Your pet's well-being is our goal!
Broadway Veterinary Hospital, located in the heart of Seattle, is a well-established veterinary
practice providing complete veterinary care: routine exams, vaccines, dentals, and laser surgery.
Serving downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, Eastlake, and Westlake and more.
Broadway Veterinary Hospital
1824 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
(206)322-5444
email: reception@broadwayvh.com
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Flying with Your Cat or Dog?  The holidays have arrived and you and your dog are visiting family, or maybe you and your cat are moving. Whatever the case may be, if you are considering flying with your pet, we want to help. Unfortunately, this process can sometimes be very difficult. The airline does not always give you all the information you need ahead of time and then they might surprise you with unexpected requirements once you arrive and are ready to leave, and then it is too late to prepare. If you would like to avoid unnecessary delays and frustrations on the day of travel, we are here to assist. (Please note that, while this web page lists all airlines that fly into and out of Sea-Tac airport and these are good suggestions for wherever you are flying, international travel and travel to Hawaii has further requirements. If you are planning on traveling to another country or Hawaii, please see the previous link.)
Travel to Another State
When traveling with your pet, it is important to remember that you are actually importing your pet to another state. The most important thing is that you must meet the requirements of the state you are flying to, with regard to their requirements about importing an animal into their state. Only a United States Federally Accredited Veterinarian may sign a Health Certificate. This is a legal document and must comply with the laws of the state you are traveling to, not the state you are originating from. For example, if you are traveling to Texas, your pet must have a Rabies vaccination within the past 12 months, even though in Washington State the very same vaccination may be licensed for 3 years for dogs.
The Airline
First, contact the airline. The only people that can give you correct timely information on flying with your pet are the employees of actual airline carrier you will be using. It is your responsibility to contact their representative to get this information. See below for links to airlines' web pages where you can find their contact information. Do not depend on the information that you find on the internet, nor on information from your friends or coworkers. You need to speak to an actual person. Find the person at the airline who tells you that they know everything there is to know about flying with your pet. Get their name, ID number, and direct phone number. Make note of the exact time and day of every phone call. Ask all the questions you have written down. The last question is: Is this everything I need to know about flying with my pet? Comply with everything they tell you and bring everything they recommend with you to the airport. If you meet someone who comes up with something new and unexpected and will not let you on the plane, tell them you need to speak with their supervisor. Let them know who you talked with and their ID number and push your point. You and your pet will get on the plane. Know the rules and follow them; don't let them push you around. Here is perfect example about a woman who was able to get her pet on the plane only because she had a list of each person she had talked to and the information she was given, and because she remained adamant that her pet needed to be allowed on the plane. Question to Ask:
Health Certificate Appointment at Broadway Veterinary Hospital Please call to schedule an appointment for a Health Certificate. This will prompt our receptionists to help prepare you for what you will need to bring to this appointment. The Health Certificate is a legal State of
What you will need for your appointment.Please bring with you the exact address which you are leaving from and the exact address you are traveling to. They must be complete with street number, city and state. The doctor will not sign any Health Certificate with an incomplete address in either place on the certificate. You will need to provide proof that your pet is current on their Rabies vaccination. This means that you will need to provide the date the vaccine was given, the manufacturer name, serial number of the vaccine, type of vaccine (killed, modified live, etc.) and tag number if issued. If we have given your pet this Rabies vaccine we will have this information in our records for you. If your pet is not current on their Rabies vaccine or you cannot provide the required information, your pet will be vaccinated against Rabies at this appointment and the information entered on the Health Certificate. You will be charged the vaccine fee, along with the exam and health certificate fees.
REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EVERYTHING REQUIRED FOR TRAVEL THE AIRLINE MAY REFUSE TO ALLOW YOUR PET ON YOUR FLIGHT. More Information It is recommended that you DO NOT give tranquilizers to your pet when traveling by air because it can increase the risk of heart and respiratory problems. Short-nosed dogs and cats sometimes have even more difficulty with travel. Airlines may require a signed statement that your pet has not been tranquilized prior to flying. According to Dr. Patricia Olsen with the American Humane Association, "An animal's natural ability to balance and maintain equilibrium is altered under sedation and when the kennel is moved, a sedated animal may not be able to brace and prevent injury." The AVMA has good advice for traveling with pets that we highly recommend. The Humane Society of the United States also provides Travelling Tips for Pets on Planes, Trains and Ships What is the best airline for your pet? Petfinder.com has a list of the most Pet Friendly airlines, and Pet Flight tracks deaths/injuries.
Contact Information for the Airlines:
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