry while still keeping them comfortable. You can talk to a knowledgeable pet store owner about how to move your specific fish.
OCONUS Military Pet Relocation
If you’re moving outside the Continental U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, you’ll likely need to bring your pet on an airplane.
Some locations require that your pet be quarantined at the airport for some time to ensure they are healthy. If this is the case, you’ll need to ship your pet as cargo. You can arrange for them to be on the same flight, but you’ll have to drop them off at the designated cargo location, often away from the passenger terminal. When you book a ticket for you and your pet, ask about cargo shipping requirements, such as the type of carrier and documentation.
The regulations vary based on the specific OCONUS location, so having a resource like an OCONUS guide is helpful. You can also talk to your sponsor at your new command about the process of arriving at your new home with your pet.
More: Discover a full CONUS vs OCONUS PCS comparison.
The Bottom Line
Moving with a pet in the military can be easy and seamless if you know the requirements and take steps to prepare your pet. Enhance your PCS experience by accessing our comprehensive PCS Toolkit. It includes all the crucial resources, such as detailed checklists and step-by-step guidelines, to ensure a smooth transition for you and your pets.