Happy Tails Alerts
New LIVE Chat!
We are excited to launch our new live chat feature on our website! Have questions about our services? Wondering what the best method of transport is for your pet? Simply click the tab on the bottom right-hand side of our webpage to message us!
Responses will be received as quickly as possible during business hours (7 am - 4 pm MST Mon - Fri). After hours, the chat feature will leave us a message and we will respond the next working day.
Featured Testimonial
"After much research, I selected Happy Tails Travel for my pet ground transport needs. We needed to get our dog Zoe from Florida to North Carolina - and as soon as possible for health reasons.
From the moment that I was connected with my pet travel specialist, Samantha, she was professional, friendly, and answered all of my questions. I was promptly assigned a driver and trip plan. Our driver, Julie, immediately made both myself & Zoe feel comfortable and ready for her adventure.
During the trip, Julie stayed in regular contact and furnished wonderful photographs. I never had a moment of doubt or worry - I knew Zoe was in excellent care.
The choice to go with Happy Tails has been one of my best decisions ever. From start to finish, everything went smoothly and helped to make a difficult time much easier. Excellent communication, professional experience, and friendly service. I highly recommend Happy Tails Travels!"
Make sure to read the rest of Zoe's testimonial and our others here!
Frequently Asked Questions about International Travel
Yes, your pet can travel outside of the United States. Our company currently assists with military family pets (domestic dogs and cats only) to Europe only. There are several important considerations and requirements to keep in mind:
- Microchipping
- Vaccinations
- Import permits
- Health certificates
- Quarantine
- Travel Arrangements
- Destination Regulations, including breed restrictions. We help research the rules for bringing a pet into your specific
Happy Tails Travel can work with you on all the above and help with the timeline, documents, and find the best flight. It's a good idea to consult with your veterinarian and the embassy or consulate of the country you're traveling to for the most accurate and detailed information.
Currently, we can only assist with shipping cats and dogs internationally to Europe.
Most European Union (EU) countries do not require quarantine if all requirements are met in advance (such as microchipping, rabies vaccination, rabies titer testing, when applicable, and import permits, if required). However, some non-EU European destinations may have additional restrictions. We guide you step-by-step to make sure your pet avoids unnecessary delays or quarantine.
One of our key roles is monitoring regulatory changes during your pet’s relocation process. If any import/export rules change mid-process (e.g. new vaccine timing, permit delays, or country restrictions), we will alert you immediately. We will help you navigate any additional requirements, adjust our logistics plan (e.g. alternate route or timeframe), and handle renegotiations with vet/airline/quarantine agencies as needed.
The basic crate requirements are the same for both domestic and international travel. However, for international flights there is one important difference: crates must have ventilation on all four sides with openings not exceeding ¾ inch x ¾ inch for cats and 1 inch x 1 inch for dogs. This ensures compliance with international airline and country import standards while keeping your pet safe and secure during travel.
International relocations require much more lead time. You’ll want to start several months in advance to ensure microchipping, vaccinations, health checks, and permits align with required windows. A misstep in timing can cause delays or refusal at entry. We typically request at least 30 business days to prepare for an international flight.
Your pet could be refused entry, held in quarantine, or sent back to their origin country at the owner’s expense. We aim to prevent all of this by vetting documents and timelines ahead of time, but clients need to understand that ultimate decisions rest with border/animal health authorities.
Yes. Our service includes handling or coordinating country-specific paperwork, translations, import/export permits, and working with both U.S. and foreign authorities. That is all part of our “full service” offering
Once your pet arrives at LAX, our company can clear him through customs. Due to its size and domestic airline restrictions, we would then transport your dog directly to your home via our By Ground Safe and Sound service. This is a private, door-to-door service.
We offer a service of arranging professional boarding either at your location or closer to the airport of departure. We then pick up your pet, transport with all necessary documents and correct crate, and check in the pet to the departing airport.
Yes. If the departing airport is close enough, we can drive the pet from your home and check in directly to the airline. If the airport is further away, such as in another state, we can either do a long distance By Ground Safe and Sound service or have your pet travel on another airline to the major airport of departure. We will provide options and let you choose what works best for you, your pet, and your budget. We arrange all of this for you.