Extreme Heat May Alter Pet Travel This Summer

July 13, 2011 - PRLog -- As the nation prepares for extreme heat this week, the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), the non-profit organization dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and animals during transport, would like to remind pet owners that special precautions need to be taken when traveling with pets during the summer months.

Many airlines institute heat embargoes during the summer, which protect pets from exposure to extreme heat while moving between terminals and aircraft or while awaiting departure. Once the aircraft takes off, pets breathe the same, air-conditioned air that circulates among the human passengers above. Cargo areas of commercial aircraft are pressurized and climate-controlled.  

Though travel may not be permitted when temperatures are above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, there are alternatives. For example, pets can be shipped after dark, when temperatures lower.  Check with your airline before traveling or making reservations.

“Heat embargoes are critical during the summer months,” says Sally Smith, IPATA president. “They protect our pets and keep them safe and comfortable while traveling.”
 
For those families who don’t want to handle all of the logistics such as domestic/international documentation and health requirements, professional pet shippers work closely with the airlines to provide a safe environment for the pet during transport. Pet shippers have expertise dealing with heat embargoes, airlines, flight regulations, flight container requirements, pickup and delivery arrangements, quarantine, boarding, import and export arrangements and proper identification.

IPATA members are registered with the applicable organizations within their own country and adhere to the rules and regulations of the Live Animals Regulations of the International Air Transport Association. All U.S. Active IPATA members are registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and adhere to the rules and regulations of the USDA's Animal Welfare Act. Non-U.S. members are registered according to their own country’s requirements.

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About IPATA
The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) is a non-profit, worldwide trade association for animal handlers, pet moving providers, kennel operators, veterinarians and others who are dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and animals during transport. The organization, founded in 1979, now has more than 325 members in more than 70 countries. IPATA serves its members, the pet transport industry, and the public at large. For more information, or to find a professional pet shipper, visit http://www.ipata.com/.