Moving companion animals internationally involves significant welfare risks from transport stress, quarantine and disease - understanding requirements and risks helps owners make better welfare choices.
Companion animal international travel welfare requires honest assessment of whether travel is necessary and what welfare costs it entails. Many pets experience significant stress during air transport, particularly in cargo holds where conditions can be extreme. Brachycephalic dogs and cats face additional respiratory risks and some airlines now ban them from cargo travel. Quarantine on arrival in strict disease-free countries can be prolonged and stressful - particularly for social animals. When travel is unavoidable, welfare can be protected by choosing direct flights, avoiding summer travel (cargo hold heat stress), using cabin-approved carriers, and selecting airlines with documented welfare standards for animal cargo. The most welfare-positive choice for many animals is not to travel if alternatives exist.