Companion Animal Welfare

Companion Animal Travel Welfare

Travelling with companion animals by car, plane, and public transport raises welfare considerations including stress, safety, and thermal comfort.

Key Facts

Car travel causes anxiety in approximately 25% of dogs; counter-conditioning can reduce this
Pet travel in aircraft holds is associated with stress, temperature extremes, and injury risk
EU Pet Travel Scheme requires microchip, vaccination, and health documentation for border crossing
Short-nosed breeds are banned from many airlines due to respiratory risk during flight
Preparation, crate training, and familiar scents reduce travel stress significantly

Welfare Considerations

Travel welfare requires preparation, appropriate equipment, and understanding of individual animal needs; stress during travel has both acute welfare impacts and can generalise to other contexts.

What You Can Do

Crate-train your pet gradually before any travel
Research airline policies thoroughly before booking and avoid hold travel for at-risk breeds
Never leave animals in vehicles in warm conditions