The welfare of companion animals during travel is affected by journey method, duration, temperature management and the physiological stress responses of individual animals to motion and confinement.
Pet travel welfare spans a wide range from brief car journeys causing minimal stress to long-haul air travel cargo hold journeys that can be genuinely dangerous for some animals. The welfare risks of air travel in cargo holds — temperature extremes, hypoxia, confinement stress, loading and unloading — are not negligible, particularly for breeds with compromised respiratory function. The most welfare-conscious approach to international pet travel is minimizing its necessity and, when necessary, choosing appropriate timing, routes and carriers with documented welfare practices. For companion animals that travel regularly, habituation training reduces stress substantially.