Delta Cargo

General Information
Kennel and Other Live Animal Shipping Containers
Restrictions
Booking
Drop Off/Pick Up
Special Handling
Documentation
Regulations
Shipping Tips

General Information

• Australia
• Cayman Islands
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• United Kingdom (U.K.) excluding service animals

The U.K. Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) program allows you to ship dogs, cats, and ferrets to London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), and Manchester (MAN) airports. This has made it much easier and cheaper to travel with your pets. Pets that meet the rules of this program can travel without having to undergo the six (6) month quarantine.

There are several steps that must be completed prior to shipping your pet under the U.K. PETS program. These steps must be completed in a specific order and documentation must be completed on approved forms.

Complete information may be found on the U.K. Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) web site at www.defra.gov.uk.

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Kennels and Other Live Animal Shipping Containers

You must use a kennel that meets USDA and IATA regulations. You may use your own kennel or purchase an approved kennel at most pet supply stores.

All dog and cat kennels must meet the following guidelines:

Construction

• The kennel must be of rigid construction with a solid top and have ventilation openings on at least three sides. For international travel, regulations require the kennel have ventilation openings on all 4 sides. Kennels with doors or ventilation openings on top are not permitted.
• Soft-sided kennels, hard-sided carry-on kennels, and kennels made entirely of welded mesh, wire mesh, or wicker are prohibited as the do not meet applicable regulations.
• Knockdown or folding kennels are prohibited due to the risk of collapse during transport.
• The door must be made of metal. Plastic or Fiberglas™ doors are prohibited because they lack sufficient strength to protect your animal during normal handling. Kennels with doors on top are also prohibited.
• All hardware (nuts, bolts, rivets, latches, clamps, locking mechanisms, etc.) must be secure and in good repair. A nut and bolt must be secured in each hole provided on kennels.
• Do not put a lock on the kennel door. In accordance with Federal regulations, the animal must be accessible in the event of an emergency.
• A spacer bar or rim, protruding at least ¾ in. (1.9 cm) must be provided on all sides with ventilation openings.
• Regulations require that wheels, if any, be locked or otherwise rendered inoperable. If your kennel has wheels they must either be removed or taped to prevent the kennel from rolling in transit.

• Kennels made entirely of welded mesh, wire mesh, wicker, cardboard, or collapsible materials are strictly prohibited.
• Kennels with dual opening doors (i.e. one top and one side).
• Kennels with plastic front doors and/or plastic side latches securing the top and bottom together without hardware such as nuts and bolts.

• Regulations require that the kennel be large enough to permit your dog or cat to stand and sit erect, to turn around, and to lie in a natural position. Kennels that prohibit your pet from turning around are prohibited.
• Your dog or cat’s head (including its ears) must not touch the top while sitting or standing inside the kennel. A good rule-of-thumb is to stand the animal next to the kennel. If its head or ears extend beyond the top of the kennel, then a larger kennel will be required.
• Kennels for pets other than dogs or cats must be large enough to allow the animal to stand and sit erect, to lie, and to turn about freely.

• Your kennel must have two empty dishes (one for food and one for water) securely fastened to the inside of the kennel yet accessible from the outside without opening the door.
• A one piece dish is permitted provided it is divided into two separate compartments.
• Water bottles are permitted provided they are firmly secured to the outside of the kennel and are refillable without opening the door. A separate dish for food as described above is also required.

• The kennel must contain absorbent material or bedding. Towels, blankets, and shredded black and white newspaper are good choices.
• Do not use colored newspaper. The inks used in color printing may be toxic to animals.
• Organic materials like straw, hay, or wood shavings are prohibited outside of the contiguous 48 United States and Alaska.

• U.S. and international regulations require kennels or containers holding live animals be labeled or marked in English and in block letters as follows:
  1. The words "LIVE ANIMAL" at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) high on the tops and on at least one side.
  2. Indicate the top with arrows or the words "THIS END UP" on at least two sides.
  3. If the animal can inflect poisonous bites or stings, the word "POISONOUS" in letters at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) high on the top of the container.
  4. If feeding is required during transit, indicate feeding instructions on top of the kennel. It will be necessary to securely attach the food on the outside of the kennel or container. A signed statement from a veterinarian is required if no food is to be given.
  5. You must certify, in writing, that warm-blooded animals tendered for transportation have been offered food and water within four hours prior to check-in with Delta. We suggest you not feed your pet less than two hours prior to check-in. Traveling on a full stomach can be uncomfortable for your pet.
  6. If your pet or other warm-blooded animal has been sedated, tranquilized, or otherwise medicated federal regulations require you indicate on top of the kennel or container the generic name of the drug used, the weight of each animal, the dosage, how the drug was administered (oral, injection, etc.), and the time the animal was medicated.
• Caution: Routine sedation or tranquilization of pets is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED as the drug's effects at high altitudes are unpredictable and may cause serious illness. Contact your veterinarian for more information.

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Restrictions

• Unaccompanied pets are accepted only from professional pet shippers who are members of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). A list of IPATA members near you may be found at www.ipata.com.
• PETS program limited to dogs, cats, and ferrets. All other animals are subject to a mandatory six (6) month stay in quarantine.
• All policies established by DEFRA must be followed.
• Customers traveling on the same date and flight with their pet must originate their travel at one of Delta's gateway cities. These cities are Atlanta (ATL), Cincinnati (CVG), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP), and New York-Kennedy (JFK).
• Until further notice, Delta Cargo embargoes all American, English and French bulldogs regardless of their age and/or weight on any Delta or Delta Connection flights.

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Booking

All live animal shipments are required to be pre-booked prior to arrival at the origin facility. Your pet needs to be booked at least three (3) days, and no more than fourteen (14) days prior to departure from the United States. You may book your pet by calling the Cargo Call Center. For shipments originating on a 006 air waybill (Delta operated) call 1.800.352.2746.

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Drop-off/Pick-up

You need to take your shipments to your local cargo facility for shipping and pick it up at the local cargo facility at the destination.

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Special Handling

• Each cargo facility will ensure your pet is handled with care throughout its journey.
• To ensure comfort for your pet while transiting one of our hubs, we offer temperature controlled live animal holding areas in many of our cargo facilities.

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Documentation

• Appropriate documentation must accompany all live animal shipments. In addition, Delta also requires a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian not more than ten (10) days prior to flight departure.
• All documentation must be completed on approved forms

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Regulations

The cargo shipper is responsible for complying with all policies, regulations, and procedures established by the DEFRA.

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Shipping Tips

• Familiarize your pet with the kennel to ease the stress of travel.
• Keep your pet as calm as possible prior to the flight. Take a long leash and collar for walking your pet prior to departure. Do not place the leash inside the kennel.
• Include identification tags with your home address and telephone number, as well as the address and phone number of the person receiving the animal at destination.
• Delta does not allow animals fitted with muzzles or choke collars. Both of these items can be dangerous when the animal is alone.

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