Safe, Affordable Pet Transportation Services | CitizenShipper
Door-to-Door Pet Transport in the US | Ground & Air Options
Transporting your pet can be stressful. By understanding the options that are available, you can make an informed decision. This reduces the stress of moving. Hiring a professional animal moving business is one of the most convenient and safest ways to transport your pet. With their expertise, you can rest assured that they'll be in good hands. CitizenShipper is a safe, cost-effective, professional pet shipping platform. You can use it to find a professional that gets your dog or cat delivered safely to your door. We've facilitated the safe transport of over 120,000+ animals and are the #1 pet transport platform in the USA.
Table of Contents
What is the Difference Between an Animal Transport Company and a Pet Transportation Company?
Benefits of Using a Pet Shipping Company
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Your Pet?
How to Prepare For Moving With a Pet
Finding Reliable Pet Relocation Services with CitizenShipper
What is a Pet Transportation Company?
An animal transport company is an umbrella term that refers to a business that moves pets, livestock and animals used for scientific research from one location to another. These companies are governed by an agency known as the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA).
Pet transportation companies operate within IPATA jurisdiction and within the United States, are regulated by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Pet transporters are USDA-registered professionals that move cats,dogs and other pets. Most companies operate domestically but there are some companies that offer international pet transportation.
CitizenShipper makes it easy to find a pet transportation company that fits your needs — whether that’s related to your budget, time constraints, or any special requirements your pet may have.
There two main ways pet owners can use a transporter to ship their pet:
Pet Ground Transport
CitizenShipper is different. You’ll post a listing on our marketplace and within minutes, receive bids from independent transportation companies. Before choosing who will transport your pet, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with drivers and get to know more about their background and experience levels. Then, you get to decide on the transporter. Sometimes pet ground transport can refer to train travel. Amtrak allows small pets in carriers to ride on most of their routes.
Pet Air Transport
While ground transportation is the preferred way to move a pet, there are times which air travel makes more sense. For example, some cross-country pet moves have a tight time frame that isn’t possible for ground transporters. Generally speaking, air travel is the quickest way to ship pets across the country.
- Airlines charge a fee to fly with an animal in addition to the cost of your own ticket.
- Large dogs — usually those over 25 pounds — must fly in the cargo area
- Small pets may qualify to travel in the main cabin as "carry-on" luggage.
One solution for air travel is to hire a flight nanny — also known as an air nanny. Flight nannies are professional pet transporters who meet you at the airport, care for your pet on the plane and deliver them safely at the arrival airport. It's easy to find fly nanny flight on CitizenShipper.
Benefits of Using a Pet Shipping Company
Easy Logistics — Travel logistics are handled for you. Simply give your transporter your pet, and many of the arrangements are taken care of.
Reliable — Transporters care about pets and are passionate about providing high-quality, safe and trustworthy service.
Experienced — Most owners don't have experience moving animals across the country. Hiring experienced professionals gives you peace of mind.
Affordable Cost — At CitizenShipper, our costs are lower so you can worry about more important things.
Pet Transport Service Ensures Safety
Your pet’s safety throughout the journey is the most important factor. We know that its health and well-being are essential.
- Your pet needs access to food, water and necessary medications throughout the trip.
- It'll need frequent breaks throughout the trip — not only to go to the bathroom but also to stretch its legs.
Short and Long-Distance Pet Shipping
Overall, the distance will largely determine how you travel. For example:
- A simple move within the same city can be accomplished by a short car ride.
- Moving across the country requires careful planning.
- Documentation and health certificates are usually needed to transport a pet to a new state.
If you’re flying with pets, research airline requirements. Many have strict regulations on required documentation, health certificates and cargo carrier sizes. They also limit the number of animals on each flight, so reserve your spot as soon as possible.
How Is CitizenShipper Different From Other Pet Transportation Services?
There are several differentiators that make booking a transporter through CitizenShipper the right choice for your pet shipping needs.
Booking Assurance Guarantee
Booking a pet transporter can be stressful. That’s why CitizenShipper has a Booking Assurance Guarantee. You may be wondering - what is the Booking Assurance Guarantee?
- It means that if a driver cancels after you book a ride with CitizenShipper, our dedicated and industry-leading customer service team will prioritize finding a replacement.
- Your CitizenShipper booking fee will be refunded if a driver cancels your pet’s transport.
- Support from our customer service team if there is any lapse in communication from the transporter.
- Our customer service team is available seven days a week, because we know that when it comes to the safety and comfort of your pet, time is of the essence.
$1k Pet Protection Plan
The vast majority of pet transports go smoothly. However, in case your pet has a medical emergency while on the road, CitizenShipper provides what is known as a “pet protection plan” that covers up to $1,000.
- Every transport includes this standard pet protection plan.
- There is no cost for you, the pet owner.
- You’ll pay for the medical costs upfront and CitizenShipper reimburses you.
- For a small fee you can increase the coverage amount of the pet protection plan to $2,500 or $5,000.
Background Checks & Driver-Vetting
When you need to transport a pet, your peace of mind is very important. That’s why every driver on CitizenShipper has been vetted through a stringent background check and ID verification.
Door-to-Door Pet Transport Service
Many pet owners prefer door-to-door pet transportation services. However, many pet transportation companies don’t offer direct transportation services, instead requiring pet owners to meet at specific locations for delivery.
What does door-to-door delivery mean? It means having your dog or cat delivered right to your home instead of at a terminal, and many transporters on CitizenShipper offer this service. This option may cost more, but eliminates stress, guesswork and effort on your part.
